Why Have Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple Prices Fallen?
Cryptocurrency prices saw a significant decline during trading on Thursday, despite continued optimism in global markets regarding the possibility of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, which has driven global stocks to continue setting new record highs.
The price of Bitcoin fell by 1.2% during Thursday’s trading to reach approximately $80,800, continuing its weak performance since the start of the year.
The cryptocurrency has lost about 7% of its value so far in 2026 and is currently trading at about 55% below the all-time high it recorded last October.
Ethereum and Ripple Suffer Losses
The decline was not limited to Bitcoin alone but extended to most major cryptocurrencies, with Ethereum falling by more than 3% over the past 24 hours, while XRP dropped by 2.7%.
These losses come despite the strong performance of global stock markets, particularly following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump in which he indicated that the chances of reaching a peace deal with Iran have become “very high”.
Why haven’t cryptocurrencies benefited from market optimism?
One of the main reasons behind the current weak performance of cryptocurrencies is the decline in liquidity within the crypto market, at a time when investments are flowing toward stock markets, particularly shares of artificial intelligence companies that have seen massive gains in recent weeks.
Furthermore, cryptocurrencies rely heavily on investor sentiment and cash flows, rather than on clear economic and fundamental factors, unlike stocks, which have benefited from strong earnings and significant growth in the technology and AI sectors.
Will the decline in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies continue?
Forecasts indicate that selling pressure on cryptocurrencies will persist in the coming period, unless a strong catalyst emerges to restore market confidence, such as potential cuts in U.S. interest rates or the return of investment flows to the crypto market.
Conversely, the continued outperformance of global stock markets may prompt more investors to reduce their exposure to high-risk digital assets, which could limit the chances of a short-term recovery for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Cryptocurrency movements remain directly linked to risk appetite in global markets, as well as developments in U.S. monetary policy and geopolitical conditions.
With uncertainty persisting regarding U.S.-Iran relations and the Federal Reserve’s actions, investors are closely monitoring any signs that could restore momentum to the cryptocurrency market in the coming period.
