- Bitcoin dropped below $102,000 after briefly surpassing $105,000 early Wednesday.
- Other major cryptocurrencies like ether, Solana, and XRP declined between 3% and 5% as U.S. markets opened.
- U.S. crypto-related stocks also saw significant losses, with Circle down 9.5% post-earnings.
- The Coinbase Premium index has been negative since late October, signaling reduced U.S. investor demand for bitcoin.
- Division among Federal Reserve policymakers has created uncertainty over December interest rate cuts, contributing to market volatility.
On Wednesday, bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, fell below $102,000 after a brief peak over $105,000 earlier in the day. This 3% drop occurred within a few hours as U.S. traditional markets opened. Alongside bitcoin, ether (ETH) experienced nearly a 5% decline below $3,400, while altcoins such as Solana (SOL) and XRP also faced similar percentage losses.
Crypto-related U.S. stocks reflected this downturn. Stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) fell 9.5% following its third-quarter earnings report. Additionally, crypto miners with data center plans, including Bitfarms (BITF), Bitdeer (BTDR), Cipher Mining (CIFR), Hive Digital (HIVE), Hut 8 (HUT), and IREN, saw shares decline between 5% and 10%.
A notable sign of subdued American interest in bitcoin is the extended negativity of the Coinbase Premium index, which measures the price difference between bitcoin on Coinbase, a popular U.S. exchange, and Binance, a major global exchange. This negative trend, ongoing since late October, marks the longest stretch since the steep correction in March-April when bitcoin prices dropped from over $100,000 to around $75,000.
The hesitation among U.S. investors coincides with increasing uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. Previously expected to lower interest rates in December, the central bank now faces internal divisions, as policy makers debate whether inflation persistence or labor market weakness poses a greater threat. A recent Wall Street Journal report described this divide and noted how the partial government shutdown, which halted key employment and inflation data, has amplified uncertainties. The report described the prospects of a December rate cut as a “tossup.”
Reflecting this uncertainty, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have seen more than $1.8 billion in net outflows following the Fed’s October meeting, indicating cautious investor sentiment amid unclear policy direction as mentioned in Farside’s report.
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