Bitcoin dropped 10% over the past week to retest $100,000, recording its weakest 30-day performance against the Nasdaq since July 2024. Despite bearish sentiment following October's $20 billion deleveraging event, easing monetary policy, potential 401(k) crypto access, and increased bank participation suggest the decline represents consolidation rather than a cycle peak, according to K33 Research.

Bitcoin's sideways price action in 2025 represents a transition phase resembling a "silent IPO," with early holders selling to institutional buyers, according to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan. He characterized this consolidation as a healthy maturation process that positions bitcoin for larger portfolio allocations as volatility declines and mainstream adoption expands.

DeFi protocol Balancer lost approximately $128.6 million across multiple blockchains on Monday through an exploit targeting V2 Composable Stable Pools, data show. Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission announced it will permit locally licensed crypto exchanges to share global order books with overseas platforms to enhance liquidity and price discovery.

Nasdaq-listed shipping company OceanPal Inc. closed a $120 million private placement to establish SovereignAI Services LLC, a subsidiary focused on blockchain and AI infrastructure developed with the NEAR Foundation. Kraken, Proximity, Fabric Ventures, and G20 Group participated alongside the NEAR Foundation. The funds will support a NEAR Protocol-based digital asset treasury and a confidential AI cloud platform using NEAR and Nvidia technologies.

Global digital asset investment products recorded $921 million in net inflows last week, reversing the prior week's $513 million in outflows, according to CoinShares. Bitcoin-focused funds attracted $931 million, while Ethereum products saw $169 million in net outflows. Improved investor sentiment followed lower-than-expected CPI data released Friday, reinforcing expectations for further interest rate cuts this year.