Over the weekend, Bitcoin rose slightly from around $88,400 to $89,000 on December 22, Asia time. In addition, Ethereum rose from $2,980 to $3,010 by early morning on December 22. In short, gains barely registered over a relatively quiet weekend.
CoinMarketCap’s Crypto Fear and Greed Index currently stands at 29, indicating that sentiment is improving, though traders remain cautious heading into the new year.
With Bitcoin and Ethereum posting slight weekend gains and market sentiment slowly stabilizing, the market’s attention now turns to macro liquidity.
The Federal Reserve’s planned $6.8 billion injection this week, which brings the total to $38 billion over the past 10 days, could provide additional support for risk assets.
The key question for the week ahead is whether this inflow of liquidity will be enough to help Bitcoin and the broader crypto market extend their recovery, or if cautious sentiment will continue to cap upside.
In other words, with only 10 days left before the start of 2026, traders are likely looking for further signs and data that reflect a worsening US economy, as this would prompt more decision action from the Fed to stimulate growth and employment.
Volatility is expected to continue due to macro uncertainties.
Here are some key additional indicators to watch out for this week:
- On December 23, the reports of delayed GDP Q3, Durable Goods Orders, Capacity utilization, Industrial production, and Consumer Confidence will be released
- On December 24, Initial jobless claims will be released before Christmas
These key data releases related to inflation, labor markets, and liquidity conditions will likely influence risk appetite, keeping volatility elevated as markets reexamine expectations for monetary policy and economic growth.
