Bitcoin Market Plummets Amid Exchange Hack and Economic Uncertainty

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant turbulence as Bitcoin and other digital assets face mounting pressure from multiple fronts. A convergence of factors—including a major exchange security breach, changing Federal Reserve policy expectations, and broader macroeconomic concerns—has pushed the market into what analysts are describing as “extreme fear” territory.

Dubai Exchange Hack Triggers Initial Decline

The current market downturn began last week when news broke of a substantial security breach at Bybit, a Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange. The hack, details of which are still emerging, sent Bitcoin prices “briefly spiraling” on Friday. While the market showed signs of recovery over the weekend, this momentary stabilization proved short-lived as additional economic concerns materialized.

The timing of the hack coincides with growing discussions about potential bitcoin price “suppression,” adding another layer of concern for crypto investors already navigating a complex market landscape.

Bitcoin Falls Below Key Threshold

As of February 25, Bitcoin has plummeted below $90,000, representing a decline of approximately 10% in just 24 hours. This dramatic fall has brought the flagship cryptocurrency to its lowest level since the post-election rally that followed Donald Trump’s victory in November 2024.

The downward movement isn’t isolated to Bitcoin. Other major cryptocurrencies have experienced even steeper declines, with Ethereum, Solana, and Ripple’s XRP all losing between 10% and 15% of their value within the same timeframe. This widespread selloff has intensified concerns about a potential broader crypto market crash.

The market-wide decline has significantly shifted investor sentiment, as evidenced by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index—a popular metric for gauging market psychology—which has now fallen into “extreme fear” territory. This represents a stark contrast to the optimism that characterized the market earlier this year.

ETF Outflows Contributing to Pressure

Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto research at Standard Chartered Bank, has identified a key factor in the current downturn: investors withdrawing funds from bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that launched to great fanfare last year.

“While bitcoin trades relatively well within the digital asset complex, it is now caught up in the solana meme coin driven selloff and now the broader risk off nature of markets,” Kendrick noted in emailed comments, also referencing the declining Nasdaq index that has retreated from its recent all-time high.

Kendrick has advised traders against the common “buy the dip” strategy at this juncture, predicting that Bitcoin prices could fall further to around $80,000 as ETF outflows accelerate. He specifically cautioned that the market might experience a “$1 billion ETF outflow day” before reaching an attractive entry point—a figure that would significantly exceed the previous record of $583 million in outflows.

Federal Reserve Policy Shifts

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance has emerged as another critical factor influencing cryptocurrency markets. After initiating an interest rate cutting cycle in September, the Fed has subsequently “pumped the brakes” as inflation concerns have reemerged. This policy adjustment has dampened the bitcoin price rally that typically thrives in environments of monetary easing.

Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, provided context on the shifting expectations: “Markets are now pricing in a 97.5% chance of no change to interest rates at the Fed’s next meeting in March, whereas one month ago it was a 75.5% probability. We’re now looking at a situation where U.S. rates might not be cut again until much later in 2025, if at all.”

The upcoming release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index—the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric—is expected to show that inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, potentially further constraining the central bank’s ability to ease monetary policy.

Some analysts have even begun discussing the possibility of rate increases. Jon Brager, a portfolio manager at Palmer Square Capital Management, told Quartz that the Fed could potentially hike interest rates this year—a scenario that would likely put additional downward pressure on cryptocurrency prices.

Political Dimension Emerges

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions have also taken on a political dimension. Fed Chair Jerome Powell may face increasing pressure from President Donald Trump if the central bank maintains its current stance. Trump has already expressed his preference for lower rates, posting on the social media platform X that “interest rates should be lowered” following the Fed’s decision to leave them unchanged earlier this month.

This potential tension between the administration and the Federal Reserve adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complex market environment. Reports have also emerged suggesting that Elon Musk might be “plotting a massive overhaul of the Federal Reserve,” though specific details remain limited.

Stagflation Concerns Mount

Adding to market anxiety is the growing specter of stagflation—an economic condition characterized by below-trend growth combined with above-trend inflation. A recent Bank of America survey revealed that the proportion of global fund managers expecting stagflation to impact the U.S. economy within the next year has reached a seven-month high.

Jack McIntyre, portfolio manager for Brandywine Global’s fixed income strategies, explained the dynamics at play: “Stagflation has definitely re-emerged as a possibility because we have these policies that could hurt consumer demand even while persistent inflation limits the Federal Reserve’s ability to maneuver.”

Tim Urbanowicz, chief investment strategist at Innovator Capital Management, echoed these concerns, stating: “What continues to concern us more than the risk of inflation is stagflation.”

Stagflation presents particularly challenging conditions for most asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, as it combines economic stagnation with persistent price increases—inhibiting both growth-oriented investments and purchasing power preservation strategies.

Potential Positive Developments

Despite the predominantly negative market conditions, some potentially positive developments are on the horizon. Bitcoin-backing U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis is reportedly preparing for a “major legislation update” that could provide greater regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency industry—something market participants have long sought.

Analysts’ Forecasts and Market Outlook

Market analysts are divided on the near-term outlook, though many suggest that Bitcoin’s prolonged consolidation phase may soon give way to a more decisive price movement.

Alex Kuptsikevich, FxPro chief market analyst, observed: “Bitcoin continues to move strictly to the side, while the crypto market dynamics generally resemble a bouncing ball, getting lower and lower over time. The local resistance has moved to the $3.20 trillion area, while the lower boundary has remained near $3.10 trillion for the last three weeks. Thus, the market is accumulating risks that we will get a compressed spring effect with a sharp move in one direction in the coming days.”

James Toledano, chief operating officer at bitcoin and crypto platform Unity Wallet, offered a more measured assessment: “Investors are in a ‘wait-and-see’ mode right now trying to balance optimism around institutional inflows, especially from bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with macroeconomic uncertainties, a potential global trade war and interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve.”

Toledano added, “A major price crash seems fairly unlikely in the short term unless a significant macroeconomic, geopolitical shock or regulatory shift occurs and in saying that most are betting on favorable regulatory shifts, especially in America.”

Market Navigation Strategies

For investors attempting to navigate these challenging market conditions, maintaining a broader perspective while acknowledging near-term volatility appears to be the prevailing advice. The convergence of exchange security concerns, ETF outflows, monetary policy uncertainty, and macroeconomic headwinds has created a particularly challenging environment that will likely require patience from market participants.

The cryptocurrency market’s response to these factors will be closely monitored in the coming weeks, particularly as more economic data becomes available and the Federal Reserve’s policy direction becomes clearer. Bitcoin’s performance through February, “languishing under $100,000,” has raised the stakes for potential price movements in the near future.

As the market processes these various influences, investors and analysts alike will be watching closely for signs of either continued decline or potential stabilization—with the understanding that rapid, significant movements in either direction remain distinctly possible in this historically volatile asset class.

Acknowledgment: This article was written with the help of AI, which also assisted in research, drafting, editing, and formatting this current version.