Bitcoin edged up in Monday afternoon trading in Asia, but it still traded below the US$20,000 resistance line, a level it has now fluctuated around since late August. Ether rose, along with Solana and Polkadot. Cardano reversed morning gains to trade lower.

See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether edge up; Cardano, Solana lead gains in crypto top 10

Fast facts

• Bitcoin was changing hands at US$19,745, up 0.15% in the past 24 hours as of 4 p.m. in Hong Kong. Ether gained 0.91% to trade at US$1,562, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
• Cardano lost 1.06% in the prior 24 hours to US$0.488, though it rose 12.62% over the past seven days — the only coin among the top 10 by market capitalization posting a double-digit seven-day increase. That came after online brokerage Robinhood on Thursday announced the listing of Cardano on its platform ahead of the blockchain’s Vasil hard fork.
• Polkadot traded up 2.89% in the past 24 hours to US$7.47, the biggest mover among CoinMarketCap’s top 10. Solana gained 1.32%.
• Asia equity markets were lower to little changed. The Hong Kong Hang Seng index fell 1.16% to 19,225.70, the lowest level since mid-March. The Shanghai Composite index closed up 0.42%, while the Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.11%.
• China is extending its Covid-19 lockdowns in most parts of the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu and will continue mass testing through Wednesday, pointing to more sluggishness in the economy. The authorities put the city under lockdown on Thursday. Meanwhile, Shenzhen said it would adopt tiered anti-virus restriction measures starting on Monday.
• Investors seem unimpressed by the Friday U.S. jobs report that showed hiring slowed in August in the U.S., with the unemployment rate rising to 3.7% in August from 3.5% in July. While this suggests a possible slowing of inflation, the consensus seems to be it will not change the U.S. Fed’s aggressive policy to raise interest rates.

See related article: Cardano’s Vasil hard fork upgrade confirmed for Sept. 22

Bitcoin held on to the US$20,000 mark, but was trending weaker in late Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia. Ether was also moving lower, along with most other top 10 coins by market capitalization. Cardano was the standout on the list with a marginal gain.

See related article: Markets: Bitcoin dips back below US$20,000, Ether falls in boxed-in crypto market

Fast facts

• Bitcoin fell 1.2% in the past 24 hours to trade at US$20,204 as of 4:30 p.m. in Hong Kong, after dropping as low as US$19,618 at one point earlier in the morning. Ethereum lost 1.34% to US$1,570, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
• Dogecoin was the biggest loser among CoinMarketCap’s top 10, logging a 2.68% 24-hour drop. Memecoin Shiba Inu, which ranks 14 by market cap, was off 3.14%.
•  Cardano edged up a slight 0.02% to change hands at US$0.4546.
• Asia equity markets had a mixed day. The Shanghai Composite index closed down 0.78%, while the Hong Kong Hang Seng index went up a fractional 0.03%. The Nikkei 225 index was off 0.37%.
• Concern about higher interest rates to tame inflation is dogging financial markets in Europe and the U.S., and by extension cryptocurrency trading. However, the inflation picture in Asia is mixed, with authorities in the region’s two biggest economies, China and Japan, remaining outliers as Beijing cut rates this month and Tokyo has stuck with its ultra-low rate policy.

See related article: Tether pushes back at WSJ doubts on its reserves