Bitcoin Struggles Near $90K: Sixth Straight Losses Erase $150B as Tariff Fears Grip Market

Bitcoin can't catch a break. After smashing past $100K earlier this year, BTC is now scraping the $90K floor—marking its sixth consecutive day of losses. Over $150B has vanished from the total crypto market cap, and the Fear & Greed Index has plunged to 34, levels not seen since 2023's bearish chills. As @pawnie_ highlighted in his latest Web3 recap, Trump tariff threats and macro jitters are fueling the fire. Is this a healthy shakeout or the start of something worse?

Let's break it down. BTC dipped below $88K mid-week on fears of fresh U.S. tariffs tied to Trump's Greenland push and EU tensions, triggering over $1B in liquidations. Gold surged past $4,800 to all-time highs as investors fled risk assets, leaving crypto in the dust. Coindesk reports ETH sliding toward $2,970, SOL and ADA following suit—altcoins down 7-12% weekly while BTC hovers at $89,800. The Fear & Greed Index hit 32 before ticking up slightly to 34 (now even lower at 24 per alternative.me), signaling extreme fear. Traders on X are buzzing: 'Leverage flush cleared weak hands,' says one, while others eye $90K options expiry as a magnet. But with Japan bond yields spiking and policy uncertainty lingering, BTC's failing to build momentum despite Asian equity records. Whales? Accumulating quietly amid the panic. Galaxy Digital launched a $100M hedge fund at Davos, ARK sees $28T digital assets by 2030. Yet ETF outflows hit $995M combined for BTC and ETH. This isn't just charts—it's geopolitics amplifying crypto's beta.

The bleed is brutal: Global crypto cap at $3.1T after $150B wipeout, 182K traders liquidated. BTC's drop erased early 2026 gains, dragging alts harder—ETH -6%, SOL and ADA slipping as BTC fails $90K resistance. X threads explode with 'crash' talk, but lower leverage cushions deeper falls. Risk-off rotation favors gold, squeezes crypto stocks like Strategy (-6.8%). Sentiment? Extreme fear screams opportunity for HODLers, but volatility rules.

Bitcoin's $90K struggle is a classic crypto gut-check amid Trump tariffs and macro noise. History shows extreme Fear & Greed lows precede bounces—think 2023 recovery. With whales stacking, ETF filings rolling (Grayscale's NEAR ETF), and Trump pro-crypto at Davos, this could flip fast. Stay vigilant: Watch PCE data, tariff updates, $90K hold. Bulls, your dip-buy moment? Load up—the king adapts and roars back.