Crypto Market Climbs as Institutional Catalysts Eclipse Geopolitical Tensions
Crypto markets began the week on a bullish note, shaking off geopolitical unease from renewed Middle East tensions and instead focusing on favorable institutional developments and macroeconomic expectations.
Bitcoin (BTC) surged 3.1% in 24 hours, reaching $108,600, narrowing the gap to its all-time high. The rally wasn’t limited to BTC—the CoinDesk 20 Index rose 4.3%, fueled by strong performances from XRP and Chainlink (LINK), which gained around 6–7%.
The renewed optimism extended to U.S. equities, as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 0.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, gold dropped 1.5%, signaling a rotation out of safe-haven assets.
Crypto-related stocks surged as well: Coinbase (COIN) and Circle (CRCL) advanced 7.7% and 13%, while miners Bitdeer (BTDR) and Hut 8 (HUT) posted solid gains. One exception was MicroStrategy (MSTR), which slipped 0.2%, as rival Metaplanet saw a 25% jump in Tokyo.
Two major headlines reinforced bullish sentiment:
– JPMorgan filed for a digital asset platform trademark covering services from trading to payments.
– Purpose Investments confirmed it will launch a spot XRP ETF in Canada—another step forward for altcoin-focused institutional products.
Caution on Alt Season as Bitcoin Leads
Despite gains across altcoins, analysts warn against prematurely declaring an “alt season.” Nansen’s Nicolai Søndergaard said Bitcoin remains the anchor for market momentum.
“Most alt rallies are still reactive,” he noted. “BTC breaks out, then some alts follow. But these aren’t yet sustainable moves.”
Bottoming Signs Emerge Ahead of Fed Meeting
According to Bitfinex, recent price action resembles past bottoming setups: last week’s “Fear” sentiment, a spike in liquidations, and aggressive selling suggest potential capitulation.
“If BTC holds above $102K–$103K, the market may have found short-term stability,” analysts said.
The next key catalyst is the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. While rates are expected to remain unchanged, Chair Jerome Powell’s tone could spark volatility.
“Expect Powell’s words—not the decision—to drive market reactions,” noted Swissblock, predicting sharp moves across crypto and other risk assets.
