Leading cryptocurrencies fell sharply on Wednesday, while stocks rallied to record highs with no breakthrough in sight for a U.S.-Iran deal.
Bitcoin tumbled, coming close to sinking below $74,000, while Ethereum battled bears to defend the key $2,000 support. Selling pressure intensified for XRP and Dogecoin as well.
Cryptocurrency-related stocks also fell, with Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BMNR) closing down 3.58% and 1.98%, respectively.
Over $450 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the past 24 hours, with $400 million in long position erased, according to Coinglass data.
Bitcoin's open interest fell 0.89% over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, both retail and whale derivatives traders turned bullish, aggressively building long positions in the leading cryptocurrency
"Extreme Fear" sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.49 trillion, down 1.89% over the last 24 hours.
Stocks extended their record-breaking run. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 182.60 points, or 0.36%, for a record close of 50,644.28 The S&P 500 closed 0.02% higher at 7,520.36, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 0.07% to close at 26,674.73.