Bitcoin slipped below $64,000 on Wednesday as fresh inflation data landed in line with market expectations, while a wave of second-quarter earnings beats from major artificial intelligence companies sent tech stocks climbing. The divergence highlighted a market split between equities riding an AI-driven rally and a crypto sector under renewed pressure.
## Bitcoin Retreats as Inflation Meets Forecasts Bitcoin traded near $63,600 during the session, dipping under the closely watched $64,000 threshold. The move came after the latest inflation figures matched analyst estimates, giving traders little reason to bet on an imminent shift in monetary policy.
The absence of a surprise in the data left risk assets without a clear catalyst, and crypto markets saw selling pressure as investors weighed the near-term outlook for interest rates.
Inflation landing on target gave crypto traders no fresh reason to buy the dip.
## Metaplanet Wallet Shuffle Sparks Sale Fears Attention also turned to Metaplanet, the Japanese treasury firm that has aggressively accumulated bitcoin. Blockchain data showed the company moving 3,881 BTC between wallets, a transfer that initially raised concerns of a potential sale amid the market slide.
On-chain analysis clarified that the bitcoin was shifted between addresses controlled by the company itself, rather than sent to an exchange. That distinction matters, because internal wallet movements do not indicate an intent to sell.
Despite the reassurance, the transfer coincided with a steep paper loss for the firm. At current prices, Metaplanet's holdings reflected an unrealized deficit of roughly $1.4 billion, underscoring the volatility treasury companies face when tying their balance sheets to bitcoin.
- The 3,881 BTC moved between company-controlled wallets, not to an exchange
- The transfer does not qualify as a sale
- Metaplanet is sitting on an estimated $1.4 billion paper loss
## AI Stocks Buck the Trend While crypto struggled, equity markets told a different story. Several leading AI companies posted second-quarter results that topped Wall Street forecasts, fueling gains across the technology sector.
The contrast reinforced how AI enthusiasm continues to drive investor appetite even as digital assets face headwinds, leaving the two markets on separate trajectories he