Bitcoin Holds Near $80,500 as NovaTech, SpaceX and Google Filings Draw Scrutiny

Crypto markets were subdued on Sunday, with bitcoin holding a little above $80,500 and most large tokens moving by around 1% or less. With prices offering little direction, the day's news centred on filings rather than trading: New York's attorney general set out a $1.37bn damages claim against NovaTech, a SpaceX disclosure clarified Elon Musk's role in any Tesla deal, and Google qualified a long-standing privacy pledge on how user data can shape advertising.

Markets at a glance

Bitcoin traded at $80,508, down 0.2% over 24 hours and 1.2% over the past seven days. The modest weekly decline leaves the largest cryptocurrency drifting rather than breaking decisively in either direction.

Ethereum was weaker, slipping 1.1% on the day to $2,350 and 2.4% over the week. That makes it the softest performer among the major tokens tracked here.

BNB stood out on the other side, rising 0.7% to $743.15 and gaining 3.6% over seven days. XRP edged up 0.9% to $1.3, with a weekly gain of 0.8%. The stablecoins Tether and USDC held at $1.

Sentiment was balanced. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index read 54, in neutral territory, consistent with the narrow price ranges seen across the market.

The stories that mattered

The most significant development for crypto investors came from New York. The state's attorney general has filed for damages following a 2025 default ruling, as New York seeks $1.37bn from NovaTech as 11,000 victims await any payout. The filing marks progress in the case, but no award, collection or distribution date has yet been set, leaving defrauded investors without a timetable for recovering funds.

In corporate governance, a quarterly SEC filing has drawn attention to the limits of a recusal. As SpaceX's filing shows Musk retains final approval over a Tesla merger despite recusal, the document lists SpaceX's controlling shareholder as a required approver of any Tesla deal. Musk holds roughly 85% of SpaceX's voting power, meaning his consent remains a condition of any transaction regardless of his step back from the process.

On privacy and technology policy, Google has revised its privacy policy so Gmail, Drive and Photos data can shape ads via AI features. The change, effective 16 October, allows content that users link to Google's Personal Intelligence tools to inform ad personalisation. It qualifies a pledge the company has made for years about keeping such data separate from advertising.

Taken together, the three stories share a common thread: in each case, the detail of a formal filing or policy document matters more than the headline position. NovaTech victims have a damages figure but no payout date; Musk's recusal sits alongside a retained approval right; and Google's longstanding commitment now carries an exception tied to its AI features.

What to watch

• Whether a court issues an award in the NovaTech case, and when any collection or distribution process for the roughly 11,000 victims might begin.
• How Musk's required approval as SpaceX's controlling shareholder is treated in any future discussions of a Tesla deal.
• How Google's ad personalisation via Personal Intelligence tools develops now that the revised policy has taken effect from 16 October.