Last Updated: October 29, 2026
Key Takeaways
Bitcoin slipped below $80,000 on Thursday, trading near $79,997 at about 13:00 UTC, down 0.79% over 24 hours and about 1.6% below Wednesday’s close, according to CoinMarketCap. The total crypto market capitalization fell 0.71% to about $2.68 trillion. About $356 million of leveraged positions were liquidated in 24 hours, $205 million of them longs, according to market data cited by CoinDesk.
The Federal Reserve held its target range at 3.75% to 4.00% on October 28 in a 10 to 2 vote, with Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack preferring another quarter-point hike, according to the Fed’s statement, which said “Inflation remains elevated.” Bitcoin rose to about $81,700 on Wednesday before the Asian session reversed the gain as Alphabet and Samsung results hit tech stocks.
Hyperliquid is the standout, up 10.99% to about $89.31 and 14.55% over seven days. Bitcoin Cash fell 5.78% and NEAR 3.66%, while XRP lost 2.02% and BNB 1.76%. Most other large caps are within 1% of where they were a day ago, and trading volume rose 17.1% to about $71.6 billion.
Fund flows split by asset. US spot Bitcoin ETFs took in about $137.3 million on October 28, their third straight day of inflows, while spot Ether ETFs lost about $21.4 million, their third straight outflow, according to Farside Investors data reported by FinanceFeeds.
Sentiment is neutral. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index from alternative.me reads 51, Neutral, on October 29, unchanged from Wednesday and down from 68, Greed, a week earlier. Our Crypto Fear and Greed Index page explains how the reading is built.
Market Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Market Cap | ~$2.68 trillion (-0.71%) |
| 24h Trading Volume | ~$71.60 billion (+17.06%) |
| Bitcoin Dominance | 60.0% |
| Ethereum Dominance | 10.6% |
| Fear & Greed Index | 51, Neutral (alternative.me, October 29) |
| Coin | Price | 24h | 7d |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $79,997.36 | -0.79% | -1.99% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $2,321.36 | -0.68% | -3.20% |
| BNB | $740.48 | -1.76% | +1.13% |
| XRP | $1.29 | -2.02% | -2.63% |
| Solana (SOL) | $100.42 | -0.97% | -3.69% |
| TRON (TRX) | $0.3311 | -0.02% | +0.17% |
| Zcash (ZEC) | $1,272.40 | -0.78% | +1.87% |
| Hyperliquid (HYPE) | $89.31 | +10.99% | +14.55% |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | $0.07883 | -0.46% | -0.61% |
| Monero (XMR) | $598.65 | -0.38% | -4.96% |
| Chainlink (LINK) | $11.62 | +0.15% | -3.31% |
| Cardano (ADA) | $0.2010 | -0.87% | -6.91% |
| NEAR Protocol | $4.43 | -3.66% | -11.15% |
Source: CoinMarketCap, October 29, 2026, about 13:00 UTC.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index Today
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index reads 51 out of 100, which is Neutral, on October 29, 2026, according to alternative.me, the index’s publisher. It has stayed between 48 and 54 for a week, after falling from 68, Greed, on October 22 to 50 the next day, as Bitcoin ETFs lost about $636 million on October 22, according to Farside data.
| Date | Reading | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| October 29 | 51 | Neutral |
| October 28 | 51 | Neutral |
| October 27 | 48 | Neutral |
| October 26 | 50 | Neutral |
| October 25 | 54 | Neutral |
| October 24 | 51 | Neutral |
| October 23 | 50 | Neutral |
| October 22 | 68 | Greed |
The index updates once a day and combines volatility, trading volume, social media activity, Bitcoin dominance and search trends. Readings under 25 signal Extreme Fear and readings above 75 Extreme Greed, so today’s 51 shows a market that is cautious but not panicking, even with Bitcoin back at $80,000. When crash headlines spread faster than the data, our guide on how to verify crypto news and rumors explains how to check them.
Today’s Crypto Market Analysis
Thursday undid a two-day rebound. Bitcoin climbed from about $80,300 to $81,700 on Wednesday, closing near $81,268, then fell to a low of about $79,607 in the Asian session, according to CoinMarketCap. Its 30-day low is about $79,146, and it had last broken below $80,000 in the October 24 selloff. Bitcoin now trades about 37% below its record of $126,198 from October 2025.
Altcoins are still lagging over the week. NEAR is down 11.15% and Cardano 6.91% over seven days, and Monero has given back almost 5%, compared with about 2% for Bitcoin, whose dominance holds at 60.0%. Ether has lost about 15% over 30 days, and Solana is again testing $100. The exception is Hyperliquid, which rose about 11% on the day. Trading volume rose 17%.
Why Is the Crypto Market Moving Today?
Tech stocks and the Fed set the tone. Alphabet reported third-quarter revenue of $127.58 billion, short of the $127.93 billion analysts expected, and its shares fell about 10% before the US open, while Samsung’s chip profit fell just short of estimates and South Korea’s Kospi fell more than 2%, according to CoinDesk. Nasdaq futures dropped about 1.4%, and crypto, which has traded like a high-risk tech stock, followed. For the full breakdown of each driver, see our explainer on why crypto is down today.
The Fed’s hold did not ease the pressure. Two of the 12 voters wanted a hike, and the statement said “Inflation remains elevated” while “economic activity is expanding at a strong pace.” CoinDesk described the decision as a hawkish hold and reported that ING still expects another hike in December; the next meeting is on December 8 and 9. Leverage did the rest: of the $356 million liquidated in 24 hours, about $94 million came from Bitcoin futures and $72 million from Ether futures.
Bitcoin ETF buyers have not followed the price lower. Spot funds added about $423.6 million from October 26 to 28, with BlackRock’s IBIT taking about $136 million on Wednesday alone, which recovers more than half of the roughly $773 million withdrawn on October 22 and 23, according to Farside data reported by FinanceFeeds. Ether funds lost about $170 million and Solana funds about $33 million over the same three sessions. For coin-level detail, see Bitcoin News Today, Ethereum News Today, XRP News Today, Zcash News Today and Hedera (HBAR) News Today; for regulation and industry stories, crypto news today.
What This Means for the Days Ahead
Earnings take over from the Fed. Coinbase reports third-quarter results after the US market close on October 29 and holds its question-and-answer session at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time, and monthly Bitcoin options expire on October 30, the same day as the Bank of Japan’s decision. The US midterm elections follow on November 3. Ethereum developers have still not set a new date for the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Hoodi test network after postponing its October 26 launch.
On the chart, Bitcoin is trading right at $80,000, with its 30-day low of about $79,146 below and Wednesday’s high near $81,700 above. A move back above Wednesday’s high would erase Thursday’s drop, while a daily close under the October low would put Bitcoin at its weakest level in more than a month and would likely weigh harder on altcoins, which have fallen more than Bitcoin in each recent selloff.
Compare Crypto Prices Today
| Asset | Price Page |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin | Bitcoin Price |
| Ethereum | Ethereum Price |
| XRP | XRP Price |
| Solana | Solana Price |
| BNB | BNB Price |
| TRON | TRON Price |
Where to Buy Crypto
The assets above are available on major exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, KuCoin, Gate, OKX and Bybit; availability of privacy coins such as Monero and Zcash varies by exchange and country. For gaming platforms that accept crypto, see our crypto casinos guide.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile; always do your own research before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total crypto market cap today?
The total crypto market capitalization is about $2.68 trillion on October 29, 2026, down 0.71% over 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap, as Bitcoin slipped back below $80,000. Trading volume rose 17% to about $71.6 billion. Bitcoin accounts for 60.0% of the market and Ether for 10.6%, and most large altcoins have fallen more than Bitcoin over the past week.
Why did the crypto market fall today?
Crypto fell on Thursday as weak results from Alphabet and Samsung pulled tech stocks lower in Asian trading, a day after the Federal Reserve held rates but kept a hawkish tone, with two officials voting for a hike. About $356 million of leveraged positions were liquidated in 24 hours, mostly longs, according to CoinDesk, and Bitcoin dropped from about $81,700 to below $80,000.
What is the Crypto Fear and Greed Index today?
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index reads 51, which is Neutral, on October 29, 2026, according to alternative.me, the index’s publisher. That is unchanged from October 28 and down from 68, or Greed, on October 22. The reading has stayed between 48 and 54 for a week, which suggests caution rather than panic even as Bitcoin trades near $80,000.
How can I stay updated on the latest crypto market panic or crashes?
Check a daily market page like this one, which tracks prices, liquidations, ETF flows and the Fear and Greed Index. Watch the index on alternative.me, liquidation totals on derivatives dashboards, and official sources such as Federal Reserve statements and company filings. Price alerts on CoinMarketCap or your exchange help, and confirm any crash rumor with two reliable outlets before acting.
What could move crypto next?
Coinbase reports third-quarter results after the US close on October 29, and monthly Bitcoin options expire on October 30, the same day as the Bank of Japan’s decision. The US midterm elections follow on November 3, and the Fed’s next meeting is on December 8 and 9. Tech stocks, oil prices and Bitcoin ETF flows will also set the tone.
