Bitcoin slips toward $83K as U.S. partial shutdown adds market caution
Bitcoin dipped toward $83,000 on Friday as the U.S. entered a partial government shutdown, with traders taking a cautious stance ahead of a House vote expected Monday.
Crypto markets remained under pressure after lawmakers missed a midnight funding deadline, adding uncertainty to an already tentative environment. Bitcoin traded around $83,559, up roughly 1% for the day but down about 6.8% over the past week. Ether hovered near $2,686, down 1.9% in 24 hours and 9% for the week, while XRP changed hands around $1.72, off 1.6% on the day and nearly 10% lower over seven days.
The shutdown is expected to be brief. The Senate passed a funding package, but with the House out until Monday, the government faces a technical lapse over the weekend. The SEC will operate with “very limited staff” starting Jan. 31.
For crypto traders, the shutdown is more a sentiment test than a direct economic shock. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi highlight the gap between a government technically “shut” and its real-world functioning—an important nuance for contracts and settlements.
Timing compounds the effect: thin weekend liquidity and heavy headlines make traders cautious, encouraging smaller positions and amplifying price dips as buyers hold back.
