Key Points
- Bitcoin dropped below $73,000 amid heavy selling pressure and a broader crypto market correction.
- Publicly traded mining and crypto-exposed companies faced steep losses as profitability declined.
Bitcoin (BTC) fell below $73,000 on Feb. 4, 2026, reaching its lowest level since April 2025 as market weakness intensified. The decline coincided with sharp losses across publicly traded mining companies.
The price briefly touched $72,039 on Binance before recovering slightly above $73,000, extending a roughly 40% retreat from the October 2025 peak above $125,500. Large holders reportedly sold more than 50,000 BTC in recent weeks, adding sustained selling pressure despite dip-buying attempts by retail investors.
Bitcoin Mining Sector Under Pressure
Shares of major mining firms declined sharply during the session. Companies including Marathon Digital Holdings, Riot Platforms, and CleanSpark recorded losses exceeding 10%, reflecting increased stress across the sector.
Mining profitability fell to a 14-month low as lower Bitcoin prices coincided with elevated network difficulty. Network data shows a slowdown in reported hashrate growth, signaling mounting operational challenges for miners.
Other crypto-focused firms experienced similar strain. Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, continued to slide even as it maintained its Bitcoin accumulation approach, with unrealized gains on its Bitcoin holdings shrinking to single digits.
Broader Market Weakness Weighs on Crypto
Bitcoin’s downturn occurred alongside a selloff in technology stocks, heightening investor caution. Concerns around artificial intelligence growth and interest rate policy weighed on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
BTC has historically moved in line with major tech indices such as the NASDAQ 100, making it vulnerable during sector-wide declines. Ongoing price weakness and reduced mining profitability continue to pressure the mining industry until network difficulty adjusts or prices stabilize.
