Bitcoin Drops to $81,700 Amid Rising Fed Rate Hike Expectations
US inflation data sparked a $100 million crypto market liquidation wave as Bitcoin tests support levels.
US inflation data sparked a $100 million crypto market liquidation wave as Bitcoin tests support levels. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $81,595.00, down 0.2% since this brief published. This is an original TLT brief synthesising 4 outlets (CryptoSlate, BeInCrypto, Brave New Coin, and others), plus live market data, as of Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:15:02 UTC.
The drop highlights Bitcoin's sensitivity to macroeconomic data and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy shifts, which can trigger widespread liquidations and affect market sentiment.
- Bitcoin climbs toward $84,000 after Fed’s Williams sees no rate hikes in 2027 ↗
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- US Inflation Hits 3.7%, Sinking Bitcoin and Gold: Will the Fed Hike in October? ↗
- Bitcoin plunges to $81,300 support as Fed hike odds hit 55% amid $100 million crypto wipeout ↗
- Bitcoin fell to $81,700 after US inflation data exceeded forecasts.
- Over $100 million in crypto positions were liquidated within an hour.
- Fed rate hike odds rose to 55%, impacting risk assets.
Both CryptoSlate and BeInCrypto report that US inflation data for September, which came in at 3.7%, exceeded expectations and fueled expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. This led to a sharp decline in Bitcoin's price, testing the $81,700 support level, and triggered over $100 million in liquidations across the crypto market, according to CoinGlass data cited by CryptoSlate. BeInCrypto emphasizes the broader market reaction, noting how both Bitcoin and gold responded to the inflation data, while CryptoSlate focuses more on the immediate impact on leveraged positions.
On Wednesday, 
Bitcoin's price dropped to a support level of $81,700 after US inflation data for September came in higher than expected, reaching 3.7%. This unexpected rise in inflation has increased the likelihood of further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, with current odds now at 55%.
The news triggered a significant wave of liquidations in the cryptocurrency market. According to CoinGlass data reported by CryptoSlate, over $100 million in leveraged positions were liquidated within the hour following the release of the inflation report. This liquidation event added to the downward pressure on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Multiple outlets, including CryptoSlate and BeInCrypto, corroborate that the inflation data sparked a broader market reaction. BeInCrypto noted that both Bitcoin and gold reacted to the news, indicating a wider impact on risk assets. The data underscores the cryptocurrency market's sensitivity to macroeconomic indicators and monetary policy shifts.
The broader crypto market also felt the impact, with the total market cap dropping to $2.82 trillion. Bitcoin itself saw a 24-hour decline of 2.16%, contributing to a 1.70% loss over the past week. As of the latest data, Bitcoin's market cap stands at $1.64 trillion.
The Fear & Greed Index remains in 'Greed' territory at 62, suggesting that while the market is reacting to the news, investor sentiment has not yet shifted to extreme fear. The key level to watch next is whether Bitcoin can hold the $81,700 support or if further declines are likely.
Since this brief published about 1 hour ago, Bitcoin (BTC) has moved from $81,736.00 to $81,595.00 — -0.17%.
The chart plots BTC's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from TLT's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
Another Fed rate hike in 2026?
Crowd-implied probability on Polymarket, $98.25K 24h volume, resolves Dec 10 — snapshotted when this brief published (Oct 14 15:05 UTC). A market price reflects what traders collectively expect; it is not a forecast by TLT and will have moved since. View the market ↗
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 BTC ≈ ₦111.45M (about $81,595.00), down 2.2% over 24 hours. The naira itself trades about 2.6% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Nigerian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Bitcoin Drops to $81,700 Amid Rising Fed Rate Hike Expectati — questions & answers
What caused Bitcoin's price to drop?
Higher-than-expected US inflation data increased expectations of Fed rate hikes, triggering liquidations and causing Bitcoin's price to fall.
How much was liquidated in the crypto market?
Over $100 million in crypto positions were liquidated within an hour after the inflation report.
What is the current support level for Bitcoin?
Bitcoin's current support level is around $81,700.
How much is 1 Bitcoin worth in naira today?
About ₦111.45M at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Nigerians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $81,595.00. The naira price moves with both BTC's US-dollar price and the USDT/NGN rate; use our Bitcoin in naira page for any amount.
Has Bitcoin's price moved since this brief was published?
BTC is down 0.17% since this brief first published — trading at $81,595.00 now versus $81,736.00 at publication. TLT re-checks this figure against CoinGecko and Binance every 15 minutes.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original TLT brief that synthesises reporting from CryptoSlate, BeInCrypto, Brave New Coin, CoinDesk, with the key figures cross-checked for agreement across them. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original TLT brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.