Nasdaq tumbles, but Bitcoin soars past US$97K on massive short squeeze

Nasdaq tumbles, but Bitcoin soars past US$97K on massive short squeeze

Markets entered a period of recalibration as US equities extended their losses for a second straight session amid shifting investor sentiment and geopolitical developments. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the retreat, falling one per cent to close at 23,471.75, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.53 per cent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down just 0.09 per cent.

This rotation out of high-flying technology names reflected growing concerns about stretched valuations, compounded by external pressures such as China’s new restrictions on US cybersecurity software, which directly affect semiconductor giants like Nvidia and Broadcom. Investors appeared to favour economically sensitive sectors over growth-oriented tech, signalling a potential pivot in market leadership early in the year.

Global markets showed more resilience on January 15. Asian and European equities traded mixed or slightly higher, buoyed by optimism around artificial intelligence applications and signs that deflationary pressures may be easing in key economies. This divergence underscored a nuanced global outlook. While US markets grappled with domestic policy uncertainty and sector rotation, international investors focused on forward-looking catalysts in AI adoption and macroeconomic stabilisation.

Commodities and currencies also reflected this transitional mood. Crude oil prices plunged nearly three per cent, with West Texas Intermediate settling around US$60.22 per barrel after President Trump adopted a less confrontational tone toward Iran, alleviating fears of supply disruptions that had driven a five-day rally. Precious metals pulled back modestly from record highs, with spot gold hovering near US$4,610 per ounce. The US dollar held steady against the euro at approximately 0.85915 EUR per USD, suggesting stable foreign exchange dynamics despite underlying volatility in risk assets.

In stark contrast to the equity pullback, the crypto market advanced 0.89 per cent over the past 24 hours, extending a seven-day rally that has delivered a cumulative gain of 4.86 per cent. This momentum stemmed primarily from two powerful forces: a decisive technical breakout in Bitcoin and a surge in institutional demand through spot ETFs. Bitcoin shattered the US$95,000 resistance level that had contained its price action since December, climbing to US$97,000 on heightened volume.

The move triggered US$588 million in short liquidations, the largest since November 2025, fuelling a classic short squeeze that amplified upward momentum. With the Relative Strength Index now at 75.42, the asset sits in overbought territory, and traders remain fixated on the psychological US$100,000 milestone.

Simultaneously, institutional appetite reemerged with remarkable force. On January 13, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$753.7 million in net inflows, the highest single-day total since October 2025. BlackRock’s IBIT fund alone attracted US$391 million, reinforcing the narrative that large financial players continue to view Bitcoin as a strategic macro hedge rather than a speculative instrument. This renewed confidence from traditional finance provided critical support amid lingering retail caution, effectively anchoring the broader crypto rally.

Sentiment metrics corroborated this shift. The Fear & Greed Index climbed to 54, moving from “Fear” into “Neutral” territory, up 11 points from the prior week. This improvement suggests that market participants are regaining composure after weeks of uncertainty, creating fertile ground for altcoin participation alongside Bitcoin’s leadership.

In my view, this moment marks a pivotal inflection point in the evolving relationship between traditional and digital asset markets. While US equities undergo a necessary correction, particularly in the overvalued tech sector, crypto is demonstrating increasing maturity through institutional validation and technical conviction. The juxtaposition is telling.

As political scrutiny intensifies around the Federal Reserve and banking regulations, and as geopolitical risks temporarily recede, capital seeks alternatives that offer both asymmetric upside and structural independence. Bitcoin’s breakout above US$95,000 is not merely a price event. It is a signal that the asset class is increasingly decoupling from short-term equity volatility and asserting its role within diversified portfolios.

Sustainability remains contingent on price holding key support. A failure to maintain levels above US$96,000 could invite profit-taking, especially given the elevated RSI. For now, the confluence of technical momentum, institutional flows, and improving sentiment paints a cautiously optimistic picture. Crypto’s rally may persist even as traditional markets navigate choppy waters.

 

Source: https://e27.co/nasdaq-tumbles-but-bitcoin-soars-past-us97k-on-massive-short-squeeze-20260115/

 

j j j

Crypto rallies 4.5 per cent amid stock sell-off: Smart money is moving fast

Crypto rallies 4.5 per cent amid stock sell-off: Smart money is moving fast

Markets on January 13 and 14, 2026, signal a divergence between traditional finance and digital assets. In the United States, equities retreated as investors weighed mixed signals from inflation data and the opening salvos of earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 400 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted smaller but still notable declines. Financial stocks led the decline after JPMorgan Chase missed expectations on investment banking fees, underscoring how even modest disappointments can ripple through a market already cautious about the sustainability of growth.

Meanwhile, across the Pacific, Asian markets painted a more optimistic picture. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 0.9 per cent to breach the 54,000 mark for the first time in history, propelled by a weakening yen that slid past 159 per dollar and speculation around a potential snap election. Elsewhere in Asia, gains were modest but consistent, reflecting regional confidence that contrasts with Wall Street’s hesitation.

Commodities and currencies mirrored this tension between caution and opportunity. Gold pulled back slightly from its record high of US$4,644 an ounce to settle at US$4,590, suggesting that while safe-haven demand remains elevated, some investors are rotating into riskier assets. Crude oil rose 2.5 per cent to US$61 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions over potential US tariffs targeting nations trading with Iran. This shows that energy markets remain sensitive to policy-driven uncertainty. Currency markets showed similar stress, with the yen continuing its slide while the euro held steady near US$1.1645.

From my perspective, what stands out is not only the divergence between US and Asian equity performance but also the concurrent surge in crypto markets. Bitcoin reclaimed US$95,000, triggering a cascade of algorithmic buying and liquidating US$62 million in short positions within 24 hours. This move was not speculative noise. It was structurally reinforced by institutional momentum. Morgan Stanley’s filing for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana ETFs marks a pivotal expansion of regulated crypto access, following Grayscale’s own exploratory filings and bolstered by pro-crypto political rhetoric. The numbers speak clearly: US$571 million flowed into Bitcoin ETFs this week, while Ethereum attracted US$1.24 billion. These are not marginal bets. They represent deep conviction from traditional finance players.

The technical breakout in Bitcoin coincided with a sharp spike in funding rates, up 87 per cent in one day, as leveraged traders scrambled to cover shorts after the price pierced the US$94,500 Fibonacci resistance. Open interest fell by nearly 10 per cent, indicating a wave of deleveraging rather than a new speculative buildup. That distinction matters. It suggests the rally has a foundation beyond hype. It reflects both institutional validation and a clearing of excessive bearish positioning.

Caution remains warranted. While cooler-than-expected US CPI data offered relief, bond markets still price in no Federal Reserve rate cuts until mid-2026. China’s consumer prices rose 0.8 per cent year-over-year, the fastest since early 2023, even as producer prices stayed deflationary, hinting at fragile domestic demand. These macro crosscurrents mean that while crypto enjoys a moment of strength, it does so against a backdrop where traditional markets are still searching for clarity.

In conclusion, January 14 presents a world in which legacy markets tread carefully amid earnings scrutiny and geopolitical friction, while digital assets surge amid institutional adoption and technical triggers. The real test will come in whether Bitcoin can hold above US$94,000 without immediate profit-taking. If it does, this rally may signal more than a short-term bounce. It could mark the beginning of a new phase in which crypto operates not as a fringe asset but as a core component of diversified portfolios.

 

Source: https://e27.co/crypto-rallies-4-5-per-cent-amid-stock-sell-off-smart-money-is-moving-fast-20260114/

j j j

Stocks hit records as crypto pulls back on macro and leverage fears

Stocks hit records as crypto pulls back on macro and leverage fears

New highs on January 12 and 13, 2026, were propelled by strong corporate earnings expectations and a wave of optimism ahead of key US inflation data. Beneath the surface of this bullish equity momentum lies a more cautious undercurrent in crypto markets, where macro uncertainty, regulatory delays, and speculative leverage have combined to trigger a short-term retreat.

US equities closed at record levels on Monday. The S&P 500 edged up 0.16 per cent to 6,977.27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.17 per cent to 49,590.20, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.26 per cent to finish at 23,733.90.

These gains reflected investor confidence in resilient corporate fundamentals and hopes that December’s Consumer Price Index report, due Tuesday, January 13, would show cooling inflation, potentially clearing the path for future Federal Reserve rate cuts. Early Tuesday trading told a slightly different story, with Dow futures dipping as markets paused to reassess.

In Asia, the mood remained exuberant. Japan’s Nikkei 225 soared over 3 per cent to an all-time high of 53,540.6, driven by Wall Street’s rally and speculation surrounding domestic political developments. The broader MSCI Asia Pacific Index also reached a record high, underscoring the region’s alignment with global risk-on sentiment.

Meanwhile, commodities responded to rising geopolitical tensions. Gold advanced as a haven amid concerns about political pressure on the Federal Reserve’s independence. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.4 per cent to US$59.75 a barrel, reflecting ongoing unease over potential US intervention in Venezuela.

Against this backdrop, the crypto market moved in the opposite direction, falling 1.24 per cent over the past 24 hours. This decline aligns with a broader weekly decline of 3.31 per cent, despite a modest 1.2 per cent gain over the month.

Three interrelated forces explain the pullback.

First, stronger-than-expected US economic data has dampened expectations for near-term Fed rate cuts. That shift triggered US$454 million in net outflows from crypto investment products last week, with US-linked funds alone shedding US$569 million. The tight correlation between crypto and the Nasdaq 100, currently at +0.78, confirms that digital assets remain highly sensitive to macro liquidity signals.

Second, regulatory progress in Washington stalled. The Senate Agriculture Committee postponed its markup of a major crypto market structure bill to late January, citing the need for further bipartisan negotiations. While not a rejection of reform, the delay prolongs the fog of uncertainty that has long clouded institutional participation. Proposals under discussion, including potential bans on stablecoin yield mechanisms and unresolved governance questions, further complicate an already fragile policy landscape.

Third, excessive leverage amplified the downturn. Bitcoin liquidations spiked to US$50 million in 24 hours, a 73 per cent increase, while total crypto derivatives open interest climbed 18.3 per cent to US$716 billion. This combination suggests that speculative positioning had grown frothy, and even a modest price dip was enough to trigger cascading margin calls. Although funding rates remain slightly positive at +0.0028, signalling lingering bullish sentiment among perpetual traders, the surge in liquidations reveals how quickly sentiment can flip when macro conditions shift.

The current crypto correction should not be mistaken for a structural breakdown. Instead, it reflects the natural recalibration of a maturing asset class responding to real-world catalysts. Equities may celebrate anticipated soft landings and contained inflation, but crypto markets, still tethered to liquidity expectations and policy clarity, react more violently to ambiguity. The coming days will prove pivotal. The CPI release on January 13 could either validate hopes for a dovish pivot or reinforce a higher-for-longer rate narrative. Simultaneously, any movement on the Senate crypto bill would offer much-needed directional clarity.

For now, the divergence between traditional markets and digital assets highlights a critical truth. While both respond to macroeconomic forces, cryptocurrency remains more exposed to regulatory uncertainty and leverage-driven volatility. Investors should watch whether daily liquidations stabilise below US$40 million, a sign that speculative excess is being flushed out without triggering more profound distress. In the longer arc, such corrections are not setbacks but necessary adjustments in a market striving for institutional legitimacy.

 

Source: https://e27.co/stocks-hit-records-as-crypto-pulls-back-on-macro-and-leverage-fears-20260113/

j j j