Bitcoin Breaks the $100,000 Barrier Again as Market Tension Mounts
Bitcoin falls below $100K again, testing investor confidence amid heavy ETF outflows and economic uncertainty.
Bitcoin’s grip on the six-figure threshold is slipping again. The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell below $100,000 on Thursday for the third time this month, dragged down by renewed fears over the U.S. economy and a wider retreat from risk assets.
CoinGecko data showed Bitcoin trading around $99,611 after a 2% daily drop—another slide below what many traders had seen as a psychological barrier. The coin first broke under that level on November 4, briefly rebounded, and then slipped again just days later. The pullback comes only weeks after Bitcoin hit a record high of $126,080 in October, a surge now tempered by mounting evidence of an economic slowdown.
The mood across markets has soured as investors brace for weaker jobs data and softer consumer spending. “Institutional participation and whale activity have clearly diminished,” said Dilin Wu, research strategist at Pepperstone. “ETF outflows continue, showing that the key forces needed to drive a sustained rally are still absent.”
Those outflows have become one of the biggest pressure points. According to Farside Investors, U.S. Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds have lost a combined $2.6 billion since late October—about $1.9 billion from Bitcoin products and $719 million from Ethereum funds. The capital flight has fueled persistent selling and heightened volatility across the crypto landscape.
Ethereum fell roughly 5% to $3,265, while Solana slipped 3.5% to $148. XRP, meanwhile, edged up 0.5% after the launch of a new spot ETF tied to the token. Across the broader market, daily liquidations reached $501 million, with Bitcoin accounting for about $165 million, according to CoinGlass. Most of those losses came from long positions, as bullish traders were forced to exit their bets.
Despite the turbulence, some analysts see resilience beneath the surface. Joe DiPasquale, CEO of crypto fund BitBull, believes Bitcoin’s structure remains constructive. “Every pullback has produced a higher low, and buyers keep defending support quickly,” he said. “That steady bid is also visible across major coins.”
For now, the market is caught between economic caution and speculative optimism. The $100,000 mark has become more than a number—it’s a test of confidence in crypto’s staying power. Whether Bitcoin can recover and hold above it will likely depend on broader macro signals, particularly from the Federal Reserve, as traders weigh inflation data and policy expectations.
