Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC Falls to $80K as Strategy Pauses Weekly Purchases

Bitcoin slipped below $80,000 on Tuesday as Strategy, the largest publicly traded corporate holder of the cryptocurrency, paused its weekly purchases and investors prepared for the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision. The decline pushed BTC beneath its recent $80,000–$87,000 trading range, highlighting fragile sentiment across digital assets. While uncertainty over US monetary policy weighed on risk appetite, Galaxy Research offered a more optimistic longer-term view, arguing that Bitcoin may have entered an accumulation phase following its June low.

Strategy Pauses Bitcoin Purchases

Bitcoin fell around 0.5% to approximately $80,000 in the trading snapshot provided, extending recent losses. The cryptocurrency struggled to benefit from lower oil prices and a rally in technology stocks, suggesting investors remained cautious ahead of the Fed announcement.

Strategy reported no Bitcoin purchases or sales during the week of October 19–25. According to its latest figures, the company held 848,517 BTC as of October 25, acquired for approximately $64.02 billion at an average cost of $75,446 per coin, including fees and expenses. The pause ended a five-week buying streak, although the company did not explain its decision.

Instead, Strategy repurchased 2,068,459 shares of its STRC preferred stock for $204.9 million using cash reserves. It did not repurchase other classes of securities during the period. The absence of fresh Bitcoin demand attracted attention, but one week without purchases does not establish a change in the company’s long-term strategy.

Galaxy Sees Bitcoin Accumulation Phase

Galaxy Research maintains that Bitcoin’s bear market likely ended in June, when prices fell below $58,000 according to the firm’s assessment. In its October 22 report, head of firmwide research Alex Thorn argued that technical improvements, reduced selling pressure and concerns about rising government debt support a longer-term accumulation thesis.

One signal is Bitcoin’s return above its 50-week moving average after spending 44 consecutive weeks below it. Galaxy said five straight weekly closes above that measure strengthened its view that the market may have established a durable low.

Thorn also pointed to a 57% decline in asset managers’ net long exposure through CME Bitcoin futures since the week of the record high. In his view, the reduction suggests speculative traders have cut exposure, potentially leaving the market less crowded. However, Galaxy’s bullish assessment remains an investment thesis, not confirmation that prices cannot fall further.

Fed Decision Keeps Crypto Under Pressure

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold its benchmark rate at 3.75%–4.00% at its October 28 meeting. Persistent inflation could nevertheless lead officials to signal that borrowing costs may remain high or rise again. Such a message could support the dollar and Treasury yields, putting pressure on assets that do not generate interest income.

Other major cryptocurrencies were also weaker in Tuesday’s snapshot. Ether fell 0.6% to $2,307.01, BNB declined 0.3%, and Solana lost 1.2%. XRP rose 0.7%, while Cardano gained 0.4%.

Conclusion

Bitcoin faces a near-term test as it trades below $80,000 and Strategy temporarily steps back from buying. A less hawkish Fed message could help restore demand, while renewed rate concerns may extend the decline. Galaxy’s accumulation argument offers a longer-term counterpoint, but traders will look for sustained buying and a recovery above the recent range before treating the market as decisively stronger.