Headline: Bitcoin Slides as Tech Wobbles and Macro Risks Intensify
A turbulent trading session rippled across risk assets as Bitcoin tumbled, AI stocks retreated, and macro headlines on sanctions and tariffs stirred investor caution. The pullback tested dip buyers across crypto and equities, while mounting concerns over valuations and policy headwinds weighed on sentiment.
Bitcoin fell 13% to around $80,000, marking its steepest monthly setback since 2022. The selloff was driven by ETF outflows and notable whale distribution, with traders eyeing $75,000 as the next key technical support. Broader crypto markets echoed the risk-off tone as “bubble” chatter resurfaced and leveraged positions were trimmed. Despite the reset, market participants remain focused on liquidity trends, fund flows, and whether institutional demand can stabilize prices.
Equities saw similar crosscurrents. Nvidia and a basket of AI leaders dropped about 5% amid renewed debate over premium valuations, though the Dow staged a modest 200-point bounce into the close. Palantir climbed on AI momentum tied to Nvidia’s ecosystem, even as some analysts cautioned that long-term performance may favor more value-oriented names. The day’s volatility underscored how tightly tech leadership, earnings expectations, and rate sensitivity remain intertwined.
Macro risks added fuel. The rouble came under pressure as potential sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil loomed, with analysts projecting a 10–20% decline in foreign-exchange sales that could dent budget revenues. In Europe, officials rejected a U.S.-Russia Ukraine proposal on sovereignty grounds, highlighting policy divergence as Kyiv funding strains persist. Meanwhile, tariffs nudged 36% of car buyers to accelerate purchases, with 15% paying more; automakers have absorbed some costs so far, but sticker prices could still rise 4–8%, a trend that may complicate inflation and consumer-spending dynamics.
Key Points – Bitcoin dropped 13% to about $80,000, its worst month since 2022, with ETF outflows and whale selling weighing on prices. – Traders watch $75,000 as the next major support level in Bitcoin’s price structure. – Nvidia and AI-related stocks slid roughly 5%, while the Dow rebounded by about 200 points amid heightened volatility. – Palantir rallied on AI enthusiasm, though valuation risks across the tech complex remain in focus. – The rouble faced pressure as possible sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil could cut FX sales by 10–20% and hit budget revenues. – Tariffs pulled forward auto demand (36% bought earlier) and lifted costs for 15% of buyers; vehicle prices may still rise 4–8%.
