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Bitcoin Slides 2.3% as Macro Pain Cuts Demand for Risky Bets

Andre Savage
Published Oct 14, 2026
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Summary:
  • Bitcoin slipped as much as 2.3% toward the low end of its recent range and was hovering near $81,700.
  • Risk appetite cooled after September inflation accelerated at the fastest pace since April and chipmakers sold off; the Nasdaq 100 fell 2% and the dollar hit its strongest since May 2025.
  • A Wednesday report from CryptoQuant showed its 30-day analyst consensus index swinging from negative 18.3 in July to 49.2, as the proportion of bullish analysts jumped to 84% from 37%.

What moved the market

Bitcoin lost ground as investors stepped back from speculative trades after September consumer prices picked up at the fastest pace since April, prompting traders to increase bets on more Federal Reserve rate hikes. A fresh selloff in chipmakers added to the risk-off mood. The Nasdaq 100 fell 2%, and the greenback reached its strongest mark since May 2025. Bitwise Asset Management's chief investment officer, Matt Hougan, said, "Global financial market conditions are pretty tough right now."

Sentiment is up while price drifts

Crypto sentiment has turned notably brighter even as prices wobbled. According to CryptoQuant's newest reading, its 30-day analyst consensus index rose to 49.2 after registering -18.3 in July, and the proportion of bullish analysts jumped to 84% from 37%. Even so, Bitcoin">price action is still over 30% under its record peak after several unsuccessful tries to launch a durable upswing.

The leverage overhang

Slightly more than a year has passed since a historic crypto wipeout vaporized a record $19 billion of leveraged positions in a single day, and traders have been cautious about restoring the leverage that previously magnified crypto rallies. Repeated efforts to sustain a rally have kept petering out. High inflation and elevated energy costs "all of those restrict global monetary liquidity. And then you have mounting concerns about hyperscalers and AI, and that raising concerns about risk assets," Hougan said. He added, "But I think we put in a bottom in June, and we'll probably end the year higher than where we are today."

When markets shift, a clear daily update matters, so sign up for the free Market Briefs newsletter for five-minute summaries.

Crypto-linked stocks felt it too

Crypto-related names slid alongside the token. Coinbase Global Inc. slid 4.9%, Circle Internet Group Inc. declined 5.6%, and Strategy Inc. eased 5.9%. If you hold crypto or just watch it, the takeaway is simple: macro still calls the tune, and until leverage and confidence meaningfully rebuild, rallies may stay tentative.

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