Jim Cramer Explains the Hidden Forces Behind Bitcoin’s Tumult after $80,000 Broke

CNBC host Jim Cramer has turned his attention to Bitcoin once again, raising questions about the pioneer crypto’s stability and the willingness of its supporters to defend key price levels.

His remarks come after Bitcoin’s flash crash below the $80,000 psychological level over the weekend.

Bitcoin’s $80,000 Breach Highlights Fragile Support and Price Volatility

As of this writing, Bitcoin was trading at $76,511, down 2% over the last 24 hours. It follows a crypto market bloodbath over the weekend, with Ethereum and altcoins reflecting similar sentiment.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

In a series of posts on X (Twitter) over the weekend, Cramer highlighted Bitcoin’s recent drop below $80,000, labeling the move as evidence of its short-term volatility and the fragility of investor support.

Cramer, a longtime Bitcoin holder, framed his criticism around what he views as a structural issue in today’s markets.

“I write in How to Make Money in any Market that you have to keep your eye on the prize, profits, and not bitcoin or silver or whatever distraction suits you,” he said. “But no one ever seems to learn because we are all macro now…24/7…even if it is wrong ALL OF THE TIME.”

The CNBC host stressed that while Bitcoin grabs headlines, fundamentals like corporate earnings remain the only reliable guide for investors. Bitcoin’s sharp weekend swings further reinforced Cramer’s point.

“The demonstration of what can happen in a weekend with Bitcoin demonstrates its unreliability, on a short-term basis, to be a currency…And I write that as someone who owns bitcoin,” he emphasized.

By pointing to the rapid price movement, Cramer highlighted what he sees as a mismatch between Bitcoin’s perception as a store of value and its real-time price behavior.

Throughout his posts, Cramer repeatedly referenced the $80,000–$82,000 range as a “line in the sand,” expressing surprise that major holders and vocal Bitcoin advocates did not step in to defend the level.

He also questioned the timing and commitment of Bitcoin’s defenders, noting that they had a limited window to push the price back to $82,000 and establish a so-called double bottom.

As a long-standing Bitcoin owner himself, he highlighted the apparent absence of these supporters during a critical moment for the pioneer crypto.

MicroStrategy, Saylor, and Bitcoin: Short-Term Moves Driven by Stakeholders and Narrative

Cramer’s commentary also touched on MicroStrategy (now Strategy Inc.) and its executive chairman, Michael Saylor, a prominent corporate Bitcoin advocate.

With the company scheduled to report earnings on February 5, he suggested the stock and Bitcoin could be under coordinated pressure from short sellers.

“Saylor reports this week, February 5. So, the shorts are probably trying to break him before that,” Cramer wrote.

He even sarcastically proposed a strategy for Saylor to move Bitcoin’s price to create a temporary bullish narrative.

Despite his skepticism, Cramer acknowledged a potential rebound, noting that with Bitcoin at $77,000, a sudden influx of buyers could push it back to $82,000.

Yet his posts reflect a recurring theme: Bitcoin’s short-term movements remain highly dependent on support from key stakeholders and narrative-driven buying, rather than purely organic demand.

Cramer’s remarks highlight the tension between investor optimism, price psychology, and market reality.

The $80,000 breach may test both Bitcoin’s resilience and the willingness of its defenders to act. It raises questions about how much of Bitcoin’s short-term price action is guided by fundamentals versus narrative and optics.