Bitcoin remained near $95,000 on Friday, with traders observing a calmer macro environment and renewed interest in artificial intelligence stocks across Asia.
Regional equities advanced, approaching record levels, as chip-related gains returned to focus following strong results from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., reigniting the AI trade.
The backdrop grew more policy-focused after the US and Taiwan announced a trade agreement that reduces tariffs on various Taiwanese exports and aims to direct more investment into US technology supply chains. Investors view this outcome as supportive for the semiconductor ecosystem.
Overnight, Wall Street rose, led by tech and financial shares, suggesting risk appetite persists even as traders reduce expectations for rapid Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Bitcoin was at $95,496, down 0.8%. Ether stood at $3,301, down 0.4%. XRP was at $2.08, down 1.3%. The total crypto market cap was $3.31 trillion, down 0.3%.
Wenny Cai, co-founder of SynFutures, stated that Bitcoin has fundamentally moved away from its 2021-era "high-beta" reputation. "Trading firmly between $90,000 and $100,000, BTC is now functioning as a sophisticated macro hedge against central-bank volatility," he said. "This maturation is evidenced by its stabilizing dominance at 57%–58%, as capital flows into 'neutral reserve' assets that exist outside the traditional credit-dependent system."
In Japan, equities eased, with the Nikkei slipping 0.42% as the yen steadied. Local politics remained on watchlists ahead of an anticipated snap election call.
Currencies maintained influence. The dollar hovered near a six-week high after positive US data, including lower jobless claims, led traders to scale back near-term easing bets.
Commodities cooled. Oil prices nursed losses, and gold and silver dipped after President Donald Trump indicated a wait-and-see stance on unrest in Iran, prompting traders to reduce some geopolitical premium built into recent moves.