Bitcoin Range-Bound at $64K While Global Stocks Hit Records on Hormuz Optimism

Bitcoin hovered near $64,000 as global equities extended their rally to fresh records and Brent crude edged lower on expectations of a Strait of Hormuz deal. Ether remained the only major cryptocurrency in the red for the week.

Crypto markets were largely subdued on Wednesday, even as stocks surged on renewed AI optimism—leaving digital assets lagging a move they typically follow.

BTC traded just above $64,000, up less than 1% on the day and broadly flat over the past week. Ether slipped to $1,864, down around 2% on the week. XRP fell करीब 1% to $1.07, dogecoin eased to just under $0.07, and tron dipped slightly to about $0.33. Solana held steady near $73.60. BNB rose more than 1% to $598, leading majors with a 5% weekly gain, while Hyperliquid’s HYPE token climbed 3% to nearly $56, matching that pace.

Equity markets painted a different picture. MSCI’s All Country World Index rose 0.4% toward another record close, its Asia-Pacific gauge jumped 2.2%, and Australian shares hit new highs after the S&P 500 and Dow Jones both closed at record levels on Tuesday.

Stock moves were mixed. SK Hynix surged 6.4% at the Seoul open, and Nvidia added over 2% in after-hours trading. Meanwhile, AMD dropped 9% on weaker guidance, and SpaceX fell 7.5% amid rising expectations for AI spending.

Oil prices slipped, with Brent crude down 1.1% to around $78.50 a barrel after reports that the U.S., Iran, and Oman were nearing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Treasuries and gold also moved higher as traders scaled back expectations for further rate hikes.

Despite supportive macro tailwinds—lower oil prices, easing rate outlooks, and strong equity momentum—crypto has failed to react for three straight sessions, pointing to internal weakness rather than external pressure.

Bitcoin still trades about 49% below its October peak of $126,000, while ether continues to lag. Focus now turns to a potential Hormuz announcement. If confirmed, it could serve as the clearest macro catalyst this week—but a muted response would suggest capital is rotating elsewhere.