Crypto Majors Slide Further as Traders Lock In Gains, Dogecoin and Cardano Hit Hardest

Crypto Markets Pull Back as Traders Book Gains; Dogecoin, Cardano Lead Declines

Cryptocurrency markets saw modest declines Thursday, driven by profit-taking across major altcoins, even as Bitcoin (BTC) held steady above the $105,000 level. The correction comes amid a broader reassessment of risk assets, with investors locking in profits following recent gains.

Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano’s ADA posted the steepest losses among large-cap tokens, reflecting heightened volatility in the altcoin segment. Solana (SOL), XRP, and BNB also drifted lower. Tron (TRX) was the exception, rising nearly 2%, buoyed by regional demand and network activity.

“The market appears to be in digestion mode after strong inflows earlier this quarter,” said Anna Liu, CEO of HashKey Tokenization, in comments to CoinDesk. “While altcoins are experiencing some rotation, institutional positioning in BTC and ETH remains solid.”

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dipped slightly to 62, indicating sentiment is cooling but still leaning optimistic.

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin’s recovery from $103,000 last week could serve as a springboard for renewed upside momentum. Analysts including FxPro’s Alex Kuptsikevich point to a potential breakout toward $130,000, provided resistance levels are cleared.

Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) continues to hover just below $2,700, facing persistent resistance at its 200-day moving average. CryptoQuant analysts flagged $96,700 as a critical support zone for BTC, citing the cost basis of short-term holders as a key risk factor if selling accelerates.