Bitcoin Falls Toward $78K as Macro Weakness Hits Markets – Sentiment Shifts

Bitcoin slides toward $78K amid macro weakness as Sentient rallies after Upbit and Bithumb listings, signaling caution and rotation into early-stage bets.

Rich by Coin

2026-02-01

Bitcoin made another sharp move at the end of January 2026, briefly trading near the $78,000 level after failing to hold key support zones. During early Asian trading hours, Bitcoin (BTC) slid toward the $78,000 level, briefly touching intraday lows before stabilizing slightly above support. The move marked one of Bitcoin’s weakest sessions in months, bringing prices back to levels last seen in mid-2025.

Reports point to a sharp pullback in U.S. equities as a major driver. As risk appetite faded, leveraged positions were unwound, adding to downside pressure. But while panic spreads across social media, experienced market participants are quietly rotating into early-stage opportunities that historically outperform once Bitcoin stabilizes. The surge followed listings on major South Korean exchanges, including Upbit and Bithumb, with KRW, BTC, and USDT trading pairs.

Sentient (SENT) emerged as one of the day’s top performers after gaining traction on CoinGecko’s trending list. The token rallied despite broader market weakness, extending its weekly gains above 40%. Exchange exposure and sector rotation helped Sentient outperform during the Bitcoin pullback. Bitcoin extended its end-of-January move, briefly trading near the $78,000 level after failing to hold key support zones.

In early Asian trading hours, BTC slid toward the $78,000 mark, briefly testing intraday lows before stabilizing slightly above support. The move marked one of Bitcoin’s weakest sessions in months, returning prices to levels last seen in mid-2025. Reports point to a sharp pullback in U.S. equities as a major driver, with fading risk appetite unwinding leveraged positions and adding to downside pressure. Despite the macro weakness, experienced market participants rotated into early-stage opportunities that historically outperform once Bitcoin stabilizes.

The surge followed listings on Upbit and Bithumb with KRW, BTC, and USDT trading pairs, while Sentient emerged as a top performer after gaining momentum on CoinGecko’s trending list. The token extended weekly gains above 40%, aided by exchange exposure and sector rotation helping it outperform during the bitcoin pullback.