Global financial markets presented a mixed picture in the latest trading session as cryptocurrency prices edged higher, decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity remained strong, while major U.S. equities faced selling pressure amid cautious investor sentiment.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin held firm near $68,490, gaining about 0.53% and maintaining a market capitalization of around $1.37 trillion. The second-largest digital asset, Ethereum, also moved higher, rising 0.76% to $1,994, taking its market cap close to $240 billion.
Stablecoin Tether continued to trade at $1, while BNB climbed modestly to $629, reflecting steady activity in the broader digital asset ecosystem. Meanwhile, XRP gained 0.73%, trading near $1.37, indicating mild buying interest across major altcoins.
In the decentralized finance sector, Aave led the total value locked (TVL) rankings with over $44 billion locked in the protocol. Lido DAO followed with more than $19 billion in TVL, reinforcing strong liquidity in liquid-staking and lending platforms.
Other key DeFi projects including Ethena, Babylon, JUST, and Uniswap continued to hold billions in locked assets, underscoring sustained participation in decentralized financial services.
However, the broader equity market reflected caution. Major exchange-traded funds tracking the U.S. market saw declines, with SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust falling 1.27% and Invesco QQQ Trust dropping 1.50% during the session.
Technology stocks also traded lower, as NVIDIA slipped nearly 3%, while Tesla declined over 2%. Semiconductor giant Broadcom also edged down, reflecting profit-booking in high-growth technology counters.
At the same time, several micro-cap stocks witnessed sharp volatility. Peraso Inc. surged more than 150%, emerging as one of the session’s biggest gainers, while stocks such as Calidi Biotherapeutics and Aeva Technologies recorded steep declines.
Market experts note that investors remain cautious amid global economic uncertainty, leading to selective buying in cryptocurrencies and DeFi assets while equity markets face intermittent selling pressure.
