A crypto expert has addressed the arguments suggesting that the XRP price could never reach $10,000. He explained that XRP is in a different league from most cryptocurrencies, making traditional valuation methods less effective. The expert also asserts that XRP is designed to handle large-scale institutional flows and, as a result, a $10,000 valuation cannot be ruled out entirely in the long run. Why The XRP Price Could Reach $10,000 Stern Drew, the founder and CEO of Stageyo, the world’s first digital marketplace for stage performers, has weighed in on the long-running debate around the future price potential of XRP. On X, the founder argued that many projections dismissing a $10,000 XRP price are flawed because they apply the wrong framework and mathematical models to the asset. Related Reading: Pundit Shares Why XRP Will Become Expensive And A $1,000 Price Tag Is Possible According to him, XRP should not be evaluated using the same assumptions as retail-driven cryptocurrencies. Drew explained that comparisons with Bitcoin and other digital assets often ignore scale entirely. He pointed out that a single Ripple partner can move more value in one day for XRP than Bitcoin processes in an entire year. This difference in settlement volume is central to how the expert believes that XRP’s future value should be gauged. The Stageyo founder further stressed that XRP was primarily designed for institutional settlement rather than speculative trading. Its core use case is tied to moving large volumes of capital across borders effectively. In that context, Drew has suggested that price expectations that rule out levels like $10,000 based on retail demand or historical crypto cycles are not relevant. He argued that low prices do not make sense when a cryptocurrency is handling massive institutional inflows. If XRP is used for high-value settlements, a higher price per token increases efficiency. This means fewer tokens will be needed to transfer the same amount of value, reducing friction and speeding up transactions. Drew described this concept as a different kind of math that applies to a “different league” of financial activity. Rather than focusing on market capitalization to gauge a cryptocurrency’s future value, the expert emphasizes liquidity and transaction throughput. From this perspective, he links the possibility of XRP reaching $10,000 to its intended role in the global financial system. XRP Positions For Major Role In Global Banking In a separate X post, Drew drew attention to a recent statement made by the Bank of Japan (BOJ). Notably, the BOJ disclosed that both Japan and South Korea are working together on developing blockchain infrastructure, subtly referencing XRP and Ripple in its announcement. Related Reading: XRP Open Interest Crashes To Levels Not Seen Since 2024, Can It Also Rally 600%? Reports reveal that official discussions are currently private, but their impact is expected to be significant. The BOJ highlighted that XRP holders should watch out and brace for future developments, as this collaboration could become a transformative moment for Ripple. Notably, the crypto payments company has already established relationships with some of Japan’s largest financial institutions, including SBI Holdings. Moreover, South Korea has been a major investor in XRP over the years. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
Although the Bitcoin price has recently displayed swift recovery to the upside, the broader picture still mirrors a bleak future for the flagship cryptocurrency. A new on-chain evaluation has surfaced, which suggests that Bitcoin’s recent price recovery could be happening within a broader, weak trend, with macroeconomic factors acting as the major influences. Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Drop To $70K As Bank Of Japan Rate Move Approaches—Analysts Weak Japanese Yen Fails To Ignite Crypto Risk Appetite In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, education group XWIN Research Japan explains reasons to believe that the Bitcoin market is merely at a “post-rebound adjustment” phase, rather than being underway to a full-scale price recovery. The research and education institution begins by pointing out the rate increment to 0.75% by the Bank of Japan. Since the move has been largely priced in, this rate hike did not give strength to the Japanese yen. Instead, a directly opposite result is the reality: the yen remains weak. Historically, a weak Yen has been a catalyst for ‘yen-funded carry trades’, where Japanese investors borrow Yen for the purpose of investing in other assets like cryptocurrencies for profits. However, XWIN Research Japan reveals that the current scenario deviates from historical trends. This conjecture depends on readings obtained from the Bitcoin: Estimated Leverage Ratio metric, which tracks how much leverage traders are using in the futures market, in relation to the amount of Bitcoin held on exchanges. Per the research group, there has been an ostensible decline in the estimated leverage ratio across exchanges. Also worth noting is the observation that there has been no leverage recovery, even during Bitcoin’s recent price fluctuations. Hence, it becomes clear that “yen-funded carry trade-driven risk-taking remains contained rather than expanding.” Related Reading: Bitcoin In Standby Mode: Weekend Ranges Rule Before Holiday ‘Chop’ Coinbase Premium Index Reveals Absent Spot Demand — Implications For Price At the same time, a very critical sign of a sustained bull market is nowhere to be found. This is monitored by the Coinbase Premium Index metric, which measures the difference between Bitcoin’s price on Coinbase (based in the U.S), and global exchange averages. Notably, the index has recovered from deep negative territory to moderate levels. However, this only indicates that selling pressure is easing, rather than intensifying. On the other hand, it also reveals that U.S spot investors are still uninterested in entering the market. XWIN Research Japan therefore concludes that, while the yen stays weak, “the lack of sustained spot buying implies that the current recovery does not yet reflect a structural uptrend.” Nonetheless, a possible scenario could also change the present narrative. This involves the Coinbase Premium Index regaining ground within positive territory, and price rising, without renewed heightened leverage. If these occur at the same time, XWIN Research Japan explains that it would be the perfect sign of an ongoing demand-driven accumulation. At press time, Bitcoin stands valued at $88,034, with CoinMarketCap data reflecting a minor 0.84% loss in the last 24 hours. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview
Gold and silver hit fresh highs on Tuesday while Bitcoin slid back under $89,000, sending a clear message that some investors are favoring metal over riskier bets. Related Reading: Russia Rejects Crypto As Legal Tender, Finance Official Confirms According to Reuters and market data, gold traded above $4,330 an ounce and silver pushed past $66 an ounce in what market participants called a strong run for bullion. Reports have disclosed that silver’s rally has lifted local prices in India to about ₹2.06 lakh per kilogram. Metals Rally, Hit New Highs Silver’s advance has been dramatic. It is up roughly 120-130% year-to-date, a jump that outpaces gold by a wide margin. Traders point to a mix of stronger industrial demand from solar and electronics, tighter supplies, and flows into safe assets as reasons behind the move. Gold buyers have also been encouraged by signs that US inflation may cool and by shifting expectations for central bank policy, which tends to support non-yielding assets when real yields fall. JUST IN ????: Silver soars to $66 for the first time in history ???????????? pic.twitter.com/YGCrB5VDPH — Barchart (@Barchart) December 17, 2025 Safe Haven Demand And Industrial Use Some investors are treating metals as a hedge. Others want exposure linked to real economy needs. Both forces are at work. Analysts say silver’s dual role — as an industrial metal and as a store of value — is amplifying moves. Energy prices and supply reports have added pressure on markets, and that has upped demand for physical metal in several trading hubs. Bitcoin Slips Under Key Level Bitcoin fell below $89,000 and was trading nearer to $88,450 in mid-session, giving back gains from earlier months. Based on reports and market feeds, BTC is about 7% lower year-to-date and roughly 30% below its October 2025 peak above $126,000. Some crypto funds recorded outflows recently, and several traders described market tone as risk-off, which has weighed on digital assets this week. Liquidity, ETF Flows And Sentiment ETF flows played a role. Where money leaves ETFs, prices can feel the impact quickly. Margin calls, profit taking after a volatile run, and investors moving to what they see as safer stores of value have all been cited by sources watching the tape. Technical levels near $84,000 to $85,000 are now being watched for support, while resistance sits close to $90,000 to $92,000. Related Reading: 5,606 Bitcoin: Lightning Network Sets Fresh Capacity Record Markets Eye Data And Policy Moves Economic reports and central bank signals are next on traders’ calendars. US inflation prints and comments from global central banks have been flagged as possible triggers for fresh moves in both metals and crypto. Investors also noted that equity weakness, especially in some large tech names, has nudged money toward hard assets and away from riskier positions. Several market strategists said that policy shifts overseas, including from the Bank of Japan, could further change global liquidity and investor choices. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Crypto analyst Erick Crypto has highlighted a Dogecoin price squeeze, which is currently playing out. Based on this, he mentioned two possible scenarios that could play out for the largest meme coin by market cap. Two Possible Scenarios as Dogecoin Price Squeezes In an X post, Erick Crypto stated that the Dogecoin price is squeezing hard, with a descending triangle and strong horizontal support around $0.136. He added that DOGE is compressing at the apex, which means that a breakout ot breakdown is imminent. The pundit warned that there is high volatility ahead of the meme coin. Related Reading: Pundit Reveals Why January Will Be A Month For Dogecoin, But Can DOGE Price Reach ATHs? Meanwhile, the crypto analyst stated that the Dogecoin price could see more downside if it loses the $0.13 support. On the other hand, it could record a relief rally if it breaks the trendline. He urged market participants to trade the breakout and not the noise. Erick Crypto’s analysis comes amid the crypto market downturn, which has already sparked a massive crash for DOGE. Notably, the Dogecoin price is down over 20% in the last month, since around when the Bitcoin price first crashed below the psychological $100,000 level. The meme coin has also failed to gain traction despite the launch of two DOGE ETFs during this period. Bitcoinist reported that these Dogecoin ETFs have so far underperformed and failed to gain interest from institutional investors. Meanwhile, the Dogecoin price and the broader crypto market are at risk of further declines as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is likely to raise interest rates this week. This could tighten liquidity in the market and also lead to a further unwinding of the yen carry trade, which is a negative for crypto assets, including DOGE. DOGE Is At A Crossroad Crypto analyst CryptoCeek stated that the Dogecoin price is at that “classic meme coin fork-in-the-road.” The analyst explained that if the bears push and hold the price under $0.13, the door opens for a full retest of $0.10, where buyers historically aggressively buy the dip. On the other hand, CryptoCeek stated that reclaiming the 20D EMA near $0.14 would scream a bear trap, with $0.19 on the cards for “one of those classic DOGE squeezes.” Related Reading: Dogecoin Holds Demand Zone Above $0.13, What A Bounce Would Do Crypto analyst Master remarked that between $0.8 and $0.10 seems likely for the Dogecoin price. He added that the base case is that the meme coin trades sideways until 2028, when the next bull run may start. However, as CryptoCeek suggested, DOGE may bounce from around $0.10 as the bulls step in to accumulate more coins at that price level. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin risks a further drop toward the $70,000 area if the Bank of Japan follows through with an expected interest-rate rise on Dec. 19, analysts focused on macro forces warned. Related Reading: Analyst: Bitcoin’s Cycle Is Intact, Yet No Longer Purely Market-Driven According to multiple macro-focused voices, the move could sap global liquidity and put fresh downward pressure on risk assets, with some traders already bracing for a sharp pullback. Japan’s policy shift matters because higher rates tend to strengthen the yen and raise the cost of borrowing. When that happens, traders who previously borrowed cheaply in yen to invest elsewhere are often forced to unwind those positions. That process can pull money out of global markets in a short period of time, and Bitcoin has often felt that impact as investors cut exposure during risk-off stretches. BOJ Tightening Drains Global Liquidity According to AndrewBTC, every BOJ hike since 2024 has coincided with Bitcoin drawdowns of more than 20%. Based on reports, the analyst pointed to declines of roughly 23% in March 2024, 26% in July 2024, and 31% in January 2025. ???? BREAKING: JAPAN WILL CRASH $BTC Bank of Japan is set to hike rates +25 bps on Dec 19. Japan = largest holder of US government debt ???????? ???? Look at the $BTC chart: Every BoJ rate hike → Bitcoin dumps over 20%+???? • March 2024 → -23% • July 2024 → -26% • January 2025 →… pic.twitter.com/grN3QRNUg4 — AndrewBTC (@cryptoctlt) December 13, 2025 Traders are not only watching central bank calendars. Bitcoin’s daily chart also flashed a classic bear flag formation after a steep fall from the $105,000–$110,000 area in November. Market Positioning Widens Ahead Of Key Data Bitcoin slipped below $90,000 in thin trading on Sunday, a move that traders took as a cautionary sign rather than a definitive trigger. Based on reports, Ether held up better than many altcoins, suggesting selective risk taking in the market. Traders are positioning before a busy slate of US data and central bank events that could sway flows. Analyst EX bluntly warned BTC will collapse “below $70,000” under the stated macro conditions, a stark forecast that highlights how crowded bets can amplify moves when liquidity is pulled. EVERY TIME JAPAN HIKES RATES, BITCOIN DUMPS 20–25% NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL HIKE RATES TO 75 BPS AGAIN. IF THE PATTERN HOLDS, $BTC WILL DUMP BELOW $70,000 ON DECEMBER 19. POSITION ACCORDINGLY. pic.twitter.com/IWU8JbXjn3 — ΞX (@rektbyEX) December 13, 2025 Related Reading: Bitcoin Pulls Back Under $89K, Michael Saylor Smells Opportunity What This Means For Investors The story tying BOJ policy to Bitcoin’s swings is simple in outline: when funding costs in Japan rise, global borrowing becomes pricier, and risk assets can be sold as positions are reduced. That dynamic helps explain why past BOJ moves lined up with 20-30% declines in Bitcoin. Still, markets often try to price events ahead of time; a hike that’s already built into prices may have a smaller effect than one that comes as a surprise. Featured image from Nikkei Asia, chart from TradingView
Strategy chair Michael Saylor signaled that his firm may add to its Bitcoin holdings just as the market slid again on Sunday, a move that kept traders on edge and fed fresh debate over what is driving the declines. Related Reading: Analyst: Bitcoin’s Cycle Is Intact, Yet No Longer Purely Market-Driven Back To More Orange Dots According to a post on X, Saylor shared a chart with the phrase “Back to More Orange Dots,” a shorthand that investors interpret as fresh buying. Based on reports tracked by SaylorTracker, Strategy bought 10,624 BTC on Dec. 12 — its biggest single purchase since late July. The firm now holds about 660,624 BTC, which at current prices is worth roughly $58.5 billion, and its average cost per coin stands at $74,696. ₿ack to More Orange Dots. pic.twitter.com/rBi1aagDVO — Michael Saylor (@saylor) December 14, 2025 Sunday Wick, Low Liquidity Bitcoin briefly dipped to a two-week low near $87,750 in late trading on Sunday, before climbing back above $89,000 by the time of writing. Traders pointed to a familiar pattern: quick wick-downs on weekends when liquidity is thin. Ether showed relative strength while major altcoins lagged, and market participants were seen positioning ahead of a packed calendar of US data and central bank decisions this week. Analysts Eye Bank Of Japan According to analyst commentary, some market participants blame the selling on expectations around the Bank Of Japan. People are seriously underestimating what the bank is about to do to crypto, said one analyst using the handle NoLimit. Justin d’Anethan, head of research at Arctic Digital, said the slide toward $88,000 “feels like a defeat,” and linked the move to fear of a carry trade unwind tied to Japanese rate expectations. Markets May Have Priced It In Sykodelic, another market watcher, argued that Japan’s actions are largely priced in. “Markets are forward-thinking, forward-moving. They move in anticipation of events, not when those events happen,” they wrote. Based on that view, the recent drop is less about a fresh shock and more about ordinary back-and-forth: macro funds trimming exposure, short-term traders taking profit, and buyers stepping in at lower levels. Related Reading: Bitcoin Headed For $200 Trillion? CEO Makes Bold Prediction That push-and-pull helps explain why Bitcoin keeps snapping lower on thin pockets of liquidity but does not break decisively below key support. Meanwhile, the tension between long-term holders — represented by companies like Strategy — and short-term macro flows is shaping price action. There is no sign yet of widespread liquidations or a funding crisis, which suggests the declines are measured rather than chaotic. Featured image from Australian Farmers, chart from TradingView
The Bitcoin market has continued to consolidate within the $90,000 price zone over the last day, reflecting a minor 0.04% gain within this period. Notably, the premier cryptocurrency has witnessed a steady rally in recent weeks, forming the early phases of an ascending channel. To protect this potential uptrend, recent on-chain data shows that investors are moving to initiate a downside and price in the market effect of an anticipated negative catalyst. Related Reading: Bitcoin Macro Retracement Meets Mid-Range Battle – Will Bulls Reclaim Momentum? Bitcoin Sees High Inflows, Negative Funding Rates As Investors Guard Against Rate Hike In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, the crypto analysis page XWIN Research Japan discusses how potential Japan economic developments are presently impacting the Bitcoin market. Notably, analysts and economists expect the Bank of Japan to announce a 25 bps rate hike at its next policy meeting between December 18-19, as the Asian nation moves to end an ultra-loose monetary regime. Interest rate hikes are generally interpreted as bearish catalysts as they force investors to move out of risky assets due to less available capital, thereby inducing a price decline. According to XWIN Research Japan, Bitcoin investors may currently be attempting to absorb the resulting price pressure, potentially muting the immediate impact of the primary catalyst itself. This theory is based on multiple developments, such as exchange netflows. The analysts at XWIN report that exchange inflows are rising to mirror similar levels seen during previous BOJ hikes. Investors are presently exiting exchanges and minimizing their spot exposure to reduce the market impact of the expected decision. Meanwhile, the funding rates are also declining, another event seen during past rate hikes. Notably, investors are proactively losing their leverage in what is a pre-event caution movement. Related Reading: Ethereum Holds Support As Smart Money Steps In – What This Means For Price What Next For Bitcoin? At press time, Bitcoin tie valued at $90,190, reflecting a market gain of 0.77% in the past week. With the Bank of Japan’s hawkish pivot largely priced in, XWIN Research says that market focus has shifted away from the rate hike itself toward post-announcement yen dynamics. Going forward, the analysts explain that Bitcoin’s near-term direction may hinge on whether the yen continues to strengthen or if markets respond with a “sell the rumor, buy the fact” reversal, signaling that the adjustment phase is already unfolding. With a market cap of $1.67 trillion, Bitcoin continues to rank as the largest cryptocurrency with a current market dominance of 58.2% Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview
Rising Japanese rates and a stronger yen threaten carry trades and could pressure crypto markets despite easing U.S. policy.
CryptoQuant data shows seller exhaustion as whales pull back from exchanges, while traders prepare for a closely watched BOJ meeting that could influence global liquidity.
Low-liquidity in December may cap bitcoin's recovery rally, but rangebound trading for the largest crypto could benefit smaller digital assets, Wincent's Paul Howard said.
Crypto analyst Tony Severino has revealed a historical bearish pattern that could send the Bitcoin price to as low as $42,000. This bearish outlook for BTC comes amid a rebound for the flagship crypto, with a recent surge above the psychological $90,000 level. Bitcoin Price Risks 50% Drop To $42,000 Based On This Pattern In an X post, Severino stated that the Bitcoin price likes to retrace to subwave 3/4 of wave 3/4 of its impulse. Based on this, the analyst indicated that BTC could crash to as low as $42,000 on wave C of this move to the downside. His accompanying chart showed that this decline could happen sometime at the start of next year. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Can Hit These ‘Realistic’ Bullish Targets Before The Bear Market Begins This bearish Bitcoin price prediction comes amid BTC’s rebound above $90,000 following the end of quantitative tightening (QT) by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The flagship crypto has also rebounded amid optimism of another rate cut at this month’s FOMC meeting. CME FedWatch data shows there is almost a 90% chance that the Fed will lower rates again this month. However, despite these macro positives for the Bitcoin price, analysts such as Tony Severino have suggested that BTC is in a bear market and is likely to trend lower in the coming months. In an X post, he highlighted the BTC monthly chart, suggesting it showed a subtle volume breakout that confirmed a “not-so-subtle” trendline breakdown. Meanwhile, market technician JT described statements that the QT ending is bullish for the Bitcoin price as being a “fallacy.” He alluded to the possibility that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) may hike rates this month as one of the stressors to liquidity beyond QT. Peter Brandt Predicts Drop To Mid $40ks In an X post, veteran trader and analyst Peter Brandt predicted that the Bitcoin price could drop to mid $40,000. He stated that the upper boundary of the lower green zone starts below $70,000 and that the lower support boundary is in the mid $40,000. Notably, Brandt had previously predicted that BTC could drop to around $50,000 before it then rallies to around $200,000 in the next bull market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Breaks Below 50-MA For The First Time This Cycle, Why A Crash To $38,000 Could Be Coming The veteran analyst noted that there have been five major bull market cycles for the Bitcoin price since its inception. He further stated that in all previous cycles, the violation of the dominant parabolic advance has been followed by a 75% plus correction with no exception. As such, he expects BTC to undergo another significant correction in this cycle, potentially dropping below $50,000. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $93,000, up almost 7% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com
Japan’s financial markets are sending out a warning siren, not just for Tokyo, but for the rest of the world. The Bank of Japan (BOJ), once famous for almost endless money printing, is taking the first steps toward unwinding its massive interventions. In short, Japan’s debt dilemma is coming to a head. This week, the […]
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The hardening of the yield follows a dismal bond auction that saw below-average demand for 20-year government debt.
The yen is no longer the most attractive funding currency, and the currency's strength may not necessarily lead to broad-based risk aversion, one expert said.
On July 15, 2025, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) quietly announced that it would begin supplying U.S. dollar funds against pooled collateral, starting on July 17, a move that might seem like standard liquidity management. However, according to macro analyst EndGame Macro, this technical maneuver may signal the beginning of a far deeper shift, hinting […]
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Ripple’s ambitions in the global payments space have grown louder and more direct, as its CEO Brad Garlinghouse, openly stated at APEX 2025 that the company is aiming to take over SWIFT’s customer base. The commentary follows Ripple’s long-term strategy to shift global banking infrastructure away from legacy systems to the blockchain-based XRP Ledger. Meanwhile, central banks are increasingly taking note, with recent reports revealing that the capacity of Ripple’s network is currently being studied alongside SWIFT’s systems in experiments. Garlinghouse Sets Sights On SWIFT’s Market Share Speaking at the APEX summit, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse declared that Ripple’s goal is not only to compete with SWIFT but to replace its role in moving money on the global scale. According to Garlinghouse, although SWIFT is very dominant in messaging, the most important thing is the liquidity that banks can provide. Related Reading: Ripple To Replace SWIFT? XRP Analyst Breaks Down Recent Developments “I think less about the messaging and more about liquidity,” he said. Ripple is targeting this deeper infrastructure among banks, which is the actual movement of value. Interestingly, Garlinghouse asserted that Ripple plans to capture up to 14% of SWIFT’s current cross-border volume within five years. That’s a bold number, especially considering the scale at which SWIFT currently operates. Recent estimates show that SWIFT currently facilitates more than 45 million financial messages and handles around $5 trillion in money transfers daily. Even a 14% share of that market would represent hundreds of billions of dollars in value flowing through Ripple’s ecosystem, which would create a significant demand for XRP in the process. Central Banks Are Tapping In Garlinghouse’s comments come at a time when institutional momentum appears to be shifting in Ripple’s favor. Interestingly, Ripple’s global push is not limited to private sector partnerships. A crypto enthusiast on the social media platform X known as Finance Bull recently drew attention to growing central bank interest in blockchain-based payment infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, Ripple’s technology is the key focus to this growing interest. Related Reading: Ripple Plans To Take 14% Of SWIFT Volume, USDC Lands On XRPL – What Does This Mean For XRP Price? Ripple’s xCurrent solution, which is built on the Interledger Protocol (ILP), was recently studied alongside SWIFT’s gpi system as part of Project Stella. Project Stella is a collaborative research initiative by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan. Basically, what this means is that central banks are starting to look into Ripple’s technology, which says a lot about the ecosystem’s outlook in the coming years. The fact that two of the world’s most influential central banks reviewed Ripple’s infrastructure alongside SWIFT is a signal that XRP’s utility is now being evaluated at the core of global monetary policy discussions. These developments closely align with what many fervent XRP supporters have long believed. There have been recurring predictions among the community’s most confident voices that XRP’s price is destined to move far beyond its current all-time high of $3.40. Some technical analyses have predicted double-digit prices for XRP. Other predictions for the XRP price are as high as $1,000. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
The BOJ decision to hold rates steady keeps Japanese bond yields in check, limiting pressure on bitcoin’s price.
The slightly dovish take may assuage concerns about a yen-led risk-off in global markets, including cryptocurrencies.
Risk assets, including BTC, held steady while the Japanese yen rose after the BOJ hiked rates to the highest in 17 years.
After a flash crash to $89,256 earlier this month, Bitcoin (BTC) made a swift recovery, reaching a new all-time high (ATH) of $108,786 on January 20. However, according to a crypto analyst, further upside could be limited until the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting later this month. Bitcoin To Remain Range-Bound Until FOMC Meeting The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been on a bullish trajectory since November, fueled by Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. Over the past three months, BTC has surged from approximately $67,000 to $104,536 at the time of writing, posting gains of over 50%. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Forecast Of $150,000 ‘Too Low’ Amid Rising Adoption, Crypto Trader Says However, crypto analyst Krillin predicts that BTC may continue to “chop” in the $100,000 to $110,000 range until the FOMC meeting. The analyst suggests that unless the Bank of Japan takes extraordinary policy measures, BTC is unlikely to break out of this range before the end of the month. At present, the CME FedWatch tool indicates a 99.5% probability that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will not cut interest rates at the upcoming meeting. Krillin expects a market dump to follow the anticipated hawkish meeting, which may be partially offset by a dovish-sounding press conference hinting at future quantitative easing (QE). For the uninitiated, QE is a monetary policy where central banks inject money into the economy by purchasing government bonds and other financial assets to lower interest rates and stimulate economic activity. This increased money supply can weaken fiat currencies, potentially driving investors toward assets like BTC, boosting its price as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. Krillin’s prediction aligns with a recent market observation which states that BTC profit-taking has declined by 93% from its December peak, and that the long-term holders are back in accumulation mode, preparing for the next leg up. However, how long the current consolidation phase may last is anyone’s guess. Meanwhile, crypto analyst Ali Martinez notes a sharp decline in capital inflows into the digital assets market, from $134 billion on December 10 to $43.37 billion. This low liquidity could result in sharp price swings, increasing the risk of liquidations for leverage traders. Will BTC Peak In Q2 2025? As BTC awaits the FOMC meeting to determine its next price trend, some analysts remain optimistic that the cryptocurrency could hit its market cycle peak in Q2 2025 as more institutions embrace the asset under favourable regulations. Related Reading: Bitcoin May Target $145,000 To $249,000 Under Trump Administration: Report For example, crypto analyst Dave The Wave recently predicted that BTC will likely peak in the summer of 2025. A report by Bitfinex supports this outlook, forecasting that Bitcoin could surge to $200,000 by mid-2025, albeit with minor corrections along the way. That said, Bitcoin must defend the $100,000 price level, as failure to do so could see the asset drop to as low as $97,500. At press time, BTC trades at $104,536, up 1.4% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, Charts from X and TradingView.com
Japan's headline inflation is at 2.9% year-over-year, at a 3-month high. A hot inflation print could set bitcoin back.
Bitcoin price is up today as a recovery in the US job market, strong spot Bitcoin ETF inflows and impressive tech sector earnings data emerge.
The yen’s popularity as a funding currency can cause knock-on effects in other markets, helping tighten global financial conditions, BlackRock said.
The yen's volatile episode may spread to other fiat currencies as U.S. rate cuts remain elusive amid sticky inflation, which could drive investors to gold and bitcoin, Noelle Acheson said in an interview.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) aims to promote the creation of new businesses and industries via increased domestic investments from limited partnership (LP) firms.
While Japan is preparing to solve the legal issues around issuing a CBDC, it has not revealed plans for an official launch.