Bitcoin crash: Price tumbles near $80,000; corporate crypto holdings hit hard

Bitcoin fell sharply on Friday, closing at $80,553, while ether also hit a four-month low, as cryptocurrencies led a sell-off in riskier assets. Analysts warned that dropping below $80,000 could bring even bigger losses for the world’s largest digital currency.

The decline comes amid investor concerns about expensive tech stocks and uncertainty over near-term US interest rate decisions. Cryptocurrencies, often seen as a measure of market risk appetite, have reflected weak sentiment in the markets, with AI-focused stocks falling and volatility rising.