Flipster Crypto Weekly (December 12)

Market
Flipster Crypto Weekly (December 12)

BTC compresses into a 5% range as rate cuts hit but the FOMC stays hawkish

December 12, 2025

BTC spent the entire week chopping between $89K and $94K as macro dominated every move. ETH held a tight band around $3.2K, and Bitcoin dominance stayed above 59%, reflecting a market that absorbed each headline without committing to a trend.

The FOMC delivered the main volatility flash. The Fed executed a third 25 bps cut, but the split 9–3 vote, tight forward guidance, and Powell’s tone framed the decision as a hawkish cut. Officials now project only one cut in 2026 and one in 2027. Treasury purchases resumed to ease funding stress, and traders read the message clearly: easing isn’t on autopilot.

Outside the Fed, the regulatory cycle accelerated. The CFTC launched a digital-assets pilot, enabling BTC, ETH, and USDC as collateral across U.S. derivatives markets, and reversed legacy restrictions following the GENIUS Act. The same week, the CFTC approved Gemini’s derivatives exchange application. Across the aisle, the SEC closed its two-year Ondo investigation, clearing room for expansion in tokenized Treasuries.

The week’s most high-profile court ruling: Do Kwon received a 15-year federal sentence, above prosecutors’ recommendation. The court said he knowingly misled investors on Terra’s stability. He still faces proceedings in South Korea.

Flows and corporate moves stayed active:

  • Strategy acquired 10,624 BTC for ~$962.7M.

  • Stripe acquired the Valora wallet team.

  • x402 rolled out V2, expanding into a broader crypto payment layer.

  • Surf raised $15M for AI-driven crypto tooling.

  • Octra set a $20M sale at a $200M valuation on Sonar.

  • Bitcoin Treasury XXI fell 20% in its NYSE debut.

  • Binance appeared to shift its HQ toward Abu Dhabi after securing global licenses.

Across all sessions, price action remained reactive: up on strong U.S. hours, soft in Asia, flat by the close. Traders spent the week watching macro, regulation, and the court docket more than charts.

Market Outlook

Macro is still steering the tape. BTC’s multi-day coil around $92K sets up for a break once markets digest the Fed path and U.S. data. Liquidity remains thin, volatility is compressing, and the next leg likely triggers fast.

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