Molana786

BTC USD crash today: Why is crypto down today? Bitcoin price slips as Fed holds rates and geopolitics heat up. Bitcoin prices moved sharply lower on Thursday, January 29, 2026, as a mix of macro caution, geopolitical stress, and fading near-term liquidity weighed on risk appetite. After a brief one-day rebound earlier in the week, the broader crypto market reversed course. Total market capitalization fell about 1.7% to $3.06 trillion, while 90 of the top 100 digital assets traded in the red. Trading volumes remained elevated at $124 billion, signaling active repositioning rather than panic selling.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bitcoin led the pullback among majors, falling roughly 5% intraday to $84,623 at one point before stabilizing higher. Ethereum followed with a sharper percentage decline, while most large-cap altcoins mirrored the move. The weakness comes as markets digest the US Federal Reserve’s first policy decision of 2026, persistent ETF outflows, and renewed geopolitical risk tied to Middle East tensions. Together, these forces are reinforcing a consolidation phase rather than signaling a full-blown trend reversal.

Bitcoin price today: what the numbers say
Bitcoin entered Thursday near $90,315 but slipped below the key $90,000 psychological level during Asian and early European trading. The session low printed around $87,653, before buyers stepped in. On a weekly basis, BTC is down about 2.4%, trading within a $86,319–$90,475 range. That range underscores a market caught between dip buyers and macro-driven sellers.

Ethereum also lost ground, trading near $2,942, down about 2.5% on the day and 2.2% over the past week. ETH failed to hold above $3,000, a level that had acted as short-term support earlier in the month. Among other majors, Dogecoin slid roughly 4.5%, Solana fell more than 3%, and Litecoin dropped close to 6%. Binance Coin showed relative resilience with a near 1% decline, while Tron was the only gainer among the top ten.
Explore More Stories
Nintendo expands Mii options with non-binary choice in Tomodachi Life: Living the DreamNintendo expands Mii options with non-binary choice in Tomodachi Life: Living the DreamDow layoffs: Chemical maker to cut 4,500 jobs as AI and automation expandWhen is the Senate vote today? Shutdown deadline nears as lawmakers clash over ICE fundingSpartacus: House of Ashur Episode 9 release time, schedule and how to watch on Starz: Global streaming timings for all regionsUS stock market crashes today: Why are Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq down today — Tesla, Meta, Microsoft in redIRS Tax filing, refund delay in 2026? Tax watchdogs are sending warnings, here is whyQuote of the day David Schwimmer: You're only as good as the sum of your parts, and one person………..Quote of the Day by Oprah Winfrey: 'The more you praise and celebrate…'—Here are some inspiring quotes by the incredible philanthropist on her birthdayBoss tells employee to work after 3 drinks, then slams him in review — HR removes boss, workplace debate eruptsSilver price hits $120 today, Jan. 29 — Is a silver crash near? Why some analysts warn of bubble-like dynamicsWhat is a Trump Gold Card and Nicki Minaj is making Melania Trump nervous? Here's complete truthWhy the IRS may freeze your refund if you don’t check this box before submitting your taxes

The Nasdaq Crypto Index echoed the move, falling more than 5%, highlighting that the sell-off was broad-based rather than isolated to one token or sector.

Federal Reserve policy and liquidity remain the core driver
The immediate macro catalyst was the US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, a move that was widely expected by markets. The lack of a surprise limited downside volatility, but it also failed to provide fresh upside fuel. Fed Chair Jerome Powell offered no clear signal of imminent rate cuts, reinforcing the message that policy easing is unlikely until later in 2026 unless economic data weakens materially.
ADVERTISEMENT

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, said the rate hold preserves existing liquidity without tightening conditions further, which can be constructive for crypto in the near term. However, she emphasized that the current environment favors consolidation over a breakout. In her view, Bitcoin is likely to trade in an $88,000–$91,000 range, with any push toward $95,000 requiring clearer macro support.

From a liquidity perspective, the absence of fresh capital is becoming more visible. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of about $19.6 million, extending a multi-week trend that has seen more than $140 million leave the products this week alone. Last week’s outflows were even steeper, exceeding $1.3 billion. While spot Ethereum ETFs saw $28.1 million in inflows, the amounts were not large enough to offset broader market pressure.
ADVERTISEMENT

Geopolitical risk adds a new layer of uncertainty
Beyond monetary policy, geopolitics re-entered the crypto narrative. Former US President Donald Trump warned of potential military action against Iran if diplomatic talks fail, following the arrival of US naval forces in the Middle East. Markets are sensitive to any escalation that could disrupt global trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for energy supplies.

A serious conflict in the region could push oil prices higher, reigniting inflation concerns and complicating the Fed’s path to rate cuts. For crypto, that scenario cuts both ways. In the short term, higher yields and risk aversion would likely pressure prices. Over the medium term, persistent inflation and currency debasement fears could revive Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge. For now, traders are focused on the immediate risk-off impulse.
ADVERTISEMENT

Market structure, sentiment, and why this may be a reset
Despite the sell-off, several indicators suggest the market is undergoing a controlled reset rather than a disorderly unwind. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index ticked up slightly to 38 from 34, remaining in the “fear” zone but showing a modest improvement in sentiment. That aligns with steady, not spiking, volumes and relatively orderly price action.

Fabian Dori, CIO at Sygnum Bank, said the latest FOMC outcome was always more likely to reinforce consolidation than trigger a decisive move. Markets, he argued, are in a holding pattern, waiting for clearer signals on fiscal policy, Fed independence, and the timing of any eventual pivot. Similarly, Nic Roberts-Huntley of Blueprint Finance noted that today’s market structure is healthier than during leverage-heavy peaks seen above $125,000, with less forced selling and more emphasis on fundamentals.

ADVERTISEMENT
This view is supported by on-chain and flow data. While ETF demand has softened, long-term holders have not shown signs of mass distribution. At the same time, institutional activity continues in targeted strategies, such as Sygnum’s 750 BTC raise for its Starboard BTC Alpha Fund, indicating selective confidence rather than broad withdrawal.

Bitcoin technical outlook: key levels to watch next
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin has pulled back from its recent $98,000 high and slipped below both the 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages, a short-term bearish signal. Chart patterns show the formation of a bearish flag, often associated with continuation moves lower if support fails. The Relative Strength Index has dropped below 50, reflecting weakening momentum.

Immediate support sits near $86,000. A clean break below that level could expose $85,300, followed by the $83,000–$84,000 zone. More aggressive downside scenarios point toward the November low near $80,400. On the upside, bulls need to reclaim $90,000 and then $95,000 to reassert control and reopen the path toward six-figure prices.

Ethereum faces a similar setup. Having failed to hold $3,000, the next supports lie near $2,890, $2,790, and $2,650. A recovery back above $3,000 would ease pressure, but momentum indicators suggest consolidation may persist.

FAQs:
Why is Bitcoin down today?
Bitcoin is facing a "double-whammy" of a hawkish Federal Reserve and surging geopolitical risk. The Fed kept interest rates at 3.50%–3.75% on January 28, but Chair Jerome Powell signaled that rate cuts are unlikely until late 2026. Simultaneously, escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran have pushed investors into "risk-off" mode, favoring gold over digital assets.

What are the key support levels for BTC/USD now?
With Bitcoin slipping below the psychological $90,000 mark, the immediate focus is on the $84,200 support level. Technical analysts at DailyForex and MEXC warn that a daily close below this floor could trigger a deeper "bearish flag" breakdown. The next major "must-hold" zone sits at $80,400 (November’s low).

Are institutional investors selling Bitcoin?
Yes. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net outflow of $19.64 million on January 28, marking a continued cooling of institutional demand. While some firms like MicroStrategy continue to buy, the overall market is leaning on long-term "spot holder conviction" rather than fresh ETF-driven inflows, which have remained stagnant for eight trading sessions.
Whatsapp Banner
Is the "Crypto Winter" returning in 2026?
Not necessarily, but the market is in a "necessary reset." Technical indicators like the 21-week EMA crossing below the 50-week EMA suggest a mid-term bearish trend similar to 2022. However, analysts believe this consolidation allows for a reset of "speculative froth," potentially setting the stage for a rally once macro clarity or the "debasement trade" returns later this year.

(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

READ MORE ON
Bitcoin technical outlook January 29bitcoinus federal reservesfederal reserveBTC hovers near $86K supportBTC/USD risks deeper pullback
(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, a…

More
NEXT READ
Nintendo expands Mii options with non-binary choice in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
Dow layoffs: Chemical maker to cut 4,500 jobs as AI and automation expand
BTC crash today: Why is crypto down today? Bitcoin price slips as Fed holds rates and geopolitics heat up — here’s Bitcoin technical outlook
When is the Senate vote today? Shutdown deadline nears as lawmakers clash over ICE funding
Spartacus: House of Ashur Episode 9 release time, schedule and how to watch on Starz: Global streaming timings for all regions
US stock market crashes today: Why are Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq down today — Tesla, Meta, Microsoft in red
IRS Tax filing, refund delay in 2026? Tax watchdogs are sending warnings, here is why
Quote of the day David Schwimmer: You're only as good as the sum of your parts, and one person………..
Quote of the Day by Oprah Winfrey: 'The more you praise and celebrate…'—Here are some inspiring quotes by the incredible philanthropist on her birthday
Boss tells employee to work after 3 drinks, then slams him in review — HR removes boss, workplace debate erupts
Four upcoming crypto futures exchanges in 2026
When is the Senate vote today? Shutdown deadline nears as lawmakers clash over ICE funding#StrategyBTCPurchase #WhoIsNextFedChair #VIRBNB #TokenizedSilverSurge #ClawdbotSaysNoToken $BTC
$ETH $BNB

Gold Crash! Down $3.4 Trillion as Silver Sinks 12% from New Record Highs
Thu, 29-Jan-2026 16:16
GOLD and SILVER SANK from fresh record prices on Thursday, with a crash in the 'safe haven' knocking it almost $500 per ounce lower to $5100 as the industrially-useful precious metal plunged by 11.9% amid a slump in major US AI and tech stocks, led by a crash in Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT).

The world's largest software company dropped a quarter-billion-dollars of market cap at the New York opening, crashing by 11.9% after quarterly earnings showed a slowdown in its Azure cloud computing and AI data segment.

But with gold peaking Thursday just $5 per ounce beneath $5600, the precious metal's 8.7% plunge knocked $3.4 trillion off the value of all the gold now estimated to be above ground.

Finding ever-more demand from AI computing and green-energy tech meantime, silver peaked above $121 per Troy ounce − more than 68% higher across January, silver's strongest ever monthly gain outside December 1979 − before sinking to $107 as cloud-computing and data giant Oracle sank 5.4% (NYSE: ORCL) on worsening fears that the AI bubble is about to crash, with chipmaker Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) losing 2.7% at the open.

A rally in both precious metals then put them back at what was a new all-time high on Monday for silver and Wednesday for gold.

Nearly $1 billion of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated during another sharp drop in prices on Monday that brought fresh momentum to a wide-ranging selloff.
Bitcoin slid as much as 8% to $83,824 in New York, bringing its decline since early October to almost 30%. Ether dropped 10% to as low as $2,719, and is down 36% over the past seven weeks. The market downturn has been even tougher on smaller, less liquid tokens that traders often gravitate toward because of their higher volatility and typical outperformance during rallies. A MarketVector index tracking the bottom half of the largest 100 digital assets is down almost 70% this year.
The crypto market is on shaky ground after a weeks-long selloff that began when some $19 billion in levered bets were wiped out in early October as President Donald Trump whipsawed markets with threats of higher tariffs, data compiled by tracker Coinglass show. That was just days after Bitcoin set an all-time high of $126,251. The automated closing of leveraged positions in crypto, such as the major event on Oct. 10, is sometimes referred to as a liquidation cascade.
Traders use liquidation data to assess leverage in the system, spot risk appetite, and gauge whether a market wipeout has truly cleansed excess speculation. But the numbers they rely on may be incomplete. Industry insiders have said exchanges restrict the full liquidation data they share, making it hard for traders to know how much leverage is truly in the system.
“It’s a risk off start to December,” said Sean McNulty, APAC derivatives trading lead at FalconX. “The biggest concern is the meagre inflows into Bitcoin exchange traded funds and absence of dip buyers. We expect the structural headwinds to continue this month. We are watching $80,000 on Bitcoin as the next key support level.”

Digital assets also felt the broader macro shifts rippling through global markets, as equity traders in the US start the week on the backfoot. Japanese stocks fell and the yen rose as Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda sent the clearest hint yet of a rate hike this month.
“As December kicks off, investors are focused on the path forward for global monetary policy,” said Karim Dandashy, an over-the-counter trader at crypto trading firm Flowdesk. “With the Fed now expected to be cutting again after a brief panic last week that saw December odds drop to 30%, and now the BOJ looking more likely to be raising rates to counter the moves we’ve seen in JGBs.”
On Monday, Michael Saylor’s Strategy Inc. said it had created a $1.4 billion reserve to fund future dividend and interest payments, in a bid to temper fears that the Bitcoin accumulator may be forced to sell some of its roughly $56 billion cryptocurrency haul if token prices continue to fall.

Get the Singapore Edition newsletter in your inbox.
Go beyond the headlines with insights into one of Asia's most dynamic economies. Delivered weekly.
By continuing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
The company’s mNAV — a key valuation metric comparing the firm’s enterprise value to the value of its Bitcoin holdings — sat at about 1.11 on Monday, according to its website, spurring investor fears it may soon turn negative. If that were to happen, its CEO Phong Le had suggested last week that the firm could sell some of its Bitcoin. Shares of Strategy tumbled more than 10% on Monday, and are now down around 66% since reaching an all-time high in November 2024.
Strategy raised the yield on its variable rate Series A perpetual “Stretch” preferred stock to 10.75%, up 25 basis points. The shares are payable monthly.
Meanwhile, US spot Bitcoin ETFs took in a modest $70 million last week, after roughly $4.6 billion in outflows over the past month, Bloomberg data show. Most of the pressure has come from the iShares Bitcoin Trust, where investors have pulled money for five straight weeks, the longest withdrawal streak since the fund launched in January 2024#BinanceAlphaAlert #WriteToEarnUpgrade #TrumpTariffs #CryptoIn401k #CPIWatch