Bitcoin Price Near $90,000 Stalls as ETH, SOL, and ADA Slide Despite Global Risk Rally

Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin price near $90,000 remains stuck after over $1 billion in liquidations earlier this week
  
• Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano are down 7 to 12 percent weekly as risk appetite fades
  
• Crypto continues trading as a high-beta risk asset, lagging equities and commodities
  

The Bitcoin price near $90,000 should feel exciting. Asian stock markets are hitting record highs. The U.S. dollar is weaker. Gold is hovering near $5,000 an ounce. On paper, this is the kind of macro setup crypto investors wait for.

Yet the market is not reacting the way many expected. Instead of a breakout, Bitcoin is stalling. Altcoins are slipping. And traders are acting cautiously rather than confidently, suggesting that the recent volatility left a deeper mark than price charts alone reveal. So why is crypto lagging when everything else looks supportive?

Bitcoin Price Near $90,000 Fails to Regain Momentum

Bitcoin price near $90,000 hovered around $89,800 during Asian trading hours on Friday, showing little movement on the day. This comes after a sharp selloff earlier in the week that briefly pushed Bitcoin below $98,000, triggering more than $1 billion in forced liquidations across the crypto market.

That liquidation event cleared excessive leverage, but it did not restore confidence. Instead of a strong rebound, Bitcoin entered a consolidation phase. Traders appear hesitant to chase prices higher, even as broader financial markets show strength. This price behavior reinforces the idea that Bitcoin is still treated as a high-volatility asset rather than a haven during uncertain periods.

Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano Reflect Fragile Sentiment

While the Bitcoin price near $90,000 remains range-bound, the Ethereum price slipped toward $2,970, and major altcoins followed lower. Solana, Cardano, and XRP all posted modest daily losses, according to CoinGecko data.

Every week, most large-cap tokens are now down between 7 percent and 12 percent. This is an important signal. There is no clear rotation from Bitcoin into altcoins. There is also no aggressive dip-buying behavior. In simple terms, investors are participating less, not reallocating more.

Global Markets Rally, but Crypto Does Not Follow

Asian equities surged this week, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index reaching a fresh record high. Emerging-market stocks also extended gains, supported by a softer U.S. dollar and improving global risk sentiment.

Under normal circumstances, this environment tends to support crypto. A weaker dollar often benefits Bitcoin, and rising equities usually lift speculative assets. This time, the response has been muted.

The disconnect suggests crypto is reacting less to macro optimism and more to lingering uncertainty around funding costs, policy direction, and regulation.

Crypto Still Trades as a High-Beta Risk Asset

Market participants continue to frame crypto as an amplified version of global risk appetite. According to Wenny Cai, chief operating officer at Synfutures, crypto is still viewed as a volatility amplifier rather than a defensive allocation.

The liquidation flush removed leverage, but it also reminded traders how quickly conditions can shift. As a result, capital is flowing toward assets with clearer yield, cash flows, or policy backing.

This explains why the Bitcoin price near $90,000 is holding ground but struggling to break higher.

What Traders Are Watching Next

As the U.S. trading session unfolds, investors will closely watch whether strength in equities and emerging markets finally pulls crypto higher. A decisive move above $90,000 could improve short-term sentiment.

If Bitcoin remains pinned below that level, however, it would reinforce the idea that confidence is rebuilding slowly. For now, crypto appears stuck in a waiting phase, not collapsing, but not convincing either. Sometimes, what the market does not do is just as important as what it does.

Conclusion: 

The Bitcoin price near $90,000 is not flashing panic, but it is not signaling confidence either. After a brutal liquidation sweep, the market is taking a breath. That pause matters. It shows traders are thinking, not reacting. Equities are rising, the dollar is weaker, and gold is strong, yet crypto is choosing patience over momentum.

 This tells us Bitcoin is still treated as a risk asset first, not a refuge. For now, direction will come from conviction, not hope. A clean move above $90,000 could reset sentiment fast. Until then, the market is watching, waiting, and staying selective.

Frequently Asked Questions