Newsroom-Style Summary with Headline Focus
XRP Gains as Fed Decision Looms and Bitcoin Wavers Under Geopolitical Tensions
Cryptocurrencies remained subdued early Tuesday as global investors turn their attention to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming rate decision, expected later this week. No changes in interest rates are forecast, but markets are closely watching for any policy signals that could influence inflation expectations or risk sentiment.
Bitcoin (BTC) showed signs of fragility, falling from an intraday high of $108,000 on Monday to $106,500, before buyers stepped back in during Asian hours to lift it back over $107,000. The move follows a $1.2 billion crypto futures liquidation last Friday that flushed out excessive leverage and rattled altcoins over the weekend.
XRP led major crypto gains, while Ethereum (ETH) rose 1.5% to $2,609, still lagging Bitcoin’s ETF-driven support. Solana (SOL) and Tron (TRX) gained 1.5% and 2.1%, respectively, but traders remain cautious amid macro headwinds.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed much of the market stress, drawing $1.4 billion in inflows over the past week, reinforcing their role as institutional safety nets during volatility.
Meanwhile, traditional safe havens surged after former President Trump called for the evacuation of Tehran at the G7 summit, driving gold and oil sharply higher. Bitcoin, however, didn’t follow suit.
“BTC tends to lag geopolitical shocks,” said Eugene Cheung of OSL. “If the Fed stays neutral and global tensions persist, it may catch up as a store-of-value narrative returns.”
Powell’s commentary, not just the rate outcome, is expected to drive near-term volatility across asset classes.
