Crypto markets are on edge ahead of today’s Federal Reserve decision, with Bitcoin attempting to reclaim $94,000 following a brutal Q4 downturn. While traders anticipate a 25 bps rate cut, markets remain fragile after nearly $1 billion in liquidations and a sentiment shift from “Extreme Fear.” Altcoins are rallying into the announcement, but direction now hinges squarely on Powell’s tone.

Arkham analyzes Zcash transactions, dynamic fees address spam, while institutional investors utilize ZEC as a modern privacy infrastructure.

On December 10, Bitcoin briefly climbed to around $94,500 before easing. Jerome Powell is set to reveal the Federal Reserve rate decision later the same day. BTC traded near $93,000, up 3%, per TradingView. Ethereum rose 9% to about $3,350, and the total crypto market cap reached roughly $3.26 trillion.

XRP led weekly digital asset ETP inflows with $245M, compared with Ethereum’s $39.1M and Solana’s $3M. Total ETP inflows reached $716M. XRP’s haul was nearly six times Ethereum’s, signaling a sharp shift in investor demand. The pattern underscores short-term momentum and a preference for liquidity in structured crypto products.

On Dec. 9, Bitcoin traded at $92,831.76, up 3% on the day, while total crypto market capitalization grew by $150 billion, a 2.2% increase. The session saw an intraday high near $94,600 and adoption news, including PNC launching spot BTC trading via Coinbase's Crypto-as-a-Service. Derivatives activity also intensified, with $304.3 million in short liquidations out of $418 million in total liquidations over 24 hours, according to CoinGlass.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said Strategy will not be forced to sell its Bitcoin as MSCI reviews digital asset treasury companies. He cited JPMorgan, which estimates index funds could sell up to $2.8 billion of MSTR if Strategy is excluded. MSCI's final decision is set for January 15, he said. Hougan added debt service is covered by $1.4 billion in cash, with the first maturity in February 2027.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority set out retail investment reforms, replacing EU PRIIPs disclosures with a Consumer Composite Investments framework and revising client classifications. The CCI rules, covering products held by about 12.5 million UK adults, will take effect in June 2027. Professional clients will lose consumer duty protections, while individuals with at least £10 million ($13.3 million) in cash may opt out.

During the week of December 10 2025, Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent began a final round of interviews to select a new Federal Reserve chair to succeed Jay Powell in May 2026. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett is seen as the leading contender, with Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller, Michelle Bowman and Rick Rieder still under consideration. Prediction markets have sharply repriced the candidates’ odds.