Inflation concerns resurface, prompting traders to price in potential rate hikes as Bitcoin falls 5.7% weekly after failing to hold $82,000.
Traders have pivoted from anticipating rate cuts to weighing the possibility of hikes within five trading days, as inflation pressures re-emerge. The shift follows a brief Bitcoin rally that saw BTC peak above $82,000 before retreating to $78,000, a 5.7% weekly decline. Ethereum underperformed, dropping 10.2%, with the ETH/BTC ratio falling to 0.0275.
The BTC breakout last week was driven by leverage and short-covering rather than spot demand, leaving near-term support at $76,000–$78,000. Rising yields and persistent inflation could deter institutional buying, complicating further upside. Crypto markets now face headwinds from macro uncertainty as central bank policy expectations reverse.