The cryptocurrency market is under significant strain, with bitcoin BTC
$96,098.66 sliding below the critical $98,000 support zone as heavy selling hit during a period of reduced liquidity.
The downturn triggered more than $1.1 billion in liquidations, nearly half tied to bitcoin positions, according to CoinGlass data.
Altcoins posted deeper losses. Ether ETH
$3,216.11 fell 9% in the past 24 hours, while several major tokens recorded double-digit declines. The CoinDesk 20 Index dropped 8%, and even the strongest performer, LTC
$101.71, finished 3% lower.
The crypto retreat mirrored weakness in traditional markets, with Nasdaq futures (NQ) losing 2.95% over the same timeframe
