Bitcoin traded nearly flat just above $81,500 at 1:30 p.m. EST, after repeatedly stalling near $81,600. Its market capitalization was $1.64 trillion, down nearly 3% over 30 days. Across the crypto market, liquidations reached nearly $255 million, including about $163 million in long positions.
U.S. benchmark oil touched $100 a barrel and Brent crude hit $117. Amina Research attributed a broader market sell-off to investor doubts about spending on artificial intelligence. Mitchell Askew of Blockware called bitcoin’s pullback below $82,000 healthy and said he expects it to trend higher after the upcoming U.S. elections; that is his forecast, not a reported result.
