Bitcoin Dips Below $117,000 Amid Trump-Putin Meeting Uncertainty

As of August 15, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) has slipped to $116,988.63, down 1.02% in the last 24 hours, per Binance Market Data. This drop follows a high of $121,967 earlier this week, with the crypto market rattled by today’s Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Here’s a simple breakdown of why Bitcoin’s price is dipping and how the meeting plays a role.

Trump-Putin Meeting: A Market Mover

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This high-stakes summit is creating volatility in the crypto market for two reasons:

Hope for Peace: A positive outcome could spark a “risk-on” rally, boosting Bitcoin as investors feel more confident. a successful meeting might push BTC past $125,000.

Fear of Failure: If talks collapse, uncertainty could drive investors to safer assets, pushing Bitcoin lower. due to this geopolitical event, noting $1 billion in liquidations yesterday as markets brace for news.

Trump’s claim that he’ll know within “two minutes” if a deal is possible adds to the tension, keeping traders on edge.

Other Factors Dragging Bitcoin Down

Economic Pressure: Hot US inflation data has reduced hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut, making investors wary of risky assets like Bitcoin.

Regulatory Mixed Signals: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s flip-flopping on a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve has confused markets,

Selling Pressure: Big investors (“whales”) are selling, and Binance saw increased Bitcoin deposits, signaling potential further sell-offs.

Technical Breakdown: Bitcoin breaking below the key $117,000 support level triggered more selling, with $116,300 as the next level to watch.

What’s Next for Bitcoin?

remain bullish, pointing to $230.93 million in Bitcoin ETF inflows on Thursday as a sign of strong institutional interest. They see this dip as a buying opportunity, with predictions of BTC reaching $250,000 by year-end. However, if Bitcoin doesn’t reclaim $119,625 soon, it could slide to $115,000 or lower,

The Trump-Putin meeting’s outcome will be critical. A step toward peace could fuel a Bitcoin rebound, while a stalemate might deepen the dip. Keep an eye on Trump’s social media for quick sentiment updates. For now, traders should stay cautious and watch the $116,300 level closely.$BTC