> At a Glance
> – Zcash (ZEC) plunged 12% to $380 in 24 hours, the worst performer among large-cap altcoins
> – Bitcoin stabilized at $90,500 after a volatile week that saw it hit $95,000 then drop to $89,000
> – Polkadot (POL) surged 17% while most major altcoins remained flat or declined
> – Why it matters: The crypto market’s $20 billion daily gain masks significant divergence in altcoin performance, with some tokens like ZEC facing heavy selling pressure
Bitcoin’s wild ride from $95,000 to $89,000 has finally settled at $90,500, but the real story is in the altcoin market where Zcash is getting hammered while Polkadot stages an impressive rally.
Bitcoin Finds Stability After Volatile Week
The world’s largest cryptocurrency started the week strong, climbing to nearly $95,000 on Tuesday morning after successfully defending the $90,000 support level during a volatile weekend. The weekend chaos included a US military operation in Venezuela that captured the country’s president, yet Bitcoin held steady.
The midweek rejection was swift and brutal. BTC dropped to $91,200, bounced back to $94,000, then continued its slide to just over $89,000 by Thursday. Bulls managed a modest recovery to $92,000 yesterday before the current stabilization at $90,500.
Altcoin Chaos: Winners and Losers
While Bitcoin caught its breath, altcoins showed no such unity. The divergence was stark:
- ZEC: -12% to $380 (worst performer)
- POL: +17% to near $0.17 (best performer)
- ETH: Below $3,100
- XRP: Shaky at $2.10
- SOL: Down to $136
- DOGE: At $0.14
Market Metrics Tell the Story
| Metric | Current Value |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin Market Cap | $1.810 trillion |
| Bitcoin Dominance | 57% |
| Total Crypto Market Cap | $3.180 trillion |
| Daily Market Cap Gain | +$20 billion |
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization gained approximately $20 billion in a single day, reaching $3.180 trillion. Bitcoin’s dominance over alternative cryptocurrencies remains near 57% on CoinGecko.
Key Takeaways
- Zcash’s 12% drop makes it the worst performer among large-cap cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin’s volatility has temporarily subsided at the $90,500 level
- Polkadot’s 17% surge contrasts sharply with most altcoins’ sluggish performance
- The delayed US Supreme Court decision on Trump’s tariffs removed an expected volatility catalyst
With Bitcoin stabilizing at $90,500 and the total market cap climbing $20 billion, the crypto market appears to be in a consolidation phase despite significant individual token volatility.
