Crypto markets stayed flat over the weekend but showed early-week momentum as Asian trading began Monday, with Bitcoin reclaiming $92,000 after a 1.7% climb and Ether reaching $3,150. Traders now face a data-heavy week headlined by U.S. inflation figures and President Trump’s surprise call for a 10% credit-card rate ceiling.
At a Glance
- Bitcoin bounced 1.7% to $92,000, its best level since last Wednesday
- Total crypto market cap sits just under $3.2 trillion
- December CPI drops Tuesday, PPI follows Wednesday
- Trump’s rate-cap proposal adds political turbulence
Why it matters: The twin catalysts of hard inflation data and fresh political pressure on consumer lending could whip digital assets out of their tight trading range.
CPI and PPI Take Center Stage
Federal Reserve officials will scrutinize Tuesday’s consumer-price index for December after months of above-target prints. ING economists, quoted by the WSJ, expect falling energy costs, slower rent growth and weaker wage gains to pull the annual inflation rate toward the Fed’s 2% goal around the turn of the year.
Wednesday brings producer-price data for November, rounding out the inflation picture. Markets have already priced in steady policy for the next few meetings, with cuts anticipated only later in 2026.
Trump’s 10% Credit-Card Cap Sparks Reaction
President Trump’s weekend demand for a 10% ceiling on credit-card rates landed just as banks prepare to report quarterly results. JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs all step into the earnings spotlight this week, raising the stakes for any policy shock.
Markets started pricing the headline early Monday. “This week is a perfect storm! Politics, inflation, housing, and tariffs are all colliding. Buckle up-volatility is the real headline,” said trader ‘Money Ape’ on X.
Calendar of Market-Moving Events
| Date | Report/Event | Market Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Trump rate-cap call | Bank stocks, consumer lenders |
| Tuesday | December CPI | Fed policy outlook |
| Tuesday | October new-home sales | Housing sector health |
| Wednesday | November PPI | Inflation pipeline |
| Wednesday | Supreme Court tariff ruling | Trade-sensitive names |
| Thursday | Weekly jobless claims | Labor-market pulse |
| Friday | December industrial production | Manufacturing trend |
Crypto Technical Levels to Watch
Bitcoin faces stiff resistance at $94,000, a zone that capped rallies last week. A breakout could open a path toward the psychologically key $100,000 mark. On the downside, support sits around $88,000, where buyers emerged during the post-FOMC dip.
Ether’s move above $3,100 puts the next hurdle near $3,250, while Solana, Cardano and privacy coin Monero outperformed with the latter spiking 23% amid thin weekend liquidity.
Broader Market Context
Total crypto capitalization has hovered near $3.2 trillion since mid-week, reflecting indecision as traders await macro cues. Equity futures point to a cautious open with bank earnings and the inflation docket likely to set the tone across risk assets.
Bond yields edged lower early Monday, softening the dollar and giving non-yielding crypto a mild tailwind. Gold also perked up, reinforcing the theme of defensive positioning ahead of the data dump.
What Traders Say
Twitter account The Kobeissi Letter flagged the confluence of events, listing the Supreme Court tariff decision alongside CPI and PPI releases as a volatility trifecta. Derivative markets show implied volatility ticking higher for both Bitcoin and Ether options expiring this Friday, suggesting positioning for larger moves.
Key Takeaways
- Flat weekend: Crypto barely budged with total cap under $3.2 trillion
- Early Monday bounce: Bitcoin +1.7% to $92k, Ether +1.6% to $3,150
- Data deluge: December CPI and PPI headline a packed economic slate
- Policy twist: Trump’s 10% card-rate proposal adds political risk
- Bank earnings: Big-four U.S. banks report, amplifying sector swings
- Resistance ahead: BTC needs to clear $94k for fresh upside momentum
Markets now balance technical ceilings against macro fundamentals, with the next 48 hours likely to decide whether crypto breaks out or slips back into the recent range.
