#PartialGovernmentShutdownEnds

The Partial Government Shutdown Ends event (ending February 3, 2026) had a noticeable but short-lived impact on the crypto market, as risk assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins reacted to the brief political uncertainty.
Crypto Market Context During the Event
The shutdown (Jan 31 – Feb 3, 2026) overlapped with broader risk-off sentiment in early 2026: Bitcoin was already in a multi-month downtrend from its all-time high (~$126,000 in late 2025), driven by factors like Treasury liquidity drains, AI bubble concerns, geopolitical tensions (e.g., U.S.-Iran), and delayed U.S. economic data (e.g., jobs reports postponed due to shutdown).
Crypto often correlates with risk-on assets (stocks/tech); uncertainty from government closure amplified selling, especially over the weekend/low-liquidity period.
Key trigger: Fear of delayed macro data (e.g., BLS jobs, inflation) → harder to gauge Fed policy → increased risk aversion → crypto selloff.
Price Movements ("Price Everything")
Bitcoin (BTC):
During the shutdown peak (Feb 3): Dipped to a low of ~$72,800–$73,100 (weakest since before Trump's Nov 2024 election win; some reports note brief sub-$73,000).
Post-resolution (Trump signing the bill Feb 3): Quick rebound — climbed back to ~$76,000–$77,000 range in Asian trading on Feb 4.
Daily change on Feb 3: Down ~3–6% intraday before stabilizing.
Broader: Still down significantly year-to-date (~16%+ in some reports), with further slides in following days (e.g., toward $67,000–$62,000 by Feb 5 in volatile conditions).
Ether (ETH) and broader market:
ETH down ~7% on Feb 3 (to ~$1,949–$2,181 range in reports).
Total crypto market cap: Stabilized near ~$2.7 trillion post-end, after sharp drops.
Overall reaction: Brief "panic-stricken plunge" halted by the signing → described as relief rally or "dead cat bounce" in some analyses (temporary pause, not full reversal).
Percentage Impacts
Intraday/24h changes (Feb 3): BTC down 3–6% at lows; recovered partially (~2–4% bounce post-news).
Weekly/monthly context: BTC in a longer drawdown (~36% from 2025 highs); shutdown added pressure but was not the sole cause.
Liquidations: High forced selling — over $660 million in crypto liquidations reported during the dip (leveraged positions wiped out).
ETF flows: U.S. Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows (e.g., $272 million on Feb 3 alone) → amplified selling.
Market cap: Temporary dip, but stabilized quickly after resolution.
Volume (Trading/Activity Scale)
Elevated volume during dip: High trading activity on Feb 3 due to panic selling, liquidations, and weekend/low-liquidity amplification.
Post-end: Volume moderated as relief set in; rebound saw selective buying but not massive inflows.
Scale: Not extreme compared to major crashes, but notable for the short event — crypto traded in tandem with stocks (risk-off mode), with thin liquidity exacerbating swings.
Liquidity (Financial Flow/Continuity in Crypto)
Crypto liquidity impact: Temporary squeeze — low weekend liquidity + risk aversion reduced market depth → sharper price drops.
Broader tie-in: Shutdown delayed U.S. economic data releases → uncertainty on Fed path → dollar strength (made crypto more expensive for global buyers) → reduced crypto inflows.
Post-resolution: Liquidity improved slightly as uncertainty eased; reopening of agencies (SEC, CFTC) meant faster potential regulatory/ETF processes (though no new crypto rules in the bill).
Percentage estimate: Crypto liquidity dip ~5–10% in thin periods (amplified by leverage); recovered fast after signing → no lasting vacuum.
No direct government liquidity drain on crypto (unlike TGA swings in past events), but indirect via macro/risk sentiment.
Overall Discussion Points on Crypto
Positive reaction to end: Markets viewed the quick resolution (Trump's signing, back pay for feds, most funding through Sept 2026) as reducing political risk → short-term relief bounce in BTC/ETH.
Why limited/full recovery didn't happen: Broader bearish factors dominated (e.g., multi-month BTC decline, ETF outflows, macro risks). Some called it a "dead cat bounce" — temporary halt, not reversal.
Regulatory angle: Shutdown paused some SEC/CFTC work (e.g., approvals, data); end restarts them → mildly bullish long-term for crypto structure bills (ongoing Senate talks on market framework, stablecoins, DeFi).
Risk ahead: DHS "cliff" on Feb 13 could bring mini-uncertainty → potential renewed pressure if talks stall on ICE reforms.
Big picture: Crypto showed sensitivity to U.S. fiscal drama despite "Trump-friendly" narrative; acted as risk asset, not safe haven during uncertainty.
In simple terms: The short shutdown added fuel to an ongoing crypto dip (BTC hit ~$73k lows on Feb 3 amid panic/liquidations), but Trump's signing triggered a quick rebound (~$76k+), halting the freefall. Volume spiked on fear, liquidity thinned briefly, percentages showed 3–7% swings — overall minor macro event impact, but highlighted crypto's tie to U.S. political/economic stability. No major lasting damage, but market remains fragile in early 2026.