Bitcoin Holds $82,000 in Asia as Oil Eases; NEAR Lags
Bitcoin was at $82,327 at 05:05 UTC on 9 October, 2.4% above Thursday's low, as Brent fell to $102.91. NEAR and ADA were still down 11.5% and 7.2%.
Bitcoin traded at $82,327 at 05:05 UTC (10:35 am IST) on Friday 9 October 2026, up 0.7% in Asian hours and 2.4% above Thursday's low of $80,394. Oil prices eased after President Donald Trump said the US would not attack Iran before the 3 November midterm elections. Most large altcoins were still lower over 24 hours, with NEAR down 11.5%.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin was at $82,327.42 at 05:05 UTC on 9 October, about ₹79.76 lakh at ₹96.88 to the dollar, and down only 0.4% over 24 hours.
- Thursday's low of $80,393.56, at 17:26 UTC, was bitcoin's lowest price since 20 September.
- Brent crude was at $102.91 a barrel at 05:11 UTC, 2.8% below Thursday's high of $105.91.
- Altcoins lagged: over 24 hours NEAR fell 11.5%, Cardano 7.2%, Sui 6.3% and Solana 4.3%, while Polkadot rose 5.1%.
- US spot bitcoin ETFs had a net outflow of $244.1 million on Thursday, the latest fund data available before Friday's bounce.
What happened to bitcoin in Asian trading
Bitcoin opened Friday's UTC day at $81,754 at 00:00 UTC (5:30 am IST), climbed to $82,521 between 04:00 and 05:00 UTC, and stood at $82,327.42 at 05:05 UTC on Binance. Trading was quiet. Hourly turnover on Binance's BTC/USDT market in Asian hours was between about $34 million and $59 million, against $245 million in the 15:00 UTC hour on Thursday, when the sell-off began.
The calmer mood traces back to a post by President Trump on his Truth Social account at 12:17 pm New York time on Thursday (9:47 pm IST). He said talks with Iran were productive and that the US would not strike Iran before the 3 November midterms, while the US naval blockade would stay in place. Brent crude, which had reached $105.91 earlier on Thursday on fears of renewed US strikes on Iran, fell below $103 within the hour. Bitcoin made its low about an hour after the post and has recovered since.
Oil drifted lower again during Asian hours, with Brent slipping from about $103.80 at 01:00 UTC to $102.91 at 05:11 UTC and US WTI crude at $90.35. Ether also steadied, rising 0.6% from Friday's open to $2,490.28 at 05:05 UTC, but it was still 2.9% lower than a day earlier.
The numbers: prices at 05:05 UTC on 9 October
Crypto prices at 05:05 UTC on 9 October 2026 are shown below, converted at ₹96.88 per dollar, before Indian exchange premiums and fees.
| Asset | Price (USD) | Approx. rupees | 24-hour change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $82,327.42 | ₹79.76 lakh | -0.4% | Thursday low $80,393.56 |
| Ether | $2,490.28 | ₹2,41,267 | -2.9% | Thursday low $2,406.11 |
| Solana | $110.21 | ₹10,678 | -4.3% | Thursday low $105.71 |
| NEAR | $4.758 | ₹461 | -11.5% | 2026 high $5.595 on 8 October |
| Cardano (ADA) | $0.2352 | ₹22.79 | -7.2% | Low $0.2238 |
| Polkadot (DOT) | $1.157 | ₹112.09 | +5.1% | Low $1.009 |
| Brent crude | $102.91 a barrel | Not applicable | Down from $105.91 high | At 05:11 UTC |
NEAR is the biggest mover. It fell about 23% on Thursday, from its 2026 high of $5.595 to $4.301, and has since recovered to $4.758. The token had more than doubled from about $2.34 on 16 September, so part of the fall looks like profit-taking, but no NEAR-specific news has been confirmed as the cause. Check the live NEAR price in INR before acting. No single cause has been confirmed for Polkadot's 5.1% rise either.
Why the bounce matters for Indian investors
Oil matters to Indian crypto holders twice over. India imports most of the crude oil it uses, so higher oil prices put pressure on the rupee, and an oil shock can also push global investors away from risky assets such as crypto. The rupee was at ₹96.88 per dollar on Friday morning, two days after the RBI raised the repo rate to 5.50%. Bitcoin is now ₹79,78,469 on our Bitcoin price in INR page.
Thursday's moves are also a reminder about leverage. NEAR's 23% fall from high to low would have wiped out a 5x long opened at the high, and bitcoin's 3.7% drop from Thursday's high of $83,521 was enough to hurt traders using high leverage. Our explainer on how liquidation prices work shows the maths.
Tax rules do not change with the price. Gains on crypto are taxed at a flat 30% plus 4% cess, 1% TDS is deducted on transfers, and a loss on NEAR cannot be set off against a gain on bitcoin. Trade only on an exchange registered with FIU-IND, which listed 54 registered VDA service providers as of 9 March 2026; see our list of FIU-registered exchanges.
What to watch next for crypto prices
- Friday 9 October, about 14:46 UTC (8:16 pm IST): the earliest time the XRP Ledger's Batch amendment can activate, if validator support stays above the 80% threshold.
- Friday 9 October, about 15:00 UTC (8:30 pm IST): the developer Anza expects Solana to move to 200-millisecond slots at the start of epoch 1053.
- Saturday 10 October, from about 1:30 am IST: US spot bitcoin ETF flows for Friday.
- Wednesday 14 October, 6:00 pm IST: US consumer price inflation for September.
- Tuesday 3 November: the US midterm elections, the end of the window in Trump's pledge on Iran.
FAQ
Why did bitcoin go up on 9 October 2026?
Bitcoin recovered to $82,327 by 05:05 UTC on 9 October after President Trump said the US would not strike Iran before the 3 November midterms, which pulled oil prices lower. It was still down 0.4% over 24 hours.
Why is NEAR down today?
NEAR was down 11.5% over the 24 hours to 05:05 UTC on 9 October after a 23% fall from its 2026 high on Thursday. No NEAR-specific news has been confirmed as the cause, and the token had more than doubled since mid-September.
Does the bitcoin bounce change crypto tax in India?
No. Crypto gains are still taxed at 30% plus 4% cess with 1% TDS on transfers, whatever the price does. Our guide to crypto tax in India explains the rules.
This article is AI-assisted, educational and general in nature. It is not financial advice and never a guarantee of profit. Every trade is at your own risk on your own exchange. See our risk disclosure and editorial policy.
