Why Is The Crypto Market Down Today?

The total crypto market cap (TOTAL) and Bitcoin (BTC) started Thursday on a bearish note, and the impact of the same has extended to altcoins. River (RIVER) led the decline among the altcoins, marking a 27% drop.

In the news today:-

• Worldcoin (WLD) jumped over 16% after a Forbes report revealed OpenAI is exploring a social network focused on “proof of personhood” to combat online bots. The early-stage project may use biometric verification, including Apple Face ID and Worldcoin’s iris-scanning technology.
• Fidelity Investments announced plans to launch the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), a stablecoin on Ethereum for institutional and retail users. The move underscores rising institutional interest in the $316 billion stablecoin market as competition for adoption intensifies.

The Crypto Market Cap Drops

The total crypto market cap declined by $44 billion and now stands at $2.95 trillion at the time of writing. Despite the drop, market structure shows early signs of stabilization. Selling pressure has eased following a bearish weekend, allowing digital assets to attempt a short-term recovery.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.50–3.75% on January 28, its first 2026 policy meeting. The decision, described as “loosely neutral,” removed near-term fears of a more restrictive pivot. Nevertheless, the crypto market is yet to find a direction. For now, clearing the $3.00 trillion barrier is the target.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

TOTAL Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Recovery remains possible if sentiment improves alongside macro trends. If bullish conditions align with broader market strength, TOTAL could regain upward momentum. A coordinated move higher may push the total crypto market cap toward the $3.00 trillion level in the coming days.

Bitcoin Continues To Fail Breach

Bitcoin trades at $88,127 after a sharp Wednesday spike sell-off stopped the price from crossing the $90,000 level. The decline reflects heightened volatility and cautious sentiment across the crypto market. Recent weakness has placed Bitcoin near a critical technical zone that may define its next directional move.

If bearish momentum intensifies and Bitcoin breaks lower, the price could slide toward the next support level near $86,987, which marks the 23.6% Fibonacci Retracement. This level is also known as the bear market support level, holding BTC from falling below the $86,558 support level.

Bitcoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

A bullish reversal remains possible if buying pressure returns. Strength above current levels could lift Bitcoin past $90,000. Reclaiming that resistance would open the path back above $90,000 and allow BTC to target the $90,914 level, invalidating the bearish setup.

River Leads The Decline

River recorded the sharpest decline among major altcoins, dropping 27% over the past 24 hours. The sell-off pushed the RIVER price down to $47 at the time of writing. This move followed a decisive breakdown below the $61 support level, signaling weakening short-term momentum and elevated downside risk.

If bearish pressure continues and capital outflows accelerate, the RIVER price could slide toward $36. This level represents the next key support zone. A failure to hold $36 would erase a significant portion of recent gains and expose the asset to a deeper decline toward $19, intensifying the bearish outlook.

RIVER Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

A bullish reversal remains possible if buying pressure returns. Should RIVER reclaim $61 as support, momentum could shift decisively higher. Under stronger market conditions, the altcoin may attempt a move toward its $88 all-time high. A confirmed breakout would establish a new price discovery phase.