Bitcoin Slides to $80,000, Ethereum at Year-Long Lows as Risk-Off Sentiment Mounts

Bitcoin (BTC) dropped to a new yearly low late Thursday as risk aversion continued to pressure both equities and crypto markets.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency declined 5% on the day to $80,100—its lowest level since the start of 2025, according to CoinGecko data.

Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH), the world’s second largest crypto, is down 8% to $2,150, a more than 14-month low.

Liquidations across the broader crypto market surged past $220 million within the past hour, with Bitcoin long positions accounting for nearly half of the total, CoinGlass data shows. 

Although this figure is significantly lower than the $600 million in liquidations reported on Monday, the shift indicates a decline in sentiment that had previously been lifted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

U.S. stock markets closed lower on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 2.8%, as a sell-off in tech stocks—led by Nvidia—combined with concerns over potential tariffs from President Trump weighed on investor sentiment.

Investor confidence has waned amid growing concerns that Trump will implement those taxes on foreign imports from the EU, Mexico, and Canada—an economic policy that some economists warn could drive inflation higher. 

Others, however, argue that such measures could bolster domestic industry and spur economic growth.

Most analysts Decrypt previously spoke with suggested that the ongoing war in Ukraine remains a more significant factor influencing this year’s market cycle. 

Still, broader investor sentiment appears cautious, with capital flowing into U.S. Treasuries and the dollar as traders seek safety amid mounting uncertainty.