Bitcoin has slipped towards $80,000 after a risk-off week in which escalating Middle East tensions pushed investors out of riskier assets. The cryptocurrency briefly dipped below $80,000 during the week and traded around $80,800 into the weekend, caught in the same retreat that hit technology stocks.

ETF outflows add pressure

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw roughly $636 million of withdrawals on Thursday alone, adding selling pressure even though preliminary figures still showed a modest net inflow for the week overall. Ether fell to about $2,364, down 0.85%, while Solana and other large tokens also retreated. The dollar firmed as a safe haven, and the S&P 500 fell 0.52% on the week, with the Dow Jones down 1.23%.

What to watch next

Traders now face a heavy calendar: the Federal Reserve meets on 27-28 October, with a policy release on 28 October, followed by US GDP and core PCE inflation data on 29 October. Central bank meetings are also due at the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of Canada and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Until those decisions land, Bitcoin's break below $80,000 remains the level traders are watching — a sustained move under it would confirm the downtrend, while holding above it keeps the range intact.