Bitcoin began the final week of October under pressure near the psychologically important $80,000 level, as traders prepared for a US Federal Reserve interest-rate decision, fresh inflation data and a major round of technology-company earnings. The cryptocurrency’s struggle comes as broader markets remain uneasy about artificial-intelligence valuations and corporate spending.
According to Cointelegraph, market participants largely expect the Federal Open Market Committee to leave the federal funds target range unchanged at 3.75% to 4% at its Wednesday meeting. The decision itself may therefore attract less attention than comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, particularly as investors assess the outlook for a possible December move.
Fed decision arrives with oil and inflation in focus
Market pricing indicated more than a 90% probability that the Fed would maintain its current rate range at this week’s meeting. At the same time, expectations pointed to a 25-basis-point rate increase at the December meeting. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.
Economist Robin Brooks described the meeting as a temporary reprieve for Warsh, saying markets were assigning only a 12% probability to a hike this week. His comments reflected the reduced pressure currently visible in market expectations for an immediate change in policy.
Oil prices remain part of the inflation discussion. Brent crude reached $117 a barrel on Friday, its highest level since March 19, before easing to about $110 on Monday. Brooks argued that even a move to $125 would not necessarily force the central bank to raise rates, particularly if higher energy prices contributed to tighter financial conditions and increased stress across markets.
Investors will receive another important data point on Thursday with the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index. PCE is closely followed by the Federal Reserve as a measure of inflation. The previous reading showed year-over-year inflation of 3.4%, although analysts cited changes in the calculation of some index components as a factor behind the lower-than-expected result.
AI concerns weigh on equities before earnings
Stock markets were also unsettled at the start of the week as investors questioned the outlook for artificial-intelligence companies and the spending required to build related infrastructure. South Korea’s technology-heavy KOSPI Composite Index dropped 1.5% on Monday to close at 5,469 points. On Friday, it had fallen as low as 5,308, its weakest level since late July.
Foreign investors sold technology stocks last week as they sought safer positions. Stronger-than-expected US earnings reports did not fully restore confidence. Instead, attention turned to Tesla’s lower third-quarter capital expenditure, adding to questions about whether investors are becoming more selective about large AI-related investments.
The Nasdaq Composite closed at 25,955 on Friday, its lowest daily close since August 3. Raisah Rasid of JPMorgan Asset Management told CNBC that the market appeared to be shifting its focus from simply rewarding capital expenditure to rewarding returns on capital.
More earnings are scheduled during the week. Microsoft and Alphabet are due to report after the US market closes on Wednesday, followed by Amazon and Intel on Thursday. Around 20% of S&P 500 companies are expected to report during the week. US third-quarter gross domestic product figures are also due on Thursday, giving investors another measure of economic activity alongside the inflation data.
Bitcoin’s October decline puts $80,000 support to the test
Bitcoin was trading around $80,000 after falling to $79,145 on Saturday. CoinGlass data cited in the report showed that almost $150 million in long positions were liquidated during a two-hour period as the price declined. Long positions are bets that an asset will rise; when prices move against them, leveraged positions can be forcibly closed.
The $80,000 threshold has psychological importance, but it did not provide firm support on shorter-term charts. CoinGlass identified roughly $73 million in bids positioned to support the market above $79,300, while sell orders were concentrated around $81,000.
If Bitcoin remains near current levels through the end of the month, it would record an October decline of about 4%. That would contrast with the cryptocurrency’s historical reputation for strong October performance. CoinGlass data shows average October gains of 26.1% since 2010, but both 2025 and 2026 have diverged from that pattern. Bitcoin fell 3.9% in October 2025 and then lost 17.5% in November, despite November’s historical average return of 35%.
Some market participants have also questioned Bitcoin’s previous recovery attempts. Benjamin Cowen, founder of Into the Cryptoverse, called moves toward $87,000 in late September and early October “fakeouts” and said he expected weakness to continue through the end of the year. The $87,000 area includes the 2026 yearly open at $87,490 and the 20-month moving average at $87,165, levels identified as important resistance zones.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at 22:39 on October 25, 2026, showed Bitcoin at $80,430.506808014, down 0.08% over 24 hours and 1.32% over seven days. Data Network was priced at $0.1503553856, down 4.42% in 24 hours and 7.71% over seven days, according to Moneyiar data at 22:38 on October 25. ChangeNOW Token stood at $0.4335943848, up 0.29% over 24 hours and 2.18% over seven days, based on Moneyiar data at 22:03 on September 25, 2026.
The immediate backdrop for Bitcoin therefore combines a closely watched Fed meeting, inflation and economic data, oil prices above $100 a barrel, and potentially market-moving earnings from major technology companies. Traders are watching whether the $80,000 area can hold as these events unfold.
