S&P 500 opens 1% lower as NASDAQ drops nearly 2%, and crypto isn’t following the script either

The S&P 500 opened approximately 1.1% lower on Tuesday while the NASDAQ fell roughly 1.8%. Prediction markets had essentially called it in advance, pricing in a near-100% probability of a down-open for the S&P 500. This isn’t the first tremor of the month. On July 7, the NASDAQ dropped 1.2% and the S&P 500 fell 0.5%, with chip stocks dragging the indexes lower. Throughout 2026, Bitcoin and Ether have generally underperformed compared to advancing US equities like the NASDAQ and S&P 500. Stocks rallied, and crypto mostly sat there. Now stocks are pulling back, and crypto still isn’t doing much. No specific tokens or crypto events have been identified as catalysts for Tuesday’s equity decline. The two markets appear to be operating on genuinely separate tracks right now. For crypto-focused portfolios, Bitcoin and Ether’s underperformance during a period of strong equity returns suggests that the next catalyst for digital assets probably won’t come from the macro side. It’ll need to be crypto-native, whether that’s regulatory clarity, institutional adoption milestones, or on-chain developments that shift sentiment. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team....