Crypto Markets Steady as Investors Await US Macro Moves
On Friday, crypto markets found themselves in a consolidation phase as bulls sought to initiate a recovery. Traders, however, remained cautious in anticipation of significant macroeconomic events, such as the US nonfarm payrolls report and an impending Supreme Court ruling on trade tariffs. The leading digital asset, Bitcoin, remained within a narrow range and fell below significant psychological thresholds due to short-term profit-taking and varied institutional inflows. Following an examination of the $94,000–$95,000 range earlier this week, BTC experienced a retracement and momentarily fell below $90,000 before finding stability around the mid-$90,000 levels. Among the top five cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation, Ethereum traded within the $3,100–$3,200 range, reflecting Bitcoin’s pullback. BNB, XRP, and Solana experienced a decline, with losses affecting the wider market.
Bitcoin encounters obstacles in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty. In discussing Bitcoin’s recent price movements, Vikram Subburaj remarked that the fluctuations were indicative of ETF outflows and leveraged liquidations. He noted that there was substantial sell-side pressure, with reports highlighting over $440 million in crypto liquidations occurring during focused trading sessions. He noted that Bitcoin’s failure to consistently rise above the $94,000 mark suggests that resistance is still strongly established. “Macro conditions have tightened risk appetite as traders look for positive cues.” The wider risk-off sentiment has permeated the crypto space in tandem with equity markets. “ETF flows show periods of inflows followed by modest outflows, indicating rotation rather than conviction buying,” Subburaj stated.
Bitcoin has encountered resistance near the $93,000 mark for the third occasion and is currently evaluating support within the $89,000–$90,000 range, a crucial order block where robust passive bids persist in absorbing selling pressure. As of the latest update, BTC was priced at $90,989, reflecting an increase of nearly 1 percent over the last 24 hours, accompanied by a trading volume of $40 billion, as reported. The token has fluctuated between $89,233 and $91,520 throughout the same timeframe. Even with its market capitalisation staying under the $2 trillion threshold at approximately $1.81 trillion, Bitcoin retains its position as the largest cryptocurrency by market value. From a technical perspective, Riya Sehgal stated, “A close above $91,700 could trigger a short squeeze towards $93,000, while a break below $89,000 could open the $86,000–$87,000 range.” Subburaj stated that below $90,000, the $87,000–$88,000 zone becomes critical. “Until BTC reclaims $95,000 with volume, investors should keep leverage low, respect support levels, and add exposure only on confirmed strength, not intraday rebounds,” he stated. Ethereum follows Bitcoin’s range-bound trading pattern.
The wider cryptocurrency market exhibited a mixed performance, with total market capitalization lingering near $3.1 trillion after a tumultuous beginning to 2026. Bitcoin remained close to the $91,000 mark, whereas Ethereum faced challenges in maintaining positions above $3,100. As reported, Ethereum is currently approximately 37 percent lower than its all-time high of $4,953, which was reached on August 25, 2025. Sehgal emphasized that ETH bulls must protect the $3,050 level to prevent additional declines, noting resistance at $3,180 and $3,250. On the institutional front, BlackRock added nearly $900 million worth of Bitcoin in early January, indicating a resurgence in accumulation. JPMorgan indicated that ETF flows have stabilised, implying that the de-risking phase may be approaching its conclusion, while Morgan Stanley revealed intentions to introduce a digital wallet later this year.
