** Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related firms advance on Fri, tracking bitcoin climb to highest level in two months
** Bitcoin BTC=, world's biggest cryptocurrency, up 2.2% to $95,551; Ether ETH= lifts 2.8% to $1,812
** Crypto exchange Coinbase Global COIN.O up 2%, and BTC proxy Strategy MSTR.O, formerly known as MicroStrategy, up 5%
** Retail trading platform Robinhood HOOD.O up ~2%
** Crypto miners rise: Riot Platforms RIOT.O 2%, Mara Holdings MARA.O 2.6%, Cleanspark CLSK.O 3%, Bit Digital BTBT.O 3%
** ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF BITO.P and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF IBIT.O both up 2%
** YTD, BTC now up ~2% after hitting 2025 low of $74,446 on Apr 7
(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))