Bitcoin Falls Below $80,000 as Ether, XRP Retreat
Bitcoin slipped under $80,000 to a three-week low as ether fell more than 10% to a six-week low and XRP declined after spot bitcoin and ether ETFs began trading.
Bitcoin fell below $80,000 to a three-week low this week. Ether dropped more than 10% to a six-week low and XRP also declined. The price moves followed the roll-out of spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds.
Bitcoin is roughly 12% below its level at the start of the year and about 38% below its October 2025 record close. Ether is down about 29% year-to-date and about 56% below its August 2025 peak. XRP, issued by Ripple and launched in 2012, has pulled back from recent levels after earlier gains.
On Jan. 10, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved multiple spot bitcoin ETFs from issuers including Grayscale (GBTC), iShares (IBIT), Fidelity (FBTC), ARK 21Shares (ARKB), Bitwise (BITB) and CoinShares Valkyrie (BRRR). A separate set of spot ether ETFs began trading on July 23, 2024, from issuers including Grayscale (ETHE), Franklin (EZET), Bitwise (ETHW), iShares (ETHA) and Fidelity (FETH). These funds offer a way to hold spot bitcoin and ether through exchange-listed products.
Analysts and data providers track an index that charts bitcoin, ether and XRP together starting on Nov. 9, 2017. The index uses a logarithmic vertical axis to show percentage gains and losses rather than absolute price differences. That index shows periods when each token led the group; at the time of writing, bitcoin is in the lead.
Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 and recorded its first transaction in early 2009. Ether launched in July 2015 as the native token of the Ethereum blockchain and is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market share. XRP entered the market in 2012 and at times ranked among the largest tokens. Cryptocurrencies remain volatile and their prices are sensitive to product launches and regulatory developments.
