What looked like panic selling, the firm says, was simply the crypto market reacting to shifting interest-rate expectations — the same way equities and bonds periodically do when macro conditions realign.
From their perspective, traders misread a repricing event as a trend reversal.
The firm tracked where the selling took place and found that the most aggressive moves happened during U.S. market hours, not during Asia or Europe sessions. That detail matters: when the pressure originates in New York, it is typically macro-driven rather than crypto-specific.
Another detail that stood out was relative performance. Altcoins did not crater as hard as Bitcoin and Ethereum — something that almost never happens during a true market breakdown. Instead, the two largest assets dropped more sharply than the rest of the market, indicating that traders were derisking from the most liquid positions first.
In simple terms: capital didn’t abandon crypto — it rotated out of its biggest holdings while rate expectations were shifting.
Only after the dust settled did the conversation turn to what triggered the repricing. The chain moved backward:
institutional selling → hours of U.S. market stress → rate-cut expectations repriced → Powell’s comments scrutinized → individual FOMC members’ outlooks examined.
The collapse in December rate-cut odds — from roughly 70% to 42% within days — forced investors across asset classes to adjust positioning rapidly. Crypto, as the most rate-sensitive sector, adjusted faster and harder than stocks.
To support their stance, Wintermute points to global monetary conditions rather than short-term price action. Liquidity support is still building for 2025 and early 2026.
The firm highlights:
In their view, the correction was not a message about Bitcoin — it was a message about interest rates.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any specific investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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