Crypto market extends sell-off as bitcoin hits seven-month low

The global crypto market has been under pressure for nearly a month, and the latest sell-off has pushed prices to fresh multi-month lows. Even though this week has seen a brief pause in the decline, traders believe the downside is still open.

Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, has dropped to a seven-month low and recently fell to $82,000. This marks a sharp slide from its all-time high of $120,600 recorded on October 6. Since then, nearly $19 billion has been wiped out through crypto selling.

Overall, the total cryptocurrency market cap has fallen by $1.7 trillion from the highs of 2025 — a sign of just how deep the correction has been.

Altcoins Also Extend Losses

The sell-off is not limited to Bitcoin. Major altcoins such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano have seen steep declines as retail traders stay away from speculative positions. Many of these tokens have fallen 20–45% from their peak levels this year.

Ethereum alone is down 40% from its August highs.

With fewer new investors entering the market and funding activity slowing, buying interest has dropped sharply. Digital asset treasuries are also under pressure due to declining net asset values.

MSCI’s Review Adds to Market Caution

Adding to the market’s worries, the MSCI stock indices are reportedly reviewing whether to exclude companies whose corporate treasuries hold more than 50% crypto assets. This discussion will continue until mid-December, and any final decision is expected to have a significant impact on crypto-related stocks and sentiment.

Some Positive Developments Amid the Weakness

Despite the broader decline, there have been a few positive updates in the crypto ecosystem over the past week:

Coinbase has launched ether-backed loans, allowing US users to borrow USDC against their ETH holdings.

The DeFi Education Fund announced a plan to use decentralised finance technology to reduce costs and help fight poverty in the US.

MasterCard, with support from Polygon, is simplifying crypto addresses to make payments easier.

However, these developments have not been enough to offset the fear surrounding falling prices.