Bitcoin Falls Below $66,000 as Hawkish FOMC Minutes Lift Dollar

Bitcoin fell below $66,000 on Wednesday afternoon in the U.S., down 2.5% over 24 hours to $66,200, after trading near $68,500 overnight. The January FOMC minutes struck a hawkish tone, indicating rates could rise if inflation persists, while the dollar index climbed to a nearly two-week high. Crypto stocks reversed early gains, with Coinbase turning a 3% rise into a 2% decline and Strategy down roughly 3%. The drop marks bitcoin's fifth consecutive weekly decline, its longest losing streak since the 2022 bear market, with traders eyeing $60,000 support if the $66,000 level fails to hold.