Crypto markets were hit hard following a sharp selloff, pushing the total market capitalization down 5.8% in the past 24 hours to around $2.8 trillion. Bitcoin briefly dropped to $80,815 before recovering near $82,150, while Ethereum slipped below $2,700 amid widespread liquidations.
Losses were even steeper across altcoins. Solana declined more than 6%, XRP fell 6.7%, and traders increasingly rotated capital into traditional safe havens such as gold. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and expectations that US rate cuts may be delayed continue to suppress risk appetite. Bitcoin ETF outflows and cautious options positioning further underline the defensive mood.
Privacy-focused Monero dropped 7.5%, while Layer 1 networks including Avalanche and Polkadot also posted sharp losses, reflecting reduced liquidity across the market.
Despite the broader downturn, crypto presales are emerging as a relative bright spot. Their fixed pricing and early-stage positioning have insulated them from short-term volatility, making them attractive to whales searching for asymmetric upside.
One project drawing notable attention is Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER), a Bitcoin Layer 2 designed to blend Solana-style speed with Bitcoin-level security. The HYPER presale has now raised over $31 million, signaling strong conviction from experienced investors even as most altcoins struggle. This growing accumulation suggests Bitcoin Hyper could be the next big crypto to explode once market conditions stabilize.
Altcoins Under Pressure as Uncertainty Persists
Regulatory concerns have compounded recent weakness, although progress in the US Senate toward a clearer crypto framework has offered some cautious optimism. Bitcoin recently touched its lowest levels of 2026 below $81,000, while Ethereum derivatives markets showed elevated volatility ahead of a $10.8 billion options expiry.
Crypto-related equities have not been spared either, with Coinbase shares falling nearly 5% in the latest session.
Market analyst “Unknown Trader” noted that Ethereum may enter a long-term accumulation zone between $1,700 and $1,900 if thin liquidity persists, potentially setting the stage for another rebound later on.
Institutional flows have slowed considerably. Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $817.87 million in a single day, while Ethereum ETFs lost $155.61 million. Still, many professional investors believe Bitcoin remains undervalued below $95,000, even as Wall Street braces for further volatility. Meanwhile, whales appear increasingly drawn to presales such as Bitcoin Hyper, where individual investments have reportedly reached as high as $456,500.
Bitcoin Hyper Presale Gains Traction Ahead of Q1 Launch
Bitcoin Hyper aims to deliver a high-performance Layer 2 on Bitcoin by leveraging Solana’s virtual machine for fast transactions and smart contracts, while anchoring security to Bitcoin’s base layer. Users will be able to bridge BTC through a non-custodial mechanism, minting wrapped BTC for DeFi, staking, and other on-chain applications. Transactions are batched and settled using zero-knowledge proofs to enhance efficiency.
Security audits by Coinsult and SpyWolf have validated the HYPER token smart contract, while development continues on the protocol’s decentralized canonical bridge.
Crypto commentator Borch Crypto, who has over 94,000 subscribers, recently highlighted Bitcoin Hyper as a strong contender for explosive growth, citing its Bitcoin-native design, high-speed execution, and staking incentives as key advantages for expanding DeFi within the BTC ecosystem.
The project’s roadmap targets a Layer 2 mainnet launch in early 2026, followed by exchange listings, DAO governance, and new use cases spanning tokenized assets, gaming, and decentralized finance.
Presale Tops $31 Million as Demand Accelerates
HYPER tokens are currently priced at $0.013655 in the ongoing presale phase, up from the initial $0.0115 entry price. Total funds raised have reached $31.1 million and are closing in on the next milestone of $31.5 million, after which prices may rise again.
Staking yields currently sit at 38% APY, with more than 1.4 billion tokens already locked. This reduced circulating supply could contribute to a post-launch supply squeeze if demand continues to build.
Bitcoin Hyper’s sustained momentum during a period of widespread altcoin weakness highlights growing confidence among long-term investors. With whales positioning ahead of anticipated exchange listings in Q1, some forecasts suggest upside potential of up to 100x as the ecosystem expands.