The crypto market kicked off Tuesday on a mixed note: Bitcoin (BTC) dipped toward $106,000 as Ethereum (ETH) treaded water and many altcoins diverged. Fresh geopolitical flare‑ups and the Fed’s rate decision just around the corner have traders choosing their spots carefully.
| Quick Look at Today’s Movers | |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $106,561 (-0.4% in 24 hours) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $2,572 (-2%) |
| Total Market Cap | $3.32 trillion (-0.6%) |
| Top Large‑Cap Winner | XRP up 1% to $2.22 |
| Top Small/Mid‑Cap Gainer | Pendle (PENDLE) +3% |
Geopolitics and Fed Watch
Headlines from the Middle East are still driving some of the day’s volatility. New skirmishes between Israel and Iran nudged oil prices higher, feeding concerns that risk assets might come under pressure just ahead of Wednesday’s Fed policy announcement. Economists expect rates to remain at 5.25–5.50%, but any hint of hawkish tone could put a dent in today’s gains.
Bitcoin Stays on the Front Foot
BTC briefly dipped toward $106,000 overnight before rallying to finish just above $106,500. A clean break above $108,000 would open the door to mid‑$109,000s, while a slide below $106,000 could see another test of the $105,000 zone. Despite the seesaw trading, spot‑ETF inflows show institutional buyers are still dipping into the dips.
Altcoins: Some Up, Some Down
The ETH price is down 2% as traders booked profits ahead of expected Merge‑upgrade news. XRP led the large‑cap pack with a 1% rise, briefly touching $2.24. Solana (SOL) pulled back nearly 3%, trading around $152.27 after failing to hold the $155 support level. Meanwhile, PENDLE stole the spotlight among smaller tokens, surging over 3% on renewed DeFi fundraising optimism.
Corporate and Regulatory Highlights
A new report from Standard Chartered finds that 61 publicly listed companies (outside the crypto sector) have adopted “Bitcoin treasury” strategies, allocating part of their cash reserves to BTC in search of inflation hedges.
Meanwhile, the crypto arm of a major French bank rolled out USD CoinVertible (USDCV)—its second stablecoin—on both Ethereum and Solana, aiming to deepen its digital‑asset offering and streamline cross‑border payments.
The U.S. Senate is poised to pass a sweeping crypto‑asset bill that notably omits provisions addressing former President Trump’s own crypto investments, focusing instead on definitions, AML standards, and stablecoin oversight.
What’s Next
All eyes turn to Wednesday’s Fed statement and Chair Powell’s press conference. Will they hint at the timing of the first rate cut, or stick to a hawkish script? Outside the Fed, look for U.S. retail‑sales data tomorrow and follow developments at this week’s G‑7 meeting. For traders, on‑chain metrics and ETF flow data will offer the clearest read on big‑money intentions, even as headlines keep coming.
