Monday Morning: Crypto Pulls Back as Risk-Off Mood Returns

Picture showing crypto monday morning

The new week has started on a weaker note for crypto markets, with prices moving lower alongside broader risk assets. The pullback follows renewed geopolitical tensions tied to the Greenland dispute, which have weighed on global sentiment as traditional markets reopened. While crypto traded relatively calmly over the weekend, the shift in stock market tone appears to have spilled over into digital assets.

It is worth noting that the current move does not appear to be driven by crypto-specific factors. Instead, the market reaction mirrors broader risk-off behavior, similar to past episodes involving tariffs or geopolitical uncertainty. Crypto is reacting in line with other risk assets rather than acting as the source of volatility.

Read also: 6 Reasons Why Crypto Is More Volatile Than Other Assets

Bitcoin And Major Coins Give Back Recent Gains

Bitcoin is down around 3% on the day, trading near $92,500 after briefly touching $97,000 earlier in the week. The decline has erased a large part of last week’s gains, during which Bitcoin climbed above $95,000 and reached its highest level in roughly two months. On a weekly basis, the move remains relatively modest, but today’s selling pressure has shifted short-term momentum.

Chart showing Bitcoin crash

Ethereum is also under pressure, falling around 3.5% and slipping back below $3,200. Other large-cap cryptocurrencies are broadly in the red as well. XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Cardano have all given back most, if not all, of their gains from the previous week, highlighting the extent of the pullback across higher-beta assets.

Despite the decline, price levels for major coins remain well above their early-January lows. The total crypto market capitalization stands at around $3.13T – while the decline is noticeable, it follows a period of steady gains and does not yet signal a sharp breakdown in overall market structure.

Read also: How to recognize a crypto presale scam? Full guide

Market Cap And Sentiment

Sentiment indicators continue to show a cautious backdrop. The Fear and Greed Index is currently at 44, signaling Fear. This reading comes after the index spent much of the past week in neutral territory, marking the first sustained improvement in sentiment since October.

Fear and Greed Index

It is important to note that today’s reading was recorded before the latest price declines. The CoinMarketCap sentiment indicator stands at 45, also reflecting a cautious but not extreme stance.

Read also: How To Use Crypto Fear and Greed Index To Your Advantage?

Greenland Dispute And Tariff Developments

Over the weekend, the United States confirmed new tariff measures targeting goods from eight European countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, and the UK. The initial tariffs are set at 10% starting February 1, with plans to raise them to 25% by June if no agreement is reached regarding Greenland. European officials have rejected the proposal and are discussing potential retaliatory measures, adding uncertainty to transatlantic trade relations.

So far, the dispute has had a clearer impact on traditional markets than on crypto itself. However, as stocks and futures moved lower at the start of the week, crypto followed suit, reflecting its current role as a risk-sensitive asset. As seen during earlier tariff cycles, the market response appears driven by headline risk and uncertainty rather than direct economic impact on the crypto sector.

Kate Taylor

Kate Taylor