The global crypto market fell to $2.3 trillion on June 18, down 1.9% over the past 24 hours, while total trading volume reached $86.5 billion. Sentiment weakened sharply, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropping to 15, a reading that signals extreme fear. Bitcoin and Ether both moved lower, yet a handful of altcoins posted strong gains against the broader decline.
Bitcoin and Ether slip as selling activity rises
Bitcoin traded around $64,586.4, down 1.37% in 24 hours, with volume at $31.4 billion and market capitalization near $1.29 trillion. Ether stood at $1,755.55, down 1.63%, with $14.2 billion in trading volume and a market cap of about $211.6 billion. Market share remained concentrated, with Bitcoin dominance at 56.1% and Ether at 9.18%.
Compared with June 17, the market lost ground across several key indicators. Total capitalization slipped from $2.34 trillion to $2.30 trillion, while the Fear & Greed Index fell from 22 to 15. Bitcoin dropped from $65,509 to roughly $64,586, and Ether moved from $1,781 to about $1,756. At the same time, volume increased from $77.5 billion to $86.5 billion, pointing to heavier selling pressure.
ETHFI, ENA, and XLM outperform the broader market
Several tokens moved in the opposite direction. ether.fi (ETHFI) rose 12.70% to $0.3826, with trading activity of $83.88 million. Ethena (ENA) gained 12.63% to $0.09722, supported by $277.81 million in activity. Stellar (XLM) climbed 11.57% to $0.2445, with volume reaching $536.93 million.
On the losing side, Audiera (BEAT) fell 26.02%, DeXe (DEXE) dropped 22.78%, and SKYAI declined 22.47%. Among the trending assets listed in the market update, Aster advanced 8.27%, while XRP lost 2.27%.
Stablecoins edge higher while DeFi posts a mild decline
The stablecoin segment recorded a 0.1% gain over the past day, bringing market capitalization to $310.2 billion and trading volume to $71.2 billion. The DeFi sector moved lower by 0.5%, with capitalization at $68.6 billion, trading volume at $6 billion, and global dominance at 3%.
Regulatory and macro headlines stay in focus
Several policy and legal developments were part of the day’s market backdrop. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticized Illinois’ new 0.2% digital asset tax. Fidelity launched a money market fund designed for stablecoin reserves. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, while updated projections reflected a more hawkish tone.
Binance was also reported to be facing difficulty securing a MiCA license in Greece, with France seen as a possible final route to preserve access to the European crypto market. In prediction markets, a federal judge in Michigan rejected Polymarket’s bid to block state enforcement actions, while Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sued Kalshi and Polymarket over alleged illegal sports betting operations.