Daily Market Update: Bitcoin and Stocks Diverge as Geopolitical Tensions Impact Markets

TLDR

• Bitcoin held above $96,000 on Thursday after rallying 6% over the past week, while total crypto market value reached $3.25 trillion before gains cooled
• U.S. stock futures remained mostly flat after major indexes posted their first back-to-back losses of 2026, with the S&P 500 down 0.5% and Nasdaq dropping 1%
• Oil prices fell for the first time in six days after President Trump signaled potential delays to military action against Iran, easing geopolitical tensions
• Technology stocks led Wednesday’s losses, with Nvidia declining despite receiving approval for chip exports to China amid new 25% tariff reports on semiconductors
• Crypto market sentiment index climbed to 48, its highest level since late October, while mixed performance across major tokens suggested consolidation after recent gains

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Bitcoin maintained its position above $96,000 on Thursday as cryptocurrency markets showed signs of cooling after a strong rally earlier in the week. The largest cryptocurrency traded near $96,200, up about 1% over 24 hours and roughly 6% for the week.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price

Total crypto market value rose nearly 5% to approximately $3.25 trillion during Thursday’s session before momentum slowed. Ether hovered around $3,300, posting smaller gains compared to bitcoin’s recent performance.

The crypto market sentiment index climbed to 48, its highest level since late October. This reading suggests traders have grown more comfortable taking positions after a cautious end to 2025.

Performance across major cryptocurrencies remained mixed on Thursday. Solana and BNB showed strength, while XRP fell about 3% over 24 hours. Dogecoin dropped more than 3%, lagging behind the broader market.

Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, noted bitcoin’s technical position has improved. The cryptocurrency has cleared several important resistance levels and now has room to move toward the $100,000 to $106,000 range.

Stock Markets Pause After First Consecutive Declines

U.S. stock futures traded near flat levels on Thursday following the first back-to-back losses for major indexes in 2026. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 drifted around unchanged levels.

E-Mini S&P 500 Mar 26 (ES=F)

Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 edged up 0.2%. The modest gain came after technology shares led Wednesday’s selloff across Wall Street.

The S&P 500 closed down 0.5% on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1%. All three major benchmarks posted consecutive declines for the first time this year.

Technology stocks faced pressure despite some positive developments. Nvidia saw its stock decline even after the U.S. formally approved its chip exports to China. Reports emerged of a potential 25% tariff on select semiconductor imports, weighing on the chipmaker’s shares.

Geopolitical Factors Impact Risk Sentiment

Oil prices fell for the first time in six days after President Trump signaled he may delay military action against Iran. The comments eased immediate geopolitical tensions that had supported energy prices.

Precious metals slipped from record highs on Thursday. Asian equities edged lower as investors rotated out of technology shares.

Trump administration officials met Wednesday with Danish and Greenlandic leaders as the president continues to push for U.S. control of Greenland. A Danish official said the talks failed to resolve what he called a fundamental disagreement over ownership.

Markets have also reacted to Trump’s continued criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Concerns about the Fed’s independence intensified after Powell confirmed the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation involving the central bank chief.

Investors will be watching a fresh batch of earnings from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock on Thursday. Weekly jobless claims data is also scheduled for release.

Stablecoins remained steady, with tether and USDC holding close to their dollar pegs. The stability suggests no signs of market stress or forced selling in crypto markets.

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