Bitcoin Price Dips Near $90k – Why Is the Crypto Market Down Today?

The Bitcoin (BTC) price slipped toward the $90,000 level over the past 24 hours, falling around 2%, and most major altcoins followed with even heavier losses. 

Ethereum dropped more than 3%, Solana slid over 5%, BNB and XRP also turned red, and the entire market cap is now sitting around $3.07T, down more than 2% on the day. It’s the same story almost everywhere: sellers stepped in, liquidity dried up, and risk sentiment rolled over hard.

So why did the market suddenly pull back? A mix of macro nerves, weak liquidity, and heavy unwinding across derivatives all hit at once – and none of it helped the Bitcoin price hold the $90k area.

Fed Rate Cut Sparks Fear Instead of Confidence

The latest market drop started right after the Federal Reserve delivered its third straight 25 bps rate cut. Normally this would be bullish for crypto, but traders didn’t treat it that way this time. 

The move was widely expected, so there was no upside surprise – and instead of cheering, the market read the cut as a sign of economic softness.

The reaction was immediate. Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq-100 jumped to 0.38, showing crypto once again acting like a risk asset during a risk-off moment. With the dollar strengthening and stocks dipping, crypto followed the same path lower.

On-chain analysts also pointed out that realized losses jumped to around $555M per day – levels last seen during the 2022 bear market. That’s not the signal traders want to see in a supposedly bullish environment.

Technical Breakdown Adds Pressure Across the Market

The technical picture isn’t helping either. The total crypto market cap failed to stay above its 7-day SMA at $3.09T, and the rejection there opened the door for more downside. The structure is still sitting inside a descending channel, the RSI is stuck near 39.94, and the MACD remains negative despite a small attempt to turn up.

Below $3.07T, bears clearly have control. If the market loses $3.01T, which is the next big Fibonacci support, another 5–7% slide wouldn’t be surprising. Traders can feel the hesitation – every bounce is getting sold, and nothing is showing real strength yet.

Market sentiment reflects that same discomfort. The Fear & Greed Index is hovering around 29, showing the market is nervous but not panicking. It’s the kind of environment where small drops can snowball because buyers aren’t stepping in with conviction.

Read Also: Fed Cuts Rates 25bps – Crypto Market Reacts With Major New Deals and Token Moves

Forced Selling and Low Liquidity Turn the Dip Into a Slide

Derivatives added even more pressure. Long liquidations have piled up, hitting roughly $130M in the last day, which is more than double the average from last month. Once liquidations start snowballing, the market often moves in one direction until the leverage clears out.

Institutional appetite hasn’t helped either. Some analysts pointed to ETF outflows, slower inflows from funds, and weak liquidity heading into the holiday season. When volume drops and whale activity picks up, the market becomes much easier to push around.

Regulatory uncertainty added another layer. Negotiations on key crypto legislation in the U.S. stalled again, and traders hate uncertainty – especially when liquidity is already thin.

What Traders Should Watch Next

Even with the downturn, some analysts believe this reaction could fade quickly once the market stabilizes. In previous cycles, crypto often dipped right after rate cuts before bouncing once traders reassessed the macro picture.

Right now the Crypto market isn’t trying to be brave. Money is pulling back, buyers are hesitant, and crypto is feeling it. Bitcoin is battling to stay above $90k, Ethereum keeps sliding back into the same old range, and most altcoins can’t attract any real interest. Without stronger liquidity or something new to spark momentum, prices may keep drifting lower.

But if the macro pressure eases and the market stabilizes, the picture for early 2026 still looks far better than it did just a few months ago.But until that happens, caution is back, and dip buyers are waiting for a clearer signal.

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Boluwatife Afe
Boluwatife Afe

Boluwatife is a dedicated content strategist specializing in the crypto industry and is passionate about blockchain technology and digital currencies. With a keen eye for emerging trends and a talent for making complex topics accessible, Boluwatife aims to educate and inspire the crypto community through engaging and insightful content.

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