Bitcoin drops under $91,000, with Solana, XRP and Cardano nursing sharp weekly declines.

Crypto markets were steadier on Tuesday after a tariff-driven wobble a day earlier, though sentiment remained cautious as altcoins continued to lag bitcoin.

Bitcoin and major tokens nursed losses through Asian afternoon trading, with derivatives positioning still tilted defensively following Monday’s macro-led pullback. Bitcoin dipped below $90,000 in early European hours, little changed on the day after sliding on fresh tariff headlines and a broader shift toward risk aversion.

Ether traded near $3,200, while Solana, XRP and Cardano were mixed on the session but remained sharply lower on the week, highlighting how altcoins have borne the brunt of the recent sell-off.

Macro risks remain front and center. Renewed tariff tensions between the U.S. and Europe, tied to comments from President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, have pushed investors back into traditional safe havens. Gold and silver advanced, while cryptocurrencies underperformed even as some equity markets showed resilience.

Farzam Ehsani, chief executive of exchange VALR, said digital assets are exhibiting crypto-specific weakness rather than broad risk-off behavior.

“Capital is rotating into established safe havens, while crypto continues to trade as a high-beta risk asset,” Ehsani said, adding that bitcoin may struggle to hold elevated levels without clearer signals on rate cuts or fresh institutional inflows.

U.S. Treasury yields rose as global bond markets sold off on fiscal and geopolitical concerns, adding to pressure on risk assets.

For now, traders appear content to stay defensive, waiting for a clearer catalyst to break the market out of its low-volatility range.