Bitcoin slid back under $70,000 on Thursday as a spike in energy prices and a Fed pause dented risk appetite across markets. The largest cryptocurrency traded around $69,278, dipping as low as $69,600—about a 1.6% decline since midnight UTC. Ether mirrored the weakness, falling roughly 1.7% to $2,160. Energy moves were a key driver. Brent crude climbed to about $114 a barrel and Oman crude approached $150, while European natural gas futures jumped roughly 25% to above $78 per MWh. Those moves followed reports of Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure after an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, stoking supply concerns and driving a broad commodity rally. Monetary policy also played a role. The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% on Wednesday, effectively pausing a planned rate-cutting cycle—an outcome that strengthened the U.S. dollar and undercut risk assets. Equity-linked instruments reflected the shift: Nasdaq 100 futures were down about 0.3% since midnight UTC. The combination of energy-driven inflation fears and a less dovish Fed stance pressured both equities and crypto, leaving bitcoin and ether softer as traders reassess risk exposure. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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