Why Is Crypto Crashing? The Key Reasons Explained

4 min read

Last updated November 15, 2026

Bitcoin fell below $66,000 on November 14, 2026, about half its record high. Rate hike fears, big fund outflows and a record hack are driving the crypto crash.

Key Points

Bitcoin dropped below $66,000 on Friday after losing $70,000 the day before.
Traders now expect the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates, which hurts risky assets.
Investors pulled more than $1 billion from Bitcoin funds in one week.

Why Is Crypto Crashing Right Now?

Three forces are hitting crypto at once. Interest rate fears, money leaving crypto funds and forced selling by traders who borrowed to bet.

Bitcoin slipped below $66,000 on November 14. Ethereum, the second biggest coin, fell toward $1,800, Coinpaper reported.

Good to know. Crypto trades all day, every day. Prices in this story may have moved since we wrote it.

Reason 1. Inflation Came In Hot

Prices rose 0.4% in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Experts had expected 0.3%, The Block reported.

Higher inflation can push the Federal Reserve to raise rates.

Futures now price in about 64 basis points of hikes over the next year. That is up from 37 earlier this month, Coinbase data showed. The next Federal Reserve meeting is December 8 to 9.

When safe savings pay more, fewer people want risky bets like crypto.

Reason 2. Big Investors Are Pulling Out

US spot Bitcoin funds lost about $1.07 billion from November 9 to 13. Ethereum funds lost about $399 million in the same week, according to Coinpaper.

Stablecoins, the digital dollars traders use, also shrank by a record $11.5 billion in 30 days. Less of that cash means fewer buyers.

Reason 3. Forced Selling Snowballs

Many traders borrow to make bigger bets. When prices fall, exchanges sell their coins to cover the loans.

Forced sales wiped out about $1.47 billion in bets in 24 hours on November 13, CoinGlass data showed. Each wave of forced selling pushes prices lower again.

The Binance Hack Still Weighs on Trust

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) blamed North Korea for a record $6.3 billion theft from Binance, Al Jazeera reported. Binance said it would cover the loss, not its users.

A new iPhone flaw warning from Binance added to the worry this week. Our guide to the Binance iPhone warning explains who is at risk.

How Far Bitcoin Has Fallen

Fact	Figure	Source
Bitcoin price on November 14	Below $66,000	Coinpaper
Bitcoin record high	About $126,210, October 2025	KuCoin News
October price rise (inflation)	0.4% in one month	Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bitcoin fund outflows, November 9 to 13	About $1.07 billion	Coinpaper
Binance theft blamed on North Korea	$6.3 billion	Al Jazeera

About 48%How far Bitcoin sits below its record of about $126,210, using $66,000. Digieh calculation from KuCoin News and Coinpaper figures.

Crypto gain or loss check

Price you paid per coin ($) Price now per coin ($)

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What It Means for You

Crypto prices can swing hard in both directions. Federal regulators call crypto assets “exceptionally risky” in this investor alert. They say to invest only what you can afford to lose.

If you are…	What to keep in mind
Holding crypto for years	Big drops have happened before, but past recoveries do not promise future ones
Using borrowed money	Falling prices can trigger forced sales of your coins
Thinking of buying the dip	Prices may keep falling, so size any buy carefully
Saving for a near goal	Crypto is a poor fit for money you need soon

Stocks are holding up better for now. Our look at stock market crash fears explains that side. You can also compare gold vs Bitcoin as a store of value.

Check how much of your savings sits in crypto
Avoid borrowing to buy coins
Turn on two-step login on exchange accounts
Keep an emergency fund in cash
Ignore social media promises of quick recovery

Safe cash still matters in rough markets. See how high-yield savings accounts work.

Try this today. Use the calculator above with your own numbers. Seeing the real figure helps you decide calmly.

Why can higher interest rates push crypto prices down?

Safe savings pay more, so fewer people take risky bets
Banks ban crypto when rates rise
Bitcoin miners stop working

When safe options pay more, money tends to leave risky assets like crypto.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is crypto going down today?

Hot inflation data raised fears of Federal Reserve rate hikes. Big funds are also selling, and forced sales of borrowed bets add more pressure.

How low has Bitcoin fallen?

Bitcoin dropped below $66,000 on November 14, 2026. That is about half its record of roughly $126,000 from October 2025.

Is it a good time to buy crypto?

No one can know where prices go next. Only invest money you can afford to lose, and avoid borrowing to buy.

This article is for information only and is not financial advice.

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Editor’s Note

This story is accurate as of November 15, 2026. Crypto prices change every minute, so figures may differ when you read this. Figures from private data firms are as reported by the outlets linked.

Spot an error in this article? Please contact us at support@digieh.com or read our Corrections Policy.

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