CRYPTO MARKET FALLS ON NOVEMBER 29 WHAT’S CAUSING THE DROP AND WHAT’S NEXT?
The crypto market continued its downward slide on November 29, slipping by another 0.68% in the last 24 hours. Although the decline may appear small, it adds to a larger correction that has now erased roughly 20% of the market’s value this month. $BTC is currently trading near $90,000, while $ETH holds just above the $3,000 mark. Both assets remain within a volatile range as investor confidence weakens.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has now fallen to around $3.09 trillion. Major altcoins including Solana (SOL), Binance Coin (BNB), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP also experienced mild pullbacks as waves of fresh volatility hit the industry. Overall, traders are navigating a market that appears strained, with a mix of macroeconomic uncertainty, regulatory pressure, and profit-taking shaping market direction. Several analysts believe the broader retreat has been brewing for days, fueled by cautious sentiment among both retail and institutional investors.
WHY IS THE CRYPTO MARKET DOWN TODAY?
One of the major drivers behind today's market decline is the surge in liquidations. Over the last 24 hours, crypto exchanges saw approximately $81.7 million in liquidated positions a staggering 204% increase compared to the previous day. A majority of these were short positions, amounting to about $45.7 million. This unusually sharp spike indicates that many traders misjudged the market’s direction, leading to forced selling and added downward pressure.
Beyond liquidations, there’s also widespread profit-taking. After several weeks of mixed performance, many traders are choosing to lock in gains rather than risk deeper losses. This has contributed to Bitcoin’s dominance rising to 58.5%, as investors temporarily favor safer assets over altcoins. The Fear & Greed Index also highlights the prevailing mood, with the market stuck in the “Fear” zone for nearly three weeks showing low confidence and heightened caution.
On the economic front, developments in the U.S. are sending mixed signals. Recent remarks from the Federal Reserve, combined with new employment statistics, have raised expectations of a potential interest rate cut in December. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is now an 86% chance of a 25 basis point cut. Traditionally, lower interest rates benefit risk assets like cryptocurrencies, since easier borrowing typically increases liquidity in the financial system. While this could be positive for crypto in the long run, the market is currently waiting for clarity, causing short-term hesitation.
Europe, meanwhile, added another layer of pressure. New regulatory requirements will force crypto companies to share user transaction data with tax authorities. This announcement has injected caution into the market, especially among investors who fear increased scrutiny and reduced anonymity in crypto transactions. Regulatory uncertainty often results in sell-offs, and this case is no exception.
Altcoins are feeling the weight of these developments even more. Solana, which has been one of the top-performing assets of the year, recently recorded its first ETF outflow an early warning sign of cooling institutional interest. XRP also faces instability as investor inflows and outflows fluctuate sharply, signaling a lack of clear direction and continued risk aversion across mid-cap tokens.
WILL THE CRYPTO MARKET RECOVER THIS WEEKEND?
Despite the recent pullback, there are signs of resilience. Bitcoin’s price dropped only 0.5% recently and remains around $90,712. On the weekly chart, $BTC is still up by 8%, suggesting that buyers are stepping in during dips. If this upward momentum continues, Bitcoin could break above $92,000, potentially setting up a move toward $94,000 or even testing the psychological $100,000 level in the coming weeks.
Ethereum is also showing stability, trading at $3,009 after a mild 0.3% decline in the last 24 hours. $ETH remains up by 7% this week. If buying pressure increases, especially with Bitcoin dominance rising, Ether could set its sights on the $3,500 range an important resistance zone.
A number of other altcoins such as Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Cardano are beginning to show early signs of recovery as well. These tokens typically follow Bitcoin’s broader trend, so any positive shift in $BTC could trigger a wave of rebound across altcoin markets.
Looking ahead, the weekend could offer a short-term turnaround if liquidations slow down, macroeconomic uncertainty calms, and traders regain confidence. However, volatility is likely to remain elevated as the market digests regulatory news and awaits final word from the Federal Reserve.
In summary, while the market is under pressure today, the medium- to long-term outlook remains cautiously optimistic especially if interest rates drop and Bitcoin continues to stabilize above key support levels.