The crypto market ended the week on a softer note, with Bitcoin and Ethereum struggling to sustain early gains amid renewed macroeconomic concerns and cautious investor sentiment.

Bitcoin opened on May 11 at about US$82,164, its strongest opening level since late January, before gradually easing toward the US$80,000 mark by May 15 as traders turned risk-averse following rising US Treasury yields, persistent inflation worries and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Ethereum also lost momentum during the week, slipping from an opening level of around US$2,369 on May 11 to near US$2,258 by May 15, underperforming Bitcoin as institutional interest remained largely focused on the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

Despite the…