Bitcoin hovered around $90,000 on Tuesday while Asian stocks slipped, as traders grew uneasy about how quickly the US Federal Reserve will cut rates after a widely expected move this week.
MSCI Inc.’s gauge of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan fell about 0.2% as benchmarks in Korea, Japan and Australia opened in the red.
US stock futures moved slightly higher, offering a small offset after the S&P 500 lost 0.3% on Monday and US Treasuries joined a broader global bond sell-off. Australian bond yields climbed ahead of a monetary policy decision later in the day.
Market snapshot
Bitcoin: $90,227, down 0.8% Ether: $3,109, up 0.3% XRP: $2.07, up 0.1% Total crypto market cap: $3.16 trillion, down 0.8%Markets Adjust As Traders See Fewer Cuts Ahead Amid Fed Uncertainty
The Fed meets on Wednesday and is widely expected to deliver a 25 basis-point rate cut, a step that traders have treated as nearly certain for days. The real debate now centres on what comes next, with investors increasingly nervous that policymakers will signal a “slower pace” of easing in the months ahead.
Still high inflation and a lack of fresh data during the government shutdown have fed “divisions” inside the Fed, according to some investors and analysts.
After this week’s likely cut, money markets now lean toward only two more moves by the end of 2026, down from three that were priced in barely a week ago, a shift that matters for Bitcoin and other digital assets that trade closely with global liquidity conditions.
In bond markets, the US 10-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since September during Monday’s session, extending selling pressure in Europe and Japan and lending support to the dollar. Higher long term yields tend to tighten financial conditions, a backdrop that can cap risk appetite even as traders talk about rate cuts.
Markets Waver As December Cut Bets Firm But Policy Path Remains Unclear
Wall Street’s main indexes closed lower on Monday, with most S&P 500 sectors finishing in negative territory while Treasury yields pushed higher.
Hopes for a December rate cut firmed after data last week showed consumer spending increased “moderately” toward the end of the third quarter, although investors still want clearer signals on future policy moves from what many see as the most “divided Fed” in years.
Derivatives pricing reflects that tension. Traders are now assigning roughly an 89% chance of a 25 basis-point cut on Wednesday, while expectations for additional easing have been trimmed.
For crypto markets, any surprise in the statement or the press conference could quickly show up in sharp moves around the $90,000 level.
Policy Signals From Beijing And Washington Guide Asian Equities And Crypto
Chinese assets remained in the background as Beijing’s top leaders set “domestic demand” as their main economic priority for 2026 while signalling a measured approach to stimulus. Any conviction that China will stabilise growth without aggressive easing could influence regional risk appetite and therefore the broader tone for Asian equities and crypto alike.
Monetary policy politics are also in play. Kevin Hassett, seen as a leading candidate to become the next Fed chair, said it would be irresponsible for the Fed to lay out a plan for where it aims to take interest rates over the next six months.
The White House National Economic Council director told CNBC that following the economic data remains crucial, a stance that points to more meeting-by-meeting decisions rather than a pre-set easing path.
For crypto traders, the coming days look pivotal. Greg Magadini, director of derivatives at Amberdata, said this upcoming week is going to be driven by the FOMC rate decision. “This will set the tone for the EOY sentiment. Odds are shifting toward a -25bps cut, which could set the stage for an end-of-year rally in crypto and risk assets,” he said.
He added that Trump is expected to announce his pick for Fed chair in early 2026, with Senate approval to follow and the new chair taking over in May 2026 after Powell.
That handover, combined with this week’s decision, is already feeding into long-term positioning in Bitcoin and the rest of the digital asset market, even as prices hold near $90,000 for now.
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