Bitcoin Holds Near $102K as Crypto Markets Struggle Amid Stronger Dollar and Equity Weakness

Bitcoin (BTC) hovered around $102,000 on Friday as the broader crypto market fought to sustain a rebound amid global risk aversion and a strengthening U.S. dollar. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization edged up 1% to $3.4 trillion — its first gain after four consecutive days of decline — though traders remain cautious that the uptick could be temporary.

The modest recovery came as investors rotated away from major technology stocks, cooling off this year’s artificial intelligence-driven rally. U.S. equities, including the Nasdaq and S&P 500, extended losses as concerns grew over stretched AI valuations and OpenAI’s ambitious trillion-dollar funding plans. This shift in sentiment has spilled over into crypto markets, where speculative appetite remains weak despite recent monetary easing by the Federal Reserve.

According to FxPro analyst Alex Kuptsikevich, Bitcoin’s price action suggests consolidation rather than reversal. “Bitcoin is holding above its 50-week moving average for now, but intraday charts show sellers are attempting to regain control. Time favors the bears unless macro sentiment improves,” he said.

Major cryptocurrencies remained under pressure. Ether (ETH) slipped 1.1% to $3,353, deepening its 13% weekly loss, while Solana (SOL) dropped 1.4% on the day and 15% over the week. XRP also declined 4% following a surge in wallet activity. In contrast, BNB and Dogecoin saw slight daily gains of around 1%, offering minor relief after heavy selloffs earlier in the week.

Market analysts, including Hashdex and Wintermute, pointed to risk aversion and a stronger dollar as key headwinds. Still, on-chain data from Glassnode showed long-term “accumulator addresses” adding over 375,000 BTC in the past month, signaling quiet confidence among committed investors.

While a drop below $100,000 could trigger another round of liquidations, traders believe only a stable macroeconomic backdrop and improved equity sentiment can reignite crypto’s bullish momentum.