Bitcoin Holds Above $91K as Markets Brace for Fed Rate Decision

Bitcoin traded just above $91,300 on Monday as Asian equities opened the week slightly higher, with investors preparing for a busy round of global central bank meetings. Markets have largely priced in a 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate cut, keeping risk sentiment steady but cautious. MSCI’s Asia equity benchmark added around 0.2%, led by tech stocks, while U.S. futures and the dollar edged lower.

Crypto markets mirrored this broader tone. Bitcoin gained 2% over the past 24 hours and more than 6% in the past week, extending last week’s rebound. However, the rally is encountering resistance near the $94,000 zone. FxPro analyst Alex Kuptsikevich noted that despite the recent recovery fitting within a corrective pattern, sustained momentum could push BTC toward the $98,000–$100,000 range.

Ether outperformed major altcoins, rising 3% to trade near $3,135, marking a weekly gain of over 10%. BNB climbed 1%, Solana added 1.6%, and Lido’s stETH advanced nearly 3%. XRP traded around $2.08 after a modest uptick, while Cardano lagged, slipping 1.4%.

Market sentiment remains fragile. CryptoQuant’s Bull Score dropped to zero, a level last seen in early 2022, signaling conditions often associated with bearish phases. CEO Ki Young Ju cautioned that without an influx of new liquidity, Bitcoin could drift into a deeper slowdown, with internal models highlighting a potential $55,000–$70,000 trading range next year.

Still, some medium-term catalysts could support crypto markets. K33 Research pointed to expected 401(k) rule changes in early 2026 that may allow retirement funds to allocate to Bitcoin. Ethereum developers also completed the Fusaka hard fork, introducing key upgrades to enhance scaling and network efficiency.

For now, macro factors remain in focus. With traders awaiting the Fed’s policy decision, markets continue to weigh whether upcoming rate cuts will be enough to sustain risk appetite, as Bitcoin’s current pattern echoes corrective pullbacks seen in 2013, 2017, and 2021.