By
@MrJangKen • ID: 766881381 • 8 January, 2026
LONDON — The cryptocurrency market faced a reality check on Thursday as Bitcoin (BTC) dipped below the psychologically significant $90,000 mark. The retreat signaled a cooling of the aggressive "New Year" rebound that had characterized the first week of 2026, even as the broader macroeconomic environment remains largely supportive of risk assets.
As of Thursday afternoon, Bitcoin was trading down roughly 2% over a 24-hour period. Despite the intraday dip, the flagship digital asset remains up more than 3% for the week, highlighting the strength of the initial January push.
The ETF Reversal: $480 Million Outflows
The primary catalyst for the downward pressure appears to be a sudden shift in institutional sentiment. After a strong start to the year, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded over $486 million in net outflows on Wednesday.
Fidelity (FBTC): Led the losses with $248 million in exits.BlackRock (IBIT): Saw $130 million in outflows.Duration: This marks the first time in 2026 that ETFs have seen two consecutive days of net losses.
Analysts suggest this "tactical positioning" may be a result of traders locking in profits after Bitcoin climbed from its January 1 open of approximately $87,400 to recent highs near $94,000.
Macro Tailwinds vs. Crypto Headwinds
Interestingly, Bitcoin’s slide comes at a time when traditional "risk-on" signals are flashing. A rally in global government bonds has pushed the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield down to 4.14%.
The bond rally was fueled by weak economic data released Wednesday. The ADP Research Institute reported that private-sector payrolls grew by only 41,000 in December, missing the median economist estimate of 50,000.
"Macroeconomics remains a crucial factor," noted analysts at payments firm B2BINPAY. "While easier policy expectations generally support higher-risk assets like crypto, the market is currently sensitive to Bitcoin dominance and the immediate rotation of liquidity."
Fed Rate Cut Bets
The cooling labor market has prompted traders to increase bets on Federal Reserve intervention. Current market pricing suggests:
An 88% probability that rates remain steady in January.Growing expectations for at least two quarter-point cuts by the end of 2026.
Altcoins: Dogecoin Defies the Trend
While the "majors" struggled, the broader crypto market showed a stark divergence in performance.
Bitcoin (BTC)24-Hour Change: $-2.0\%$7-Day Change: $+3.1\%$Ether (ETH)24-Hour Change: $-3.0\%$7-Day Change: $+6.0\%$XRP24-Hour Change: $-4.5\%$7-Day Change: $+17.0\%$Dogecoin (DOGE)24-Hour Change: $-0.1\%$7-Day Change: $+22.0\%$
XRP led the losses among high-cap assets on Thursday, yet it remains one of the week's strongest performers alongside Dogecoin, which has benefited from a renewed retail bid and "memecoin" momentum early in the year.
A "Post-Holiday Reset"
Market experts view the current volatility as a natural correction following a quiet December. In late 2025, many trading desks pared back risk, leading to a "sideways" market. The early January surge was a release of that pent-up demand, but Thursday's pullback suggests the path to new cycle highs will not be a straight line.
With improving liquidity expectations and a steadier political mood in Washington, the long-term "tailwinds" remain intact. However, for the immediate future, traders are watching the $90,000 level closely to see if it flips from support back to a formidable ceiling.
#Bitcoin #CryptoMarket #BitcoinETF #MacroEconomics #Dogecoin