Українська
Русский
English
Bitcoin today: falls below $91,000 amid geopolitics and jobs data
Bitcoin fell during the Asian session on Thursday, extending a reversal from its early-year recovery, as risk appetite remained constrained due to heightened geopolitical risks in Latin America and Asia.
Anticipation of key U.S. nonfarm payrolls data also curbed large bets in crypto markets, as investors sought clearer signals on the health of the world’s largest economy.
Bitcoin fell 1.5% to $91,093.8 by 05:06 GMT, briefly dipping to $90,642.7. The world’s largest cryptocurrency’s early-year recovery stalled after it failed to return to the $95,000 level.
Uncertainty surrounding companies holding cryptocurrencies in their treasuries — particularly the largest corporate holder, Strategy Inc (NASDAQ:MSTR) — also weighed on the crypto market. Strategy, which has suffered nearly 50% losses in 2025, received limited relief after MSCI said the index operator would not exclude companies with digital assets in their treasuries from its indices.
The index operator will nevertheless continue a broader review of requirements for inclusion in its indices.
Rising geopolitical risks hinder Bitcoin’s recovery
Risk-driven appetite for cryptocurrencies remained limited amid rising geopolitical risks in Asia and Latin America.
In Asia, a long-standing diplomatic dispute between China and Japan escalated this week after Beijing imposed export restrictions against Tokyo and launched an anti-dumping investigation into Japanese chemical companies.
Chinese media raised the possibility of Beijing restricting exports of rare earth metals to Japan — a scenario with serious implications for Japan’s vast manufacturing sector.
The diplomatic dispute is largely linked to comments made in late 2025 by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding military intervention in Taiwan, which were rejected by Beijing.
In Latin America, markets awaited developments following the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, during which President Nicolas Maduro was captured.
Reports said U.S. President Donald Trump was preparing to place Venezuela’s oil industry under long-term control — a move that could anger China and trigger heightened political instability in the region.
The U.S. invasion of Venezuela over the weekend rattled financial markets earlier this week, boosting demand for safe-haven assets such as gold and the dollar. Bitcoin largely lagged this trend.
Crypto prices today: altcoins follow Bitcoin lower as U.S. jobs data looms
Broader cryptocurrency prices mostly declined alongside Bitcoin, giving back much of their early-year gains.
Caution increased ahead of the release of key U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for December, due on Friday. The data are expected to influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook amid growing expectations that the central bank will keep rates unchanged in the near term.
The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether, fell 2.8% to $3,156.15, while XRP — this week’s top gainer — dropped 4%.
Solana and Cardano lost 0.6% and 2.2% respectively, while BNB fell 1.8%.
Among meme tokens, Dogecoin slipped 0.6%, while $TRUMP lost 1.1%.
See also: "Does Venezuela Really Own 600,000 Bitcoins? Experts Weigh In!"
