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United States-based cryptocurrency markets fell sharply on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a broad-based selloff hit major digital assets and smaller tokens alike. Ether dropped more than 8% to US$1,625, its lowest level since April 2025, underscoring the depth of the retreat in one of the sector’s bellwether coins. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market value, declined 3.9% and traded just above the US$61,000 mark as the downturn extended an ongoing losing streak for the asset class. The latest slide followed news that Strategy Inc. sold part of its bitcoin holdings earlier in the week, marking the company’s first reduction in its position since 2022 and adding to concerns over institutional appetite for digital assets. United States markets also saw steeper losses in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, where investor sentiment deteriorated rapidly. Zcash plunged more than 50% over a 24-hour period amid rumors of a potential security vulnerability, while Monero fell by as much as 17%, highlighting the fragility of confidence in smaller tokens. Analysts attributed the declines to sustained outflows from U.S. cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds and a growing decoupling between digital assets and high-growth technology shares, which had previously moved in closer alignment. Market watchers noted that a clean breach of the US$60,000 psychological support level for bitcoin could trigger further pronounced price swings, as traders await upcoming U.S. labor market data for signals on the broader economic backdrop that is shaping risk-aversion across digital asset portfolios.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.