Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a notable decline, falling below $100,000 amid intense market volatility. The cryptocurrency had approached its all-time high earlier in the day but failed to maintain the momentum, dropping to $99,800 by late afternoon. This retreat occurred despite positive comments from President-elect Donald Trump about embracing digital assets in the U.S. and creating a strategic bitcoin reserve. The broader market saw altcoins outperforming bitcoin, with Avalanche (AVAX) and Chainlink (LINK) leading the gains. Ethereum (ETH) also held onto gains, suggesting strong spot ETF inflows and increasing blockchain activity. The market's reaction was influenced by dovish policy statements from the European Central Bank, which trimmed its benchmark interest rates by 25 basis points, and movements in Western bond markets, which saw yields rise, impacting risk assets.