Investor attention is locked on upcoming U.S. inflation data, which could shape Federal Reserve policy and ripple through financial markets, including crypto.
This week’s key events include the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI), alongside Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony. CPI is projected to show a slight slowdown, with annual inflation dipping to 2.8%, while Core CPI is expected to hold steady.
If inflation declines further, it could strengthen the case for monetary easing, potentially boosting Bitcoin and other digital assets.
Meanwhile, the PPI report will offer additional insight into inflation trends, with forecasts pointing to a modest increase. Powell’s testimony, his first since July, will be closely analyzed for signals on future rate moves. Given the Fed’s cautious stance, his remarks could have a lasting impact on both traditional and crypto markets.
Beyond inflation reports and Fed commentary, overall market sentiment remains in flux as investors weigh economic stability against tightening policies. While lower inflation could support a more dovish Fed approach, lingering uncertainties about financial stability and global economic conditions may introduce volatility. Crypto traders, in particular, will be watching for any shifts that could either sustain Bitcoin’s recent momentum or trigger a pullback.
Anchorage Digital, a federally chartered crypto custody bank, is urging its institutional clients to move away from major stablecoins like USDC, Agora USD (AUSD), and Usual USD (USD0), recommending instead a shift to the Global Dollar (USDG) — a stablecoin issued by Paxos and backed by a consortium that includes Anchorage itself.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has voiced concerns over the rise of zero-knowledge (ZK) digital identity projects, specifically warning that systems like World — formerly Worldcoin and backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman — could undermine pseudonymity in the digital world.
A new report by the European Central Bank (ECB) reveals that digital payment methods continue to gain ground across the euro area, though cash remains a vital part of the consumer payment landscape — particularly for small-value transactions and person-to-person (P2P) payments.
Geopolitical conflict rattles markets, but history shows panic selling crypto in response is usually the wrong move.