Major Cryptos Drop as Bitcoin Falls Below $80K
Bitcoin fell below $80,000 as Ether, XRP and Solana also declined ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision. Reports published on October 26, 2026, showed pressure coming from several directions: leveraged positions were being liquidated, U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds had recorded withdrawals, and traders were waiting for monetary-policy signals. The available reports agree on the broad market decline, although some figures differ between sources because each publication presented its own market snapshot.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin traded below $80,000 in all three cited reports published on October 26, 2026.
- Ether, XRP and Solana also declined in the reported market move.
- One report put crypto liquidations above $810 million, while another reported $154.23 million over 24 hours.
- U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $773.5 million in combined withdrawals across two trading sessions, according to Crypto.news.
- Attention was focused on the Federal Reserve policy decision expected on October 28.
Bitcoin slips through $80,000
CoinCentral reported on October 26, 2026 that Bitcoin had fallen nearly 2% to around $79,800 after reaching a monthly low of $79,146 over the weekend. The report said Bitcoin needed to regain $82,500 to indicate that the decline was stabilizing and described the cryptocurrency as being on course for its first monthly loss since June.
A separate Crypto.news report published on October 26, 2026 placed Bitcoin near $79,947, representing a 1.02% decline over 24 hours. Coinpedia also reported on October 26, 2026 that Bitcoin was trading at $79,863.55 after a 1.6% decline over 24 hours and a 3.8% weekly decline.
These reports provide slightly different prices and percentage moves, so their figures are best read as separate published snapshots rather than a single synchronized quote. What they consistently show is that Bitcoin had moved beneath the $80,000 level during the period covered.
Ether, XRP and Solana follow Bitcoin lower
The decline extended beyond Bitcoin. CoinCentral said on October 26, 2026 that Ether had lost nearly 3% while remaining above $2,300, and that XRP had dropped 3% to $1.28.
Coinpedia's October 26, 2026 market report gave a separate snapshot: Ether was down 2.7% at $2,310.09, XRP was down 2.6% at $1.28, and Solana was down 2.2% at $100.59. Coinpedia attributed the broader pullback to caution before the Federal Reserve meeting and U.S. PCE inflation data.
Liquidations add pressure
The cited publications reported materially different liquidation totals. CoinCentral reported on October 26, 2026 that more than $810 million in crypto positions had been liquidated within 24 hours, including $689 million in bullish bets.
By contrast, Crypto.news reported on October 26, 2026 that crypto liquidations totaled $154.23 million over 24 hours, with long positions accounting for $117.99 million. Because the evidence does not reconcile the difference, the totals should remain attributed to their respective reports rather than combined.
Coinpedia identified $78,800 as the next major liquidation cluster for leveraged retail positions. That level was presented by the publication as a market-risk marker, not as a guaranteed destination for Bitcoin's price.
ETF withdrawals and exchange inflows
Crypto.news reported on October 26, 2026 that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs had seen $773.5 million in combined withdrawals across two trading sessions. The same report said retail-sized wallet inflows to Binance reached a six-month high of $10.75 billion, while deposits associated with whales fell to $3.8 billion.
Those figures describe the activity reported by the source during the market decline. They do not, by themselves, establish what any individual holder will do next or guarantee the direction of Bitcoin, Ether, XRP or Solana.
Federal Reserve decision moves into focus
The macroeconomic calendar was central to all three reports. Crypto.news said markets were awaiting the Federal Reserve's October 28 policy decision as well as an upcoming $11 billion Bitcoin options expiry. Coinpedia also pointed to the Federal Reserve meeting and U.S. PCE inflation data as reasons for trader caution.
CoinCentral reported on October 26, 2026 that the Federal Reserve meeting would conclude Wednesday. Jeff Mei of BTSE said: “We're watching how strongly the chair hints at a December hike — that's what matters for crypto.” The quotation reflects Mei's stated focus; it is not a confirmed forecast of a rate change or a cryptocurrency price move.
What to watch next
The immediate reference points contained in the evidence are the reported Bitcoin prices below $80,000, the $78,800 liquidation cluster identified by Coinpedia, and the $82,500 level CoinCentral said Bitcoin needed to retake to signal stabilization. The Federal Reserve's October 28 decision and the reported $11 billion Bitcoin options expiry were the principal upcoming events named by Crypto.news.
Readers should keep the reports' differing snapshots in view. Prices, percentage moves and liquidation totals varied across the cited coverage, even though the sources agreed that major cryptocurrencies were declining and that traders were focused on the approaching Federal Reserve decision.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Bitcoin below $80,000?
The cited reports connected the move with liquidations, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF withdrawals, trader caution ahead of the Federal Reserve decision and, in Coinpedia's coverage, upcoming U.S. PCE inflation data. These are attributed explanations from the sources, not proof that one factor alone caused the decline.
How far did other major cryptocurrencies fall?
Coinpedia reported on October 26, 2026 that Ether fell 2.7% to $2,310.09, XRP fell 2.6% to $1.28, and Solana fell 2.2% to $100.59. CoinCentral separately reported that Ether lost nearly 3% and XRP declined 3% to $1.28.
Were the liquidation totals consistent?
No. CoinCentral reported more than $810 million within 24 hours, while Crypto.news reported $154.23 million over 24 hours. The supplied evidence does not explain or reconcile that difference.