Market pulse

Crypto markets are under broad pressure, with losses far outweighing gains across the tracked assets. Eighty-nine of 100 declined, and the median 24-hour loss was 6.1%. WAL was a notable exception, rising 45.6%, but isolated strength has done little to offset the widespread weakness.

Bitcoin held near $81,600, down just 0.1% over 24 hours, making it comparatively resilient in a sharp altcoin selloff. Derivatives lean more cautious: open interest fell, taker activity favored sellers, and long positions still outnumbered shorts. Funding remained slightly positive, suggesting bearish pressure has not turned into uniformly defensive positioning. That mix leaves room for further volatility rather than a clear signal of a market floor.

The weakness is broad, though technical breadth among major assets is less severe: most remain above their 200-day averages, while fewer than half are above their 50-day averages. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices rose 0.6% in September, with core prices up 0.3%. UK GDP and US retail sales releases are due today and could influence risk appetite, but their market impact remains uncertain.