Bitcoin traded just above $84,000 on Friday, flat over 24 hours after falling below that level on Wednesday, CoinDesk data show. Most major tokens moved less than 2%. Smaller names did the running, with ONDO up 27% to about 54 cents and Quant up 39% to nearly $100.
Bonds found a floor in Asia. The 10-year Treasury yield slipped two basis points to 5.17% after jumping more than 20 basis points over the previous two sessions, and Brent fell 1% to about $105 a barrel on reports that Washington and Tehran are exploring a phased deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
FxPro chief market analyst Alex Kuptsikevich reads bitcoin's drop as a stall short of the target technical traders had projected for the rally that began in mid-August.
"As with the overall market capitalisation, the leading cryptocurrency encountered resistance near a previously significant support level. However, BTC failed to complete the Fibonacci extension pattern to 161.8% of the impulse that began in mid-August in a single move. Despite the pullback, the ongoing, unfinished nature of the uptrend suggests it may be a temporary pause on the way up," he said in a note.
"It is worth remembering that in 2021, Bitcoin lost over 50% from its peak before reaching new highs. Similarly, today, a decline to $70K may be painful for short-term speculators, but it does not undermine the bullish outlook," he added.
Bitcoin heads into Friday's Deribit expiry below $85,000, the strike carrying one of the largest blocks of call options.