** Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related companies rise, tracking an uptick in prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum
** Bitcoin , the world's most valuable cryptocurrency, up 2.5% at $65116, while Ether prices rise 1% at $3101
** Crypto investors are gearing up for bitcoin's 'halving' in the early hours of Saturday GMT - a change to the cryptocurrency's underlying technology designed to cut the rate at which new bitcoins are created
** Earlier in the session Bitcoin and Ethereum prices slid on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and are now set for their first week in gains out of three
** Crypto exchange Coinbase Global rises 2.2%, while Blockchain farm operator Bitfarms Ltd up 3.7%
** Crypto miners: Riot Platforms Inc Marathon Digital , U.S.-listed shares of Hut 8 , and Bit Digital up 1.4%-3.1%
** Software firm and BTC buyer MicroStrategy gains 3.5%, while Canaan Inc up 2.8%
** ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF adds 2%
** Up to last close, BTC had risen 54% YTD, compared with a 42% increase in the MVIS CryptoCompare Digital Assets 100 Index
(Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru)
((johann.mcherian@thomsonreuters.com;))
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