Bitcoin Near $90,000 as ETH, SOL and ADA Decline Amid Market Caution

Bitcoin (BTC) traded just below $90,000 during Friday’s Asian session, with regional equities and a weaker U.S. dollar failing to sustain gains for crypto after a volatile week. BTC hovered around $89,800, little changed on the day but under pressure following this week’s liquidation-driven selloff. Asian stocks hit record highs, and emerging-market assets gained further, yet crypto lagged, signaling caution toward higher-volatility trades. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index reached a new peak, while U.S. equity futures showed modest gains ahead of the New York open. The dollar remained soft after earlier declines, supporting commodities like gold near $5,000 an ounce. Despite steadier broader risk sentiment, crypto prices have been muted, with Bitcoin briefly dipping below $98,000 amid over $1 billion in liquidations. Ether fell toward $2,970, while Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and XRP edged lower. Most large-cap tokens are down 7%–12% over the past week, reflecting fragile sentiment despite calmer conditions in equities and currencies. “Crypto remains a volatility amplifier rather than a defensive asset,” said Wenny Cai of Synfutures. “Liquidations reduced leverage, but uncertainty around policy, funding costs, and regulation keeps investors cautious.” With the U.S. session approaching, traders will watch whether equities and emerging markets drive crypto higher or if Bitcoin stays below $90,000 as confidence rebuilds slowly after a mixed start to the year. [Publication Time: 2026-01-23 07:08 UTC]