Bitcoin drops to $66,746, down 1.32%. XRP (down 3.99%) and Solana (down 4.07%) are some of the biggest losers among the world’s top coins by market share.
US-Iran tensions push oil prices higher, triggering risk-off sentiment. Hawkish US Fed minutes signal higher rates for longer and add to the market-pressure.
US lawmakers aim to pass the long-awaited crypto market structure bill within 90 days. Meanwhile, Coinbase expands XRP and DOGE-backed lending.
Crypto prices today are under pressure. Macroeconomic shifts and geopolitical risks like US-Iran war tensions dampened investor appetite. Bitcoin has pulled back to the $66,000 level, roughly 47% below its October peak of $97,000. Top cryptocurrencies are mirroring this trend, trading in the red zone today.
While stablecoins like Tether and USDC remain steady, high-beta altcoins such as Solana and XRP have seen sharper corrections. Solana dropped over 4% as the broader market shifted toward a risk-off stance. The global market cap is down 1.24% to $2.3 trillion.
Here’s why the crypto market is down today, based on CoinMarketCap data.
Bitcoin (BTC) price today is down 1.32% in the last 24 hours to $66,746. Despite the slide, it remains the largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of over $1.33 trillion. It has a trading volume of $33 billion over the last day.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk noted, “BTC briefly slipped to $67,000, triggering long liquidations that pushed the price closer to the $66,000 zone. After this, pressure eased, and BTC has been trying to steady itself between $66,500 and $67,000. Meanwhile, whales continue to accumulate. Over the past month, whale balances have increased by more than 200,000 BTC, rising from 2.9 million to over 3.1M BTC.”
The CoinSwitch analysts further elaborated, “While inflows can signal short-term selling, overall holdings suggest conviction. A similar buildup during the April 2025 correction helped absorb supply and was followed by a strong rally. Also, the January 27-28 FOMC minutes show the Fed adopting a ‘hawkish pause,’ keeping rates steady, while awaiting clearer evidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.”
All the top ten cryptocurrencies of the world by market cap are on a downtrend today.
Nischal Shetty, Founder of WazirX, noted, “Ethereum remains at $1,967, while XRP trades at around $1.42. Price action across major tokens suggests a healthy consolidation phase, with markets stabilizing near key support levels rather than signaling any structural weakness or meaningful trend reversal. Altcoins, particularly XRP, are showing relative strength against Bitcoin and Ethereum, suggesting targeted capital rotation rather than broad risk aversion.”
Here are the latest crypto prices at press time.
| Name | Current Price | 24h % Change | Current Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $66,746.15 | -1.32% | $1,334,366,542,550 |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $1,971.07 | -1.08% | $237,893,795,089 |
| Tether (USDT) | $0.9996 | -0.03% | $183,668,930,002 |
| XRP (XRP) | $1.41 | -3.99% | $86,394,941,917 |
| BNB (BNB) | $609.02 | -1.27% | $83,045,743,552 |
| USDC (USDC) | $0.9999 | 0.00% | $73,625,433,146 |
| Solana (SOL) | $81.74 | -4.07% | $46,452,471,125 |
| TRON (TRX) | $0.2799 | -0.71% | $26,519,665,276 |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | $0.09884 | -2.04% | $16,685,323,730 |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | $557.53 | -1.69% | $11,148,946,247 |
| Cardano (ADA) | $0.2748 | -2.68% | $9,914,255,948 |
Here is what is driving the market.
The Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes, released on February 18, showed a surprisingly hawkish committee. Many officials discussed the possibility of raising rates rather than cutting them, with inflation being above the 2% target. The Fed voted 10-2 to hold rates at 3.5%-3.75%, with only two members pushing for a cut.
Higher interest rates make risk assets less attractive. Bitcoin slid from around $68,300 to below $66,500 shortly after the minutes dropped. Avinash Shekhar, Co-founder and CEO, Pi42, echoed this sentiment, "The recent correction in Bitcoin following the Fed minutes reflects how sensitive global liquidity conditions remain to monetary signals.”
Adding to the uncertainty is the upcoming change in Fed leadership. Federal Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May, and President Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh. The latter is a known dovish figure, who favors lower rates. However, with most of the committee leaning hawkish, Warsh may find it hard to push through rate cuts even after he takes the job.
The next Fed meeting is March 17-18, and it seems that there will be no cuts then. Markets are now looking at June as the earliest possible window for any easing.
Reports that the United States could strike Iran as early as this weekend have sent oil prices up more than 4%. Historically, when geopolitical tensions spike, investors pull back from riskier assets, and crypto is no exception.
While Bitcoin is sometimes talked about as a ‘digital haven,’ in moments of acute panic, it is put in the same basket as stocks. At the same time, gold and silver continue to be treated as safe havens. If the situation with Iran de-escalates, markets could bounce back quickly. However, for now, the uncertainty is doing real damage to prices.
Despite the market-wide bearish mood, institutional participation continues to grow. Nischal Shetty, Founder of WazirX, stated, “Michael Saylor’s Strategy added 2,486 BTC to its treasury this week, reinforcing long-term balance sheet commitment, while Bitmine Immersion expanded its Ethereum holdings by approximately 45,759 ETH, signaling sustained confidence in core network infrastructure.”
Also Read: Bitcoin Under Attack? The Hong Kong Fund Controversy
Here is the latest crypto news impacting prices today.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao reportedly lost nearly $30 billion, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reportedly lost $7 billion due to recent market volatility. Senator Elizabeth Warren, noting these losses, wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Fed Chair Jerome Powell on February 18. She asked both to confirm they will not use taxpayer money to bail out crypto investors during the current Bitcoin slide.
Warren pointed out that any bailout could directly enrich the Trump family through their crypto company, World Liberty Financial. This kind of political pressure could make it harder for the government to support the crypto market. Thus, keeping the top coins’ prices lower for longer.
Senator Bernie Moreno spoke at the World Liberty Forum held at Mar-a-Lago on February 18. He warned that Congress must act within the next 90 days, or the window to pass the crypto market structure bill could close.
One of the key sticking points is whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield to users. Banks have opposed this, while crypto firms say it is important. If legislation does pass, it could give the market a boost by offering clearer rules for businesses. Although if talks stall again, the uncertainty could continue to weigh on investor confidence and crypto prices.
According to a Decrypt story, Coinbase is expanding its crypto-backed lending product. It will now support XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Litecoin as collateral. Users can post these assets on the decentralized finance platform Morpho to borrow up to $100,000 in USDC.
The product, which started with Bitcoin and added Ethereum in November, is now approaching $2 billion in total originations. This kind of lending expansion could support demand for tokens like XRP and DOGE by giving holders more ways to put their assets to work without selling. It may also provide some price support for these tokens even in a down market.
Despite the immediate bearish pressure on crypto prices today, underlying institutional activity suggests recovery in the long run. The Founder of WazirX said, “Broader market sentiment remains cautious, with leading tokens trading in a range; however, volatility has moderated, and liquidity conditions remain intact.”
The Co-founder and CEO, Pi42, explained, “For investors, this is a phase to stay disciplined and strategic. Instead of reacting to short term price swings, they should focus on staggered allocations, maintain adequate liquidity, and evaluate exposure in line with long term conviction. Periods of consolidation often create better entry opportunities for those with a structured approach. Patience and portfolio balance will be key as the market digests global policy signals.”
Ultimately, a hawkish Fed, a potential US-Iran conflict, and crypto regulation delays are all pointing toward continued volatility. June is the earliest realistic window for US Fed rate cuts, which could offer global crypto markets some relief.
Also Read: Crypto News Today: Bitcoin Holds Below US$70,000 as Macro Risks Raise US$50,000-Retreat Fears
1. Why is the crypto market down today?
The crypto market is down today mainly because of hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve and rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran. The Fed’s latest meeting minutes suggested that interest rates could stay higher for longer. Higher rates reduce liquidity and make risky assets like crypto less attractive. At the same time, global uncertainty has pushed investors toward safer assets, leading to selling pressure across major cryptocurrencies.
2. What is Bitcoin price today?
Bitcoin price today is $66,746, down 1.32% in the last 24 hours. It remains the largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of more than $1.33 trillion. Despite the recent pullback, Bitcoin continues to hold strong support around the $66,000 level. Trading volume remains high at around $33 billion, showing that investor interest is still active even during market volatility.
3. What is the latest crypto news?
The latest crypto news includes hawkish US Fed minutes, political pressure against a crypto bailout, and fresh developments in US crypto regulation. Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked officials to confirm that no taxpayer funds will support crypto investors. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Moreno said a crypto market structure bill could pass within 90 days. Coinbase also expanded its crypto-backed lending product to include XRP and Dogecoin.
4. How will the Iran-US conflict impact the crypto market?
Rising tensions between the United States and Iran have increased global market uncertainty. When geopolitical risks rise, investors often move away from risky assets like cryptocurrencies and shift toward safer options such as gold or bonds. Oil prices have already surged over 4%, adding to inflation concerns. If tensions escalate further, crypto prices may face more short-term pressure. However, if the situation calms, markets could recover quickly.
5. When will the US crypto bill pass?
According to recent statements, US lawmakers are aiming to pass a crypto market structure bill within the next 90 days. Some officials believe the window for action could close if Congress delays further. One major debate is whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield to users. If the bill passes, it could provide clearer regulations and boost investor confidence in the crypto market.
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