Bitcoin traded slightly lower on Wednesday, remaining below the $81,000 level as global investors monitored upcoming discussions between the United States and China while also keeping a close eye on rising geopolitical and inflation concerns.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency slipped modestly during trading, briefly falling below $80,000 after stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation data increased uncertainty around future Federal Reserve policy. However, Bitcoin later recovered part of its losses as optimism surrounding President Donald Trump’s China visit supported market sentiment.
Investors are now focused on the high-level meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where several major issues are expected to be discussed, including trade relations, artificial intelligence, tariffs, and tensions surrounding Taiwan.
Trump stated that several prominent U.S. business leaders would join the China visit, including executives from major technology firms such as NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple. Markets interpreted the visit as a potential step toward improving strained U.S.-China relations.
Some analysts also believe progress between Washington and Beijing could indirectly help ease ongoing tensions involving Iran, although geopolitical risks remain elevated.
Investor caution continued after reports suggested the United States may consider additional military measures against Iran following stalled peace discussions. Concerns over instability in the region have kept traders defensive across global markets.
At the same time, fresh U.S. inflation data showed stronger price pressures than expected, fueling speculation that the Federal Reserve could maintain high interest rates for longer. Higher borrowing costs are generally viewed as negative for cryptocurrencies and other risk-sensitive assets because they reduce investor appetite for speculative investments.
Meanwhile, Charles Schwab announced the launch of direct crypto trading services for selected retail clients. Eligible users can now trade Bitcoin and Ether through the company’s new “Schwab Crypto” platform, marking a significant expansion of the brokerage’s digital asset offerings.
Across the broader crypto market, price action remained mixed. Ethereum posted modest gains, while XRP, Solana, and Cardano traded lower. BNB moved higher, while meme-based cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin also recorded gains during the session.