Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $78,000 on Thursday, facing resistance at the $80,000 level as geopolitical tensions between the US and China over AI technology theft weighed on market sentiment. The White House accused Chinese entities of conducting large-scale campaigns to steal American AI systems, adding uncertainty ahead of a planned summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping in mid-May. BTC opened at $78,193 before retreating to approximately $77,465. The $80,000 to $80,600 range has consistently acted as a ceiling throughout April. On-chain data indicates the Traders’ On-Chain Realized Price at $76,800 has capped recent rallies. On Deribit, the $80,000 call options have become the most popular trade, with a notional value of $1.78 billion, suggesting traders are anticipating a breakout. However, the ongoing US-China tensions may continue to dampen risk appetite in the crypto markets.