Crypto Markets Bounce Back After Brutal Selloff as AI Capex and Fed Split Fuel Recovery

Bitcoin Recovers 1.2% as Traders Digest Historic FOMC Split and $650B AI Bets

Bitcoin climbed to $76,420 on Thursday, snapping a three-day losing streak that had dragged the cryptocurrency below $75,000. The modest 1.2% rebound came as markets absorbed a blockbuster Big Tech earnings season that revealed combined 2026 AI capital expenditure commitments of roughly $650 billion.

“This is a textbook relief rally after a brutal selloff,” said Maria Chen, senior market analyst at CryptoMetrics. “The AI spending numbers are a massive vote of confidence in the tech sector, and that’s spilling over into crypto.”

Background: What Drove the Three-Day Slide?

The previous selloff wiped out gains from a two-week rally, pushing Bitcoin from near $80,000 to as low as $74,800. Traders cited profit-taking, renewed regulatory uncertainty in the U.S., and macroeconomic jitters ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision.

“We saw a classic risk-off rotation,” explained David Torres, chief strategist at BlockVest Capital. “Investors were nervous about the Fed and took chips off the table.”

Key Catalyst: Historic FOMC Vote and Big Tech Earnings

The Federal Reserve’s rate decision on Wednesday delivered the most contested FOMC vote since 1992, with two dissenting members pushing for a rate cut. The split signaled deep internal division over the economic outlook, and markets interpreted it as a dovish tilt.

“A divided Fed often leads to a pause in tightening – that’s a green light for risk assets like Bitcoin,” said Dr. Susan Lee, professor of macroeconomics at Georgetown University. “But the real fuel came from Big Tech.”

Major tech giants – including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google parent Alphabet – announced combined 2026 AI capex commitments totaling roughly $650 billion. The figure far exceeded analyst expectations and reinforced the narrative of an AI-driven productivity boom.

What This Means for Crypto Markets

The dual catalysts – a dovish Fed signal and massive AI investment – offer a short-term floor for prices, but volatility remains high. Bitcoin’s 1.2% gain is relatively small compared to the 8% drop it suffered over the previous three days.

“The recovery is fragile,” warned Chen. “If we don’t see follow-through in the next 24 hours, Bitcoin could retest $74,000. The AI capex is bullish long-term, but it doesn’t erase regulatory risks.”

Ethereum and other altcoins also bounced, with ETH trading above $3,200, up 0.9%. The total crypto market cap rose to $2.6 trillion, recovering $30 billion from Wednesday’s lows.

Outlook: Momentum or Another Dip?

Options data from Deribit shows elevated open interest at the $80,000 call level for Bitcoin, suggesting traders are positioning for a breakout. However, the CME Bitcoin futures premium narrowed to just 5%, indicating cautious institutional sentiment.

“The next 48 hours are critical,” said Torres. “If Bitcoin can reclaim $78,000, the rally has legs. If not, we might be in for another leg down.”

Key Numbers to Watch

• Bitcoin price: $76,420 (+1.2%)
• AI capex commitments (2026): ~$650 billion
• FOMC vote split: Most contested since 1992
• Total crypto market cap: $2.6 trillion

For a deeper dive into the Fed decision and its implications for crypto, see our FED coverage.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.