BTC trades around $90,264, down roughly 2%, after briefly reclaiming $94K on expectations of a ‘dovish’ Fed cut. News from Yahoo Finance, Reuters and CoinDesk note that hawkish messaging, lingering fears from October’s $19B leverage wipeout, and renewed AI-growth worries have capped any post-Fed relief rally.
AI jitters and Oracle miss sour risk appetite, dragging on crypto beta
Reuters and Investing.com report that weak Oracle earnings and heavier AI capex have raised doubts about the AI trade, hitting tech stocks and broader risk sentiment. Analysts quoted by Reuters say crypto “didn’t really want to know about” the equity rally, underscoring how AI-linked risk-off flows are spilling into Bitcoin and altcoins.
Ethereum underperforms as macro uncertainty and futures liquidations weigh
ETH is around $3,202, off 3.6% over 24 hours per Kitco, slightly underperforming BTC as mixed signals on the Fed’s 2026 path keep leverage positioning fragile. CoinDesk notes that recent futures-driven selloffs have been particularly heavy in BTC and ETH, with several sessions of $500M-plus liquidations eroding trader confidence.
Large-cap alts track lower with Solana leading the downside
Solana trades near $131, down roughly 4% to 5% on the day and about 8% on the week, while XRP holds around $2.01–$2.02, down 3%–3.5%. Kitco and TradingEconomics dashboards show a synchronized pullback across major alts like ADA and DOGE, reflecting broad de-risking rather than asset-specific news.
Fed’s ‘hawkish cut’ reinforces Bitcoin’s macro sensitivity versus gold
Coverage from Yahoo Finance, Investing.com and TradingEconomics highlights how Bitcoin initially jumped toward $94K on the Fed cut but quickly faded as guidance implied a cautious path for future easing. By contrast, gold pushed back near record highs above $4,200/oz, underscoring that BTC is currently trading more like a high-beta macro asset than a defensive inflation hedge.
On-chain flows hint at longer-term accumulation despite near-term weakness
Santiment data cited by Tribune India indicates roughly 400,000 BTC have left exchanges over the past year, cutting exchange balances from about 1.8M. Commentators frame this as consistent with long-horizon accumulation and expectations for a more constructive setup into 2026, even as near-term forecasts like Standard Chartered’s trim year-end targets to $100K.
Speculative pockets stay active: AI-themed Deepsnitch and infrastructure plays like Bittensor and Sui
Tribune reports Deepsnitch AI has rallied 81% in presale amid aggressive 100x marketing claims, while Sui gained over 11% on inclusion in Bitwise’s 10 Crypto Index Fund and Bittensor (TAO) is bid ahead of its first halving. These pockets of momentum contrast with the heavy consolidation in majors, showing risk capital rotating into high-beta narratives rather than lifting the whole complex.
Bitcoin slips despite Fed cut and ongoing accumulation
Bitcoin trades near $91,370, off about 0.7% on the day and still consolidating in a $90K–$95K band after November’s sharp drawdown. A Fed rate cut and data showing over 400,000 BTC leaving exchanges underscore longer‑term accumulation, but Standard Chartered’s halved price targets and worries over digital‑asset treasuries are capping near‑term upside.
XRP faces renewed sell pressure after failed breakout
XRP hovers near $2.03, down roughly 0.8%, extending weakness flagged by CoinDesk after it failed to sustain a move above $2.12. Elevated volumes driven by institutional flows have not translated into price strength, suggesting persistent overhead supply despite positive regulatory headlines for Ripple abroad.
Ethereum underperforms as narrative shifts to selective risk‑on
Ether is down about 1.4% around $3,277 after recently outperforming on upgrade optimism and institutional positioning. Profit‑taking in majors after the Fed decision and broader risk‑asset volatility are weighing on ETH even as it holds a strong year‑to‑date uptrend.