Bitcoin and ether held steady on Thursday even as overall market sentiment stayed cautious, leading to deeper pullbacks across several major altcoins. AERO, STRK and FET were among the day’s weakest performers, reflecting the broader “fear”-driven mood dominating crypto trading.
Bitcoin continued to consolidate around $103,000, while ether posted a modest uptick but remained just under the $3,500 threshold. Despite stable price action in the top two assets, sentiment indicators tell a different story: the market-wide RSI sits in neutral territory, but the Fear and Greed Index shows a reading of 25/100, signaling persistent risk aversion.
Altcoins experienced far more volatility. AERO dropped 18% following news of its merger with Velodrome, while STRK and FET also suffered double-digit declines as traders offloaded speculative positions.
One exception was XRP, which climbed 3.5% after heightened options activity gave bulls some short-term momentum.
Analysts say the market is still waiting for a clear catalyst to determine direction. Bitcoin remains caught between October’s record highs and possible support near $98,000. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar’s strength — hovering around 99.8 — poses an ongoing threat to risk assets. A break above 100 could further weigh on the crypto sector.
