Bitcoin rises to $81,000 as Asian tech stocks lose $550 billion
A sharp sell-off in Asian semiconductor shares erased $550 billion across South Korea, Taiwan and Japan as investors weighed potential US artificial intelligence rules.
Key takeaways
- 1Bitcoin climbed 4 percent to reach $81,000 while Asian technology stocks dropped sharply.
- 2South Korea's KOSPI index fell 5.28 percent, triggering a five-minute trading pause on sell orders.
- 3Equities in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan lost nearly $550 billion in combined market value.
- 4The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped 3.1 percent to a six-month low.
Bitcoin rose 4 percent to $81,000 on 5 November 2026 as Asian equity markets lost nearly $550 billion in value after a heavy sell-off in technology and semiconductor shares.
South Korea recorded the largest loss in the region, with $203 billion wiped from its equity market as the KOSPI index dropped 5.28 percent to 5,383, Coinpedia reported. The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute suspension on program sell orders after KOSPI 200 futures fell by more than 5 percent. Semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix fell 9.46 percent, while Samsung Electronics dropped 7.57 percent.
Taiwan's stock market lost $182 billion as the benchmark TAIEX index fell 3.28 percent to 42,314, its lowest mark in three months. MediaTek declined 6.86 percent, Delta Electronics fell 7.38 percent, ASE Technology dropped 9 percent, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co fell 2.5 percent.
Japanese equities lost $160 billion, pushing the Nikkei 225 down 3 percent to 61,077. SoftBank Group dropped 7 percent, while semiconductor equipment maker Advantest fell 14.71 percent, Tokyo Electron dropped 9.42 percent, and Kioxia Holdings lost 13.14 percent. Non-technology shares offered some support, with Fast Retailing rising 4.72 percent alongside gains in Toyota Motor and Mitsubishi UFJ.
The regional sell-off followed concern that potential US restrictions on artificial intelligence data centres could reduce capital spending across the technology industry, Coinpedia reported. Investors pointed to potential regulatory hurdles following US midterm election results, which could slow project approvals and increase energy infrastructure costs. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 3.1 percent to a six-month low before Asian markets opened.
Chinese technology shares tracked in the opposite direction, with the Hang Seng Tech Index climbing 4.5 percent as Alibaba and Meituan advanced. In mainland developments, Moore Threads rose 3.29 percent and Shanghai Biren Technology gained 2.5 percent, aided by lower reliance on US data centre expenditure.
Outside of equities, precious metals advanced as gold rose 1.7 percent and silver gained 1 percent. Brent crude oil fell 8.7 percent to $94.68 per barrel. YourKhabri market data recorded Bitcoin at $80,360, up 3.4 percent over 24 hours, with a market capitalisation of $1.61 trillion.
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Reported and edited by the YourKhabri desk under our editorial policy. Nothing here is investment advice.