The U.S. government faces a potential shutdown with Congress racing against the clock to pass funding legislation before tonight's deadline. Bitcoin and Ethereum prices remain largely unchanged as lawmakers work to reach an agreement on the stopgap measure.
Trading data shows Bitcoin at $113,435, virtually flat over the past day despite a modest 0.4% gain in the previous hour. Ethereum sits at $4,153, down a marginal 0.3% as political uncertainty grips Washington.
John Glover from Bitcoin lender Ledn sees potential opportunities rather than risks in the current situation. The chief investment officer points to President Trump’s previous use of shutdown tactics during his first administration as evidence that markets typically view these events as temporary disruptions.
Trump oversaw two government closures during his initial term. The January 2018 shutdown lasted just three days, while a later closure became the nation’s longest at 35 days.
“Risk markets, which initially sold off, bounced back quickly,” Glover noted, suggesting that any price weakness in digital assets would likely attract buyers rather than trigger sustained selling pressure.
Prediction market participants appear less sanguine about near-term price action. Data from Myriad shows 85% of users anticipate Bitcoin will experience at least 48 consecutive red candles before midday Wednesday. Those bearish odds jumped sharply overnight from the roughly even split seen throughout Monday.
House Republicans pushed through a temporary funding bill that extends government operations through Nov. 21. The measure includes controversial healthcare benefit reductions affecting millions of Americans, creating a sticking point for Democratic lawmakers.
Senate Republicans control 53 seats but need seven Democrats to join them in reaching the 60‑vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster. The upper chamber began deliberations at 10 a.m. ET, with a vote scheduled for today.
The political standoff threatens to delay critical economic data releases that Bitcoin traders monitor for signals about Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Market participants use employment figures and other macroeconomic indicators to assess the likelihood of future rate adjustments.