Crypto Holding Its Breath: US Regulation Unclear
The crypto market moved somewhat breathlessly on Friday (January 23rd) after a week filled with geopolitical headlines and US policy. Bitcoin traded around $89,520 (today's range $88,598–$91,002) and Ethereum around $2,945 (range $2,895–$3,008).
The main takeaway: crypto remains sensitive to the "risk-on/risk-off" sentiment. After Trump initially stirred up the Greenland issue and then backed away from the "framework" with NATO, global markets have calmed down—but investors aren't yet fully convinced the drama is over, so inflows into risky assets (including crypto) are still fluctuating.
From a fundamental perspective, US regulatory concerns are weighing on the mood. The Senate's discussion of the crypto regulatory framework bill is reportedly delayed, and comments from industry players suggest the direction of the rules remains uncertain. This typically leads to a "wait-and-see" market, as the impact could be significant for exchanges, stablecoins, and institutional flows.
Macroeconomic factors are also mixed. On the one hand, expectations of a Fed rate cut this year could support risky assets. But on the other hand, policy and geopolitical uncertainty can quickly cause investors to slam the brakes when volatility rises. Reuters also noted that crypto prices briefly strengthened amid global market dynamics and a volatile dollar.
Major altcoins also fluctuated: SOL around $127.18, XRP around $1.92, and BNB around $890.71—their movements tend to follow daily changes in risk appetite, rather than a single, dominant catalyst.
Source: Newsmaker.id
