Bitcoin today: falls to $80,514 and loses the $81,000 level

The crypto market corrects with bitcoin below $81,000: bitcoin today

Bitcoin today is trading at $80,514 at 12:29 in Madrid (4:29 in Mexico City) and is down 1.36% over 24 hours. My take is quite simple: the market is pricing in less patience for risk when ETF outflows, a firm dollar and liquidity that no longer gives second chances all coincide.

Quotes as of 12:29 (Madrid time) on October 24, 2026.

Bitcoin: loses $81,000 amid spot ETF outflows

The immediate reference is the price: bitcoin is trading at $80,514, after hitting a session high of $81,079.98 and a low of $80,388.66. Over five sessions it is down 1.64%, and over the month it has fallen 4.58%. The $81,000 level is once again acting as an uncomfortable boundary: above it there was stability; below it, the market is once again demanding an additional test of demand.

The flows help explain it. U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs posted net outflows of $635.6 million on Thursday, erasing much of the prior relief, and on Friday they added another $137.9 million in outflows (Farside provisional data). Even so, the week still closes in positive territory, with $301.2 million in net inflows. That channel matters because it turns narrative into real money. If the vehicle that absorbs institutional demand stalls, the price loses a key leg just as the market is looking sideways at the Fed meeting on October 27 and 28, with the statement at 19:00 (12:00 in Mexico City) and the press conference at 19:30 (12:30 in Mexico City). Crypto assets are highly volatile and can lose much of their value.

Ethereum: down more than 1% and still weaker than bitcoin on the month

Ethereum is trading at $2,364.38 and is down 1.40% over 24 hours. Over the last month it is down 12.00%, well more than bitcoin, and that confirms that the market is still penalizing risk that needs a more demanding narrative to sustain its valuation.

What this means. When ethereum lags, I do not usually see it as a minor detail. It often reflects a more selective appetite and less willingness to pay for the most speculative part of the ecosystem. In addition, U.S. spot ethereum ETFs suffered net outflows of $110.6 million on Thursday after the brief respite of the previous session. When money comes in, the market tolerates high valuations; when it goes out, the adjustment comes quickly. To me, the monthly divergence versus bitcoin suggests that rotation is not seeking beta, but relative safety within the crypto universe itself.

Altcoins: Solana, XRP and Cardano feel a sharper correction

The decline is becoming steeper outside bitcoin. Solana is down 2.54% over 24 hours to $101.47, XRP is down 3.18% to $1.2800 and Cardano is down 4.03% to $0.2077. Over a month, the pullbacks are even more visible.

What this means. This is where you see whether the correction is orderly or whether risk appetite is really starting to deteriorate. When bitcoin falls only a little and altcoins fall much more, the market is reducing exposure, not just adjusting price. That pattern usually points to less tolerance for leverage and a search for cleaner liquidity. No need to dramatize it, but there is no point dressing it up either: if Solana does not quickly recover the $102.78 area and XRP remains stuck near its intraday low of $1.2735, the reading is one of breadth weakness, not merely a technical pause.

The dollar and stocks: the macro backdrop is still giving nothing away

Outside the crypto world, the dollar index closed on Friday the 23rd at 101.75 and EUR/USD at 1.1204, while the Nasdaq Composite ended the October 23 session at 25,955.34 points. These are not today’s figures, but they are the immediate backdrop as the digital market opens this weekend.

What this means. For me, the mechanism is quite direct. A somewhat firmer dollar and losing momentum in U.S. tech reduce the room for bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to rise on multiple expansion. The market can live with high rates if growth makes up for it; what it struggles more with is paying up for money and, at the same time, seeing the assets that set the pace of global risk weaken. Since there are no major events in the macro calendar this weekend, prices are more exposed to flows, liquidity and positioning than to new economic headlines.

Monetary calendar: the next test arrives next week

Today there is no meeting of the ECB, the Fed, the Bank of England or the Bank of Japan. The next serious focus for the market comes between October 27 and 30, with the Fed, the ECB and the Bank of Japan concentrated within a few days.

What this means. Sometimes the weekend looks calm, but the market is already placing bets for next week. The ECB will decide on rates on October 29 at 14:15 (7:15 in Mexico City) and will hold a press conference at 14:45 (7:45 in Mexico City). A few hours earlier, the Fed will have announced its decision on October 28 at 19:00 (12:00 in Mexico City). I remain skeptical about the idea of quick rate cuts. If the cost of money stays high for longer, the fundamental support for crypto assets depends much more on net inflows and much less on simple hope.

My reading

I think what has changed compared with previous days is not just the price, but the quality of the support. Bitcoin is holding near $80,000, yes, but it is doing so after a heavy ETF outflow and with ethereum and the altcoins showing more fatigue. That does not invalidate the asset, but it does cool the complacent reading. For this move to improve for real, I would focus on a sustained recovery above $81,079.98 in bitcoin and on the next flow data not repeating Thursday’s drain.

My underlying bias remains cautious. Liquidity matters more than many admit, and interest rates remain the price of time, including for crypto. If the Fed on October 28 at 19:00 (12:00 in Mexico City) keeps a hard tone, it would be hard for me to believe in a solid rebound based on enthusiasm alone. What would make me change my mind would be consistent ETF inflows and a clear improvement in breadth in ethereum and Solana. The main risk is confusing temporary stability with a reliable bottom.

To go deeper

• My previous analysis: Bitcoin today falls to $81,667 despite the intraday rebound
• How to know your risk profile — before trading any asset

This article provides general financial information and does not constitute investment advice. Investing involves the risk of losing the capital invested. Crypto assets are highly volatile and are not covered by deposit or investment guarantee schemes.