Bitcoin Falls Below $100,000, Extending Overnight Losses as Rate Cut Concerns Return

Bitcoin fell Wednesday, extending overnight losses and wiping out a recent rebound as deep losses across risk-driven assets were sparked by heightened concerns over slower interest rate cuts in 2025.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency had briefly risen past the coveted $100,000 level as it marked an extended recovery from a late-December rout. But Tuesday and Wednesday’s losses saw the crypto wipe out the entirety of its recovery, putting it back in sight of late-December lows.

Bitcoin fell 0.3% to $96,607.7 by 00:49 ET (05:49 GMT), after losing over 5% on Tuesday.

The crypto was also subject to some profit-taking after logging a stellar 2024. A bulk of Bitcoin’s gains came after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, given that he had promised to enact crypto-friendly policies.

But crypto markets were now awaiting more cues on Trump’s policy plans, as he takes office on January 20.

Bitcoin fell on Wednesday, extending overnight losses and wiping out a recent rebound as heightened concerns over slower interest rate cuts in 2025 sparked deep losses across risk-driven assets.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency had briefly risen past the coveted $100,000 level as it marked an extended recovery from a late-December rout. But Tuesday and Wednesday’s losses saw the crypto wipe out the entirety of its recovery, putting it back in sight of late-December lows.

Bitcoin fell 0.3% to $96,607.7 by 00:49 ET (05:49 GMT), after losing over 5% on Tuesday.

The crypto was also subject to some profit-taking after logging a stellar 2024. A bulk of Bitcoin’s gains came after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, given that he had promised to enact crypto-friendly policies.

But crypto markets were now awaiting more cues on Trump’s policy plans, as he takes office on January 20.

Rate jitters batter Bitcoin

Bitcoin losses came in tandem with broader risk-driven markets, as stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data fueled concerns that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at a slower pace in 2025.

Job openings data for November read higher than expected, coming just days before nonfarm payrolls data for December, which is expected to offer more definitive cues on the labor market.

Stronger-than-expected purchasing managers index data for December, while presenting a brighter picture of the U.S. economy, also pushed up concerns that inflation will remain sticky in the coming months, giving the Fed even more impetus to cut interest rates slowly.

The central bank had slashed its outlook for interest rate cuts in 2025 during its December meeting, citing concerns over sticky inflation and confidence in the labor market.

Fed officials reiterated this messaging earlier this week.

Higher for longer rates bode poorly for speculative assets such as crypto, given that they limit the amount of liquidity that can be deployed into the sector. This trend had battered crypto markets through 2022 and most of 2023.

Crypto price today: altcoins track Bitcoin losses

Broader crypto prices fell tracking Bitcoin, also wiping out a recovery seen over the past week. Losses in several major altcoins were far more pronounced than those seen in Bitcoin.

World no.2 crypto Ether fell 8.4% to $3,360.35, while world no.3 crypto XRP slid 5.1% to $2.3084.

Compass Point Research analysts said Ether was likely to outpace Bitcoin this year, as friendlier U.S. regulations will see investors diversify beyond the world’s biggest cryptocurrency.

Solana, Cardano, and Polygon slid between 8% to 12%, while among meme tokens, Dogecoin tumbled 11%.