Tech

Bitcoin slides as crypto winter deepens: what investors should know

Bitcoin fell below $66,000 on Thursday, its lowest level in more than a year, as a broad risk-off mood weighs on crypto prices. By 2:45 p.m. ET, the token was down more than 10%, underscoring a developing crypto winter investors cannot ignore.

Bitcoin slides as crypto winter deepens: what investors should know

Key Takeaways

  • Bitcoin traded below $66,000, its lowest intraday level in more than a year
  • The drop surpassed 10% by 2:45 p.m. ET, signaling a sharp intraday move
  • Breaking below the $70,000 level suggested more downside risk
  • Barry Bannister projects a potential bottom near $38,000
  • Bitcoin ETFs began trading on U.S. stock exchanges about two years ago, improving accessibility for investors

People Involved

  • Barry BannisterChief Equity Strategist, Stifel
  • Matt HouganChief Investment Officer, Bitwise Asset Management
  • Carolyn McClanahanFounder, Life Planning Partners
  • Donald TrumpPresident of the United States
  • Michael BurryInvestor

Entities Involved

  • Bitwise Asset ManagementAsset management firm
  • StifelInvestment bank and broker-dealer
  • Life Planning PartnersFinancial planning firm
  • Morgan StanleyFinancial services firm
  • U.S. stock exchangesTrading venues for Bitcoin ETFs

MarketMoodz Analysis

Investors are wrestling with a sharp, macro-driven pullback in Bitcoin that underscores a broader risk-off regime. Excess leverage and profit-taking by early crypto participants are weighing on prices even as ETFs expand access and liquidity for traditional investors, potentially amplifying inflows and outflows.

Hougan attributes the current downturn to a crypto winter that began in January 2025, with early institutional enthusiasm masking retail selling and complicating the supply-demand dynamic for BTC.

Looking ahead, traders should monitor key price levels near $66,000 and $70,000, on-chain liquidity signals, regulatory developments under a pro-crypto narrative, and the pace of Fed policy moves, as these factors will determine whether the cycle intensifies or begins to turn as liquidity improves.

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This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Ratings and research outputs can be wrong, incomplete, or stale. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified professional.