The crypto market has started the week exactly where investors didn’t want it to—in the red.
Over the past 24 hours, total cryptocurrency market capitalization slipped 0.8% to $3.05 trillion, extending a losing streak that has left traders cautious and sentiment fragile. Out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies, a striking 93 posted losses, and every single top-10 coin finished lower.
With $139 billion in daily trading volume and another wave of liquidations washing through the market, the mood has clearly shifted from cautious optimism to outright fear.
Red Across the Board: Winners Are Rare, Losers Are Everywhere
Monday morning (UTC) opened with widespread selling pressure.
Bitcoin (BTC) fell 0.7% to $87,860, the smallest decline among the top 10
Ethereum (ETH) dropped 1.5% to $2,892
Solana (SOL) led losses among large caps, sliding 3.3% to $122
Dogecoin (DOGE) declined 1.6% to $0.1213
Tron (TRX) held up best, easing just 0.4% to $0.2953
Beyond the majors, the damage was heavier.
MYX Finance (MYX) plunged 14% to $5.86, the steepest fall in the top 100
Monero (XMR) followed with a 5.4% drop to $466
Gains were few and far between.
River (RIVER) surged 43% to $84.7
Algorand (ALGO) managed a modest 2.3% rise to $0.1189
Everything else in the green was up 1.3% or less—a clear sign that buyers remain hesitant.
$550 Million Liquidated as Macro Fears Tighten Their Grip
This sell-off didn’t happen in isolation.
Macro uncertainty triggered over $550 million in crypto liquidations, hammering leveraged long positions as Bitcoin and Ethereum came under renewed pressure. Heightened geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and fragile global risk sentiment are once again spilling into digital assets.
The crypto market, still viewed largely as a risk-on arena, has struggled as investors rotate defensively.
Bitcoin: Weak Now, Reaction May Come Later
According to Gadi Chait, Investment Manager at Xapo Bank, Bitcoin’s recent weakness follows a short-lived recovery last week and reflects broader macro pressures rather than crypto-specific failures.
He points to a convergence of destabilizing factors:
Heightened geopolitical tensions
Renewed focus on U.S. strategic positioning toward Greenland
Donald Trump’s Davos address adding to global uncertainty
Regulatory ambiguity, particularly in the U.S.
Central bank divergence, with the Bank of Japan tightening expectations while the Federal Reserve continues liquidity reduction
“Traditional commodities have rallied, while Bitcoin has underperformed,” Chait noted, adding that this sequencing isn’t unprecedented.
Crucially, he believes Bitcoin’s response may be delayed, not absent.
“It remains possible that Bitcoin’s response emerges later, particularly as volatility subsides,” Chait said, emphasizing that short-term price swings don’t signal damaged fundamentals for long-term holders.
ETH Outlook Turns Bleak: $2,000 More Likely Than $4,000
Ethereum’s situation looks more precarious.
Over the past week, ETH is down 9.2%, trading between $2,801 and $3,222, and sitting a painful 41% below its all-time high of $4,946.
Technical levels to watch:
Near-term downside risks at $2,670 and $2,520
According to Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Commodity Strategist Mike McGlone, Ethereum is more likely to revisit $2,000 than break above $4,000.
ETH has been trapped in a $2,000–$4,000 range since 2023, and current momentum suggests it’s drifting toward the lower end rather than staging a breakout.
Fear Takes Over: Sentiment Slips Deeper Into the Red
Market psychology is deteriorating fast.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has fallen to 29, down from 34 over the weekend, firmly entrenched in the fear zone. The metric exited neutral territory last week and has continued sliding ever since.
This reflects growing investor anxiety, cautious positioning, and reduced appetite for risk. If prices fail to stabilize, sentiment could fall even further.
ETFs Extend the Bleeding Streak
Institutional flows offer little comfort.
Bitcoin Spot ETFs (U.S.)
$103.57 million in outflows on Friday
Five consecutive days of net red flows
Total net inflows now down to $56.49 billion
BlackRock led withdrawals with $101.62 million, followed by Fidelity’s $1.95 million.
Ethereum Spot ETFs (U.S.)
$41.74 million in outflows
Fourth straight red day
Total net inflows now $12.3 billion
BlackRock shed $44.49 million, while Grayscale lost $10.8 million, partially offset by small inflows into Grayscale’s Mini Trust and Fidelity.
Institutional investors, for now, are stepping back.
Regulation Watch: UK Moves Forward, Japan Looks Ahead
Amid the gloom, regulatory developments continue quietly in the background.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has entered the final consultation stage for its crypto regulation framework, seeking feedback on 10 proposed rules aimed at creating a more trusted and competitive market.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency is reportedly planning to allow cryptocurrencies in spot ETF products, potentially approving its first spot crypto ETFs by 2028, ending a long-standing ban.
These developments won’t move prices today—but they matter for the long game.
The Bigger Picture: Pain Now, Evolution Ongoing
According to Petr Kozyakov, CEO of Mercuryo, Bitcoin’s speculative nature means it naturally suffers during periods of heightened uncertainty—and altcoins follow.
But focusing solely on price misses the larger trend.
Stablecoin adoption, payment infrastructure, mergers, and blockchain efficiency continue to advance quietly in the background.
“Away from daily price movements, a quiet revolution is most definitely afoot,” Kozyakov said.
What to Watch Next
BTC key support: $85,000, then $84,300 and $83,800
ETH downside risk: $2,670 → $2,520 → potentially $2,000
Macro headlines: geopolitics, central banks, liquidity conditions
ETF flows: a reversal here could quickly shift sentiment
For now, fear is in control, leverage is being flushed, and patience is thin. Whether this move becomes another shakeout—or the start of something deeper—will depend less on crypto itself and more on how the global macro puzzle unfolds next.