Bitcoin Slips Below $90,000 as Asia Opens Lower on Tech Jitters
Bitcoin dipped below $90,000 on Friday as Asian markets opened the final full trading week of 2025 on a softer note, with worries about technology earnings weighing on both stocks and crypto.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell to around $89,293, down 1.1%, as risk appetite faded across global markets. Ether traded near $3,111, while XRP slipped to $2.00. The total crypto market value edged down to $3.13 trillion.
Tech Worries Drag on Markets
The cautious mood followed a sell-off on Wall Street late last week. US stocks slid after Broadcom issued a weaker-than-expected sales outlook, unsettling investors who have piled into the artificial intelligence trade over the past year.
The S&P 500 dropped about 1%, reinforcing concerns that massive AI spending may take longer to translate into profits than many had hoped.
Those fears carried into Asia. Futures pointed to losses for Australian, Hong Kong, and Japanese markets, while MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific equities excluding Japan fell about 1% in early trading. South Korea — often viewed as a barometer for AI-related optimism — dropped more than 2%.
Asia Feels the Pressure
Asian markets have outperformed many global peers this year, but that strength now leaves them more exposed. The region plays a central role in producing the chips and hardware that power the AI boom, making it particularly sensitive to any slowdown in tech demand.
US equity futures swung between small gains and losses during Asian hours, reflecting uncertainty over how much further earnings downgrades could weigh on high-growth technology stocks as the year draws to a close.
Softer Dollar Helps, But Crypto Tracks Stocks
There were some supportive macro signals in the background. President Donald Trump said the next Federal Reserve chair would likely favor lower interest rates, while the US dollar just posted its longest weekly losing streak since August.
Markets are now pricing in two Fed rate cuts in 2026, one more than the central bank has so far signaled. Under normal circumstances, a softer dollar and falling rate expectations would support crypto prices.
For now, however, crypto traders appear focused on equity volatility — particularly in tech. With digital assets increasingly moving in step with stock markets, any shake-up in the AI narrative is quickly spilling over into Bitcoin and the wider crypto market.
As the year-end approaches, investors across asset classes seem content to stay cautious, waiting to see whether tech earnings can justify the lofty expectations still baked into prices.
