The cryptocurrency market faced a notable pullback on Thursday, as leading digital assets retraced gains after a critical cryptocurrency regulation bill encountered a legislative roadblock in the U.S. Senate. The Senate Banking Committee's decision to postpone markup proceedings on the proposed cryptocurrency market structure bill occurred amid strong resistance from major players within the industry, triggering widespread profit-taking among investors.
Bitcoin (BTC), the largest digital currency by market capitalization, declined by approximately 1.29%, closing near $95,485 as of 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time. Earlier in the day, Bitcoin had achieved a two-month high of roughly $97,000, supported by robust trading activity; however, recent 24-hour volume dropped by 13%, reflecting reduced market participation amid regulatory uncertainty.
Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency, exhibited relative stagnation trading in the vicinity of $3,300, showing a minor decrease of about 0.82%. Altcoins such as XRP and Dogecoin registered sharper downward moves of approximately 2.66% and 4.23%, respectively, with XRP near $2.07 and Dogecoin falling to $0.1397. Solana (SOL) also experienced a 2.75% decline to $142.06.
The selling pressure extended beyond cryptocurrencies to public equities within the crypto ecosystem. Shares of Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR), a major bitcoin investment firm, ended the day down roughly 4.70%, while Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN), a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, declined by approximately 6.48%, signaling investor caution in the broader sector.
According to data compiled by Coinglass, more than $320 million was liquidated from cryptocurrency positions within a 24-hour window, with long position liquidations comprising about 81% of the total. Concurrently, Bitcoin's open interest dropped by 2.31%, though data from Binance indicates that over half of traders holding open BTC positions maintained net long exposure, suggesting a degree of investor conviction despite short-term setbacks.
Market sentiment gauges reflected this shift, moving from 'Greed' back toward a 'Neutral' stance, as measured by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index. This transition highlights a more cautious mood prevailing among market participants pending regulatory clarity.
Notwithstanding the immediate bearish price action, some industry analysts expressed measured optimism about Bitcoin's medium-term prospects. Analysts at B2BINPAY, a cryptocurrency payment services firm, noted that Bitcoin's market structure retains a fundamentally bullish character, supported by ongoing accumulation among large holders and a resetting of leveraged positions.
Per their analysis, maintaining Bitcoin price levels above the $94,000 to $95,000 range could realistically facilitate a rally toward the $100,000 to $105,000 zone within the coming weeks, emphasizing the importance of key support levels in shaping near-term price trajectories.
Supporting this viewpoint, notable cryptocurrency commentator Ted Pillows highlighted that the aggregate market capitalization of altcoins remains above a key ascending trendline, which could set the stage for a relief rally in altcoin prices. He underscored that holding Bitcoin above $95,000 is a critical condition for such a recovery scenario in alternative digital currencies.
In broader financial markets, while cryptocurrencies wavered, traditional stock indices demonstrated resilience. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 292.81 points, or 0.60%, closing at 49,442.44. The S&P 500 index advanced 0.26% to 6,944.47, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased 0.25% to reach 23,530.02.
Economic data provided some positive catalysts, as weekly jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 198,000, beating analyst estimates around 215,000. Meanwhile, energy markets showed softness, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude falling below $60 per barrel. This decline followed comments by former President Donald Trump signaling a less confrontational policy stance toward Iran, impacting geopolitical risk assessments related to oil supplies.
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization contracted by approximately 1.26% in the last day, standing at about $3.23 trillion as of the reporting period. Top market gainers among cryptocurrencies with market capitalizations exceeding $100 million included Decred (DCR), which increased nearly 11.99% to $25.14; Wrapped Pulse (WPLS), up 11.40% to $0.00001638; and Yooldo (ESPORTS), which rose by 8.16% to $0.4633.
This complex market environment underscores the sensitivity of cryptocurrency prices to regulatory developments and highlights the continuing interplay between legislative actions and investor sentiment. Market participants remain attentive to upcoming policy decisions and key technical price levels that could dictate the trajectory of digital assets in the near term.