Bitcoin steadied near $68,000 on Tuesday, trading little as holidays in major markets reduced direct trading cues. Caution also gripped investors ahead of key U.S. economic data releases later in the week. The crypto had plunged below $60,000 briefly last week, wiping out nearly half its value since October's peak amid a sector-wide sell-off. Recent losses intensified fears over U.S. monetary policy under Kevin Warsh, Trump's Fed nominee, seen as less dovish. Strategy Inc, a top Bitcoin holder, claimed it could survive a crash to $8,000 but faced a deep Q4 loss and debt concerns tied to its holdings.

Japanese firm Metaplanet Inc also suffered a massive valuation hit on its Bitcoin treasury. Broader crypto markets saw mild altcoin gains, though Memecoins lagged.