Bitcoin briefly drops below $80,000, markets under tension

A sudden drop against a backdrop of stock market tensions. This October 15, Bitcoin briefly fell below $80,000, with a low around $79,800, before rising towards $80,500 to $81,000, according to CoinmarketCap. This drop accompanies the decline in technology stocks, while liquidations amplify movements in cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin shows a decline of around 2% to 3.5% over twenty-four hours. Ethereum is suffering more, with a drop of around 5% to 6%, around $2,350 to $2,360.

This mini-crash is accompanied by nearly a billion dollars in liquidations over twenty-four hours, mainly on long positions. Meanwhile, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw approximately $261 million in net outflows on Wednesday.

However, cryptocurrencies do not fall alone. On Wednesday, the Nasdaq lost almost 2%. Thursday before the American opening, its futures contracts still fell by around 1.2%. In Asia, South Korea's Kospi fell more than 7%, while Japan's Nikkei lost about 5%. Technology stocks and semiconductors are concentrating tensions.

American inflation constitutes a primary pressure factor. In September, it reached 3.7% over one year, compared to 3.4% in August. This acceleration reinforces fears of a restrictive monetary policy. A further increase in rates remains possible, without constituting an acquired decision by the Federal Reserve.

Added to this are questions about the financing of artificial intelligence. The debt of companies like CoreWeave worries investors: high rates make borrowing more expensive and complicate the profitability of infrastructure. These concerns are weighing on growth stocks.

Finally, the lever amplifies the dump. When prices fall and the guarantees become insufficient, the platforms automatically close long positions. These forced sales increase the pressure and can cause further liquidations.