Crypto markets kept sliding on Thursday, with traders sitting on their hands instead of buying the dip. Bitcoin fell nearly 2% to around $101,832, while Ethereum dropped 3% to $3,337. XRP got hit hardest, losing 5.5% to $2.20, though BNB held relatively steady at $964, down just 0.3%. Total market cap slipped about 2% to $3.4 trillion.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell 3 points to 24, putting it back in “extreme fear” territory. That shows confidence hasn’t returned after October’s brutal leveraged shakeout. Liquidations jumped 83% to $587 million over 24 hours, though open interest dipped slightly to $143 billion, suggesting quieter positioning in futures markets.
Most of the weakness comes from macro conditions. The Fed’s slowing down rate cuts, which is pushing Treasury yields higher and strengthening the dollar. When yields rise, investors typically rotate away from risky assets into bonds. Stocks felt similar pressure, with the Nasdaq dropping over 1% yesterday.
Trade war uncertainty between the US and China isn’t helping either. Nobody knows if more tariffs are coming, which keeps risk appetite weak across equities, commodities, and crypto.
On-chain data shows selling pressure continues, though full capitulation hasn’t hit yet. Bitcoin reserves on Binance keep rising, meaning more coins are moving to exchanges, usually a sign people want to sell. The negative Coinbase Premium Index suggests US institutional buyers aren’t stepping in at these prices yet.
Conclusion
Bitcoin fell 1.9% to $101,832, and Ethereum dropped 3% to $3,337 as the Crypto Fear & Greed Index returned to 24, signaling extreme fear amid macro pressure and tariff uncertainty.
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