Bitcoin Falls Below $77,000 as Tech Sell-Off Spreads to Crypto
Direct answer
Bitcoin fell sharply on Thursday, November 5, 2026, dropping below $77,000 and erasing its post-election rebound above $80,000. The fall came as a sell-off in chip and artificial intelligence stocks spread from Wall Street into crypto markets.
These are daytime trading figures, not closing figures. The market was still open when this move was reported, so the final result for the day could be different.
What happened
Bitcoin traded above $80,800 on Wednesday and peaked near $81,105, after recovering from below $76,000 earlier that day. The rebound did not last. Selling accelerated on Thursday morning after US stock trading opened, and bitcoin fell through $79,000, $78,000 and then $77,000 in quick succession.
By 10:55 a.m. Eastern time, bitcoin had touched a session low of $75,468 on the Bitstamp exchange, according to AsiaTokenFund. Market data from Finnhub showed bitcoin trading near $76,009, down 5.32 percent on the day, with a low of $75,568. In simple terms, bitcoin lost more than $4,000 in a few hours.
The fall was not limited to bitcoin. Crypto Briefing reported that ether fell more than 6 percent to around $2,270, Solana declined 5 percent to around $90, and XRP dropped 4 percent to around $1.25. The total value of the crypto market fell 4.6 percent to about $2.57 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap data cited in the same report.
Forced selling made the move faster. Crypto Briefing reported that more than $574 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated within an hour, including over $540 million in bets that prices would rise. A liquidation is a forced sale. A trader who borrows money to buy puts up a small deposit, and when the price falls far enough, the exchange closes the position automatically. That selling can push prices down further.
The trigger sat on Wall Street. Our earlier post on the Nasdaq slide covers the stock side of the same day: https://investclaritypath.com/nasdaq-slides-toward-correction-chip-stocks-fall-november-2026/ the Nasdaq Composite fell 3.09 percent by 9:57 a.m. Eastern time, with chip and data center stocks leading the fall. Qualcomm fell after its smartphone chip sales missed estimates, and investors worried that the Democrats’ midterm win could slow the rapid buildout of data centers. Reuters reported that investors are concerned about possible limits on data center construction, and UBS analysts estimated that around 30 percent of US data center capacity additions expected in 2028 could be at risk from construction pauses.
Bitcoin has largely moved with AI-heavy technology stocks this year, so it fell with them. Crypto is still trading like a risky asset on days like this, rather than as a safe haven.
Why it matters for beginners
A 5 percent move in one morning is large for a stock index, but it is normal for bitcoin, which often moves several percent in a day. The lesson is about how crypto behaves. When technology stocks fall sharply, bitcoin often falls with them, because many of the same investors hold both, and because bitcoin miners now run AI data centers too.
Leverage is the second lesson. Borrowed money can turn a normal fall into a sharp one, because forced sales add to the selling. Beginners do not need leverage to learn how crypto works, and leverage can wipe out a small deposit very quickly.
This is also a reminder that a rebound is not a recovery until it holds. Bitcoin recovered from below $76,000 to above $81,000 on Wednesday, then gave almost all of that back on Thursday morning. One good day does not tell you what will happen the next day.
For background on how crypto reacted to the last big shock in this market, see our earlier post on the Binance hack, when bitcoin also fell after the largest crypto hack on record: https://investclaritypath.com/binance-hack-6-3-billion-crypto-biggest-ever/
What to watch next
Watch whether bitcoin can hold around $75,000, a level that held on election night and several times since August, according to Bitcoin Magazine. A fall well below that level would show sellers are still in control.
Watch the October US jobs report on Friday, November 6. A strong or weak report could move stocks, bonds and crypto again. The October inflation report follows on November 10, and the Federal Reserve makes its next rate decision on December 9.
Also watch what Democratic leaders in Congress say about data center rules and technology regulation, since that worry helped start Thursday’s selling.
FAQ
Why did bitcoin fall on November 5, 2026?
Bitcoin fell with technology stocks. Chip and AI stocks dropped sharply on worries about data center limits after the midterm elections and weak Qualcomm results, and the selling spread into crypto. Forced liquidations of leveraged bets then made the fall faster.
What is a liquidation?
A liquidation is a forced sale of a leveraged position. A trader borrows to buy with a small deposit, and if the price falls far enough to threaten the loan, the exchange closes the position automatically. On November 5, more than $574 million in such positions were liquidated within an hour, mostly bets that prices would rise.
Did other cryptocurrencies fall too?
Yes. Ether fell more than 6 percent to around $2,270, Solana fell 5 percent to around $90, and XRP fell 4 percent to around $1.25. The total crypto market lost about 4.6 percent of its value.
Is a 5 percent fall in bitcoin unusual?
No. Bitcoin often moves several percent in a single day, far more than a broad stock index usually moves. That volatility is one reason beginners should treat crypto as a high risk asset and never invest money they cannot afford to lose.
Does this fall mean bitcoin will keep falling?
No one can know that from one day of trading. Prices will depend on the jobs report, inflation data, what Congress says about data centers, and whether buyers step in around $75,000. A single sharp day is not a forecast.
Sources
Crypto Briefing, Bitcoin tumbles below $77K as tech and crypto stocks plunge in broad market selloff, November 5, 2026: https://cryptobriefing.com/bitcoin-tumbles-below-77k-as-tech-and-crypto-stocks-plunge-in-broad-market-selloff/
AsiaTokenFund, Bitcoin Price Tumbles Below $77,000 in Tech Stock Selloff, November 5, 2026: https://asiatokenfund.com/bitcoin-price-tumbles-below-77000-in-tech-stock-selloff/
Bitcoin Magazine, Bitcoin Price Crashes 5% Below $75,000 Amid Tech Rout, November 5, 2026: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/bitcoin-price-drops-below-75000-tech
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
