** Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related companies rise premarket, tracking gains in digital assets such as bitcoin and ether

** Bitcoin BTC=, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, up 2.8% at $87,942.86; Ether ETH= up 4.3% at $2,950.32

** Crypto exchange Coinbase Global COIN.O rises 3%; blockchain farm operator Bitfarms BITF.O up 2.6%

** Crypto miners: Riot Platforms RIOT.O and MARA Holdings MARA.O gain more than 3%; Hut 8 HUT.O adds 4.8%; Bit Digital BTBT.O up 6.4%

** BTC buyer Strategy MSTR.O gains 3.8%

** iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF IBIT.O up 4%

** As of last close, BTC down 6.1% YTD; ETH down 11.8% YTD

(Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi)

((utkarshtushar.hathi@thomsonreuters.com))