Rich by Coin

Bitcoin is trading around $88,000, roughly 30% below its October peak. Ethereum has slid 3.3% over the past 24 hours to $2,936, while major altcoins such as XRP, Solana, and BNB are down about 1–4%. A sharp oil rally adds caution to markets, with WTI crude up 12% this month to $64.30 per barrel, the highest level since September of last year.

Oil’s ascent feeds into transportation and logistics costs, potentially lifting prices of goods and fueling broader inflationary pressures. The Federal Reserve left interest rates in the 4.5%–4.75% range and described inflation as still “somewhat elevated,” with market participants signaling little urgency to cut rates. ING cautioned that the post-meeting statement suggested the end of the monetary easing cycle may be near, reinforcing a cautious stance for risk assets.

Geopolitical tensions and inventory draws further support oil prices. The Energy Information Administration data showed a weekly crude stock draw of about 2.3 million barrels at month’s end, signaling demand outstripping supply. Concurrently, a dollar rebound pressured risk assets as the dollar index surged—the sharpest move since November of the previous year—dampening appetite for speculative bets in crypto markets.

In this environment, JPMorgan Private Bank argued the dollar’s strength reflects temporary flows and sentiment rather than a structural shift in growth or policy. As a result, capital is tilting toward gold and emerging-market assets rather than Bitcoin, suggesting a shift away from cryptos as hedges against dollar weakness. Analysts describe Bitcoin as a high-beta asset that remains sensitive to liquidity conditions rather than a reliable macro hedge, with prices roiling within a tight range.

Technically, Bitcoin has failed to clear the critical resistance around $89,000 and continues to trade in a constrained band. Without a clear macro-driven catalyst, the narrative for a decisive, sustained rally remains unsettled, as macro liquidity dynamics, energy prices, and dollar strength intersect in complex ways.