Crypto crashes 13 per cent as Fed rate cut hopes fade, S&P 500 correlation hits 0.95

Crypto crashes 13 per cent as Fed rate cut hopes fade, S&P 500 correlation hits 0.95

Over the past 24 hours, the crypto market shed 3.51 per cent, extending a punishing 13 per cent weekly decline driven by a confluence of macroeconomic headwinds, cascading derivatives liquidations, and a dramatic collapse in trader sentiment. This sell-off exemplifies how tightly interwoven crypto has become with traditional financial systems, particularly as correlations with equities have deepened to levels not seen in months.

Monday’s performance in US equities underscored this linkage, with the Dow Jones falling 1.18 per cent, the S&P 500 down 0.92 per cent, and the Nasdaq slipping 0.84 per cent, as technology stocks led the retreat. These losses emerged alongside diminishing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, which had previously provided some support to risk assets. The recalibration of Fed expectations followed strong US economic data, which reinforced concerns about persistent inflation and delayed the anticipated pivot toward monetary easing.

The shifting macroeconomic landscape was further reflected in movements across fixed-income and foreign exchange markets. The 10-year US Treasury yield declined modestly by 1.0 basis point to settle at 4.139 per cent, while the two-year yield edged higher by 0.4 basis points to 3.610 per cent, signalling a slight flattening of the yield curve. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index gained 0.29 per cent to close at 99.588, adding pressure on non-dollar assets.

Gold, often viewed as a safe haven, dropped 1.0 per cent to US$4044.96 per ounce, weighed down by both the stronger dollar and receding hopes for near-term rate cuts, which typically support precious metals by lowering opportunity costs. In energy markets, Brent crude settled slightly lower at US$64.20 per barrel, recovering marginally as loadings resumed at Russia’s Novorossiysk export terminal following a brief suspension caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Across Asia, equities finished the session mixed but turned lower in early Tuesday trading, though US index futures pointed to a modest recovery at the open, suggesting some short-term stabilisation may be on the horizon.

The crypto downturn lies a powerful macro risk-off dynamic that has pulled digital assets into the same downdraft affecting equities. Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin’s price correlation with the S&P 500 surged to 0.95, its highest since June 2025. This near-perfect synchronisation underscores how traders increasingly treat crypto not as an uncorrelated alternative asset but as a high-beta extension of the broader risk spectrum. The catalyst for this shift came from revised market pricing around Federal Reserve policy. Stronger-than-expected economic indicators have tempered expectations for a December rate cut, pushing the implied probability lower and driving the 10-year Treasury yield up by 14 basis points over recent sessions.

This tightening of financial conditions has hit speculative assets especially hard. Bitcoin’s breach below the psychologically critical US$91,500 level triggered a wave of algorithmic stop-loss orders, accelerating the decline and dragging down major altcoins such as Solana and Cardano, which posted weekly losses of 21.7 per cent and 22.4 per cent, respectively. The market now awaits pivotal upcoming events, the release of the November 20 Fed meeting minutes, and Nvidia’s earnings report on November 21, for further directional cues. Any sign of continued economic resilience or hawkish Fed rhetoric could prolong risk aversion.

Compounding the macro pressure, a violent unwind in crypto derivatives markets has magnified losses through forced liquidations. Trading volume in perpetual futures contracts spiked by 45.6 per cent to an astonishing US$423 trillion over 24 hours, reflecting frantic hedging and position adjustments. Simultaneously, total open interest in the derivatives market fell by 7.4 per cent, now standing at US$787 billion, down 8.4 per cent in a single day. This contraction signals a rapid deleveraging as overextended positions were forcibly closed. Options markets mirrored this bearish sentiment, with US$740 million in put options placed targeting a Bitcoin price of US$90,000 and Ethereum at US$2,800.

Funding rates for major altcoins also turned negative, with the average rate dipping to minus 0.0019775, which disincentivises holding long positions and encourages further shorting. This feedback loop of rising volatility, liquidations, and negative funding creates a self-reinforcing cycle that can deepen sell-offs beyond what fundamentals alone would justify. Market participants now watch open interest closely, as a continued decline could signal capitulation, potentially setting the stage for a relief rally once leverage is sufficiently purged.

Perhaps most telling is the collapse in market psychology, captured starkly by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which plunged to 15, entering “Extreme Fear” territory. This marks the lowest reading since March 2025, a period that ultimately coincided with a market bottom when Bitcoin found support near US$76,000. Retail investors, overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the decline, have fled to the perceived safety of stablecoins, pushing Tether’s dominance to 7.2 per cent, a 30-day high. Social sentiment has turned sharply negative, with average daily scores falling to 4.29 out of 10, and viral commentary reflecting deep pessimism toward even leading altcoins.

Phrases like “Solana’s fuel is running out” have gained traction, illustrating how quickly narrative momentum can reverse in stressed markets. Historically, sustained readings below 20 on the Fear & Greed Index have often preceded short-term bounces, as excessive fear creates oversold conditions ripe for contrarian positioning. However, such rebounds typically require a catalyst, and in the current environment, that catalyst remains uncertain.

Technically, Bitcoin’s daily RSI has plummeted to 9.05, a level that suggests extreme oversold conditions rarely seen outside major market dislocations. This raises the possibility of a reflexive bounce, particularly if macro conditions stabilise or if institutional buyers step in near key support levels. El Salvador recently deployed over US$100 million in purchases at the US$90,000 level, suggesting strong hands view this zone as a strategic entry point. Whether Bitcoin can hold this critical threshold in the face of ongoing liquidations and macro uncertainty will likely determine near-term market direction.

In summary, the current crypto sell-off is not an isolated event, but rather part of a broader reassessment of risk across global markets. It reflects the convergence of three powerful forces: a macro regime shift driven by sticky inflation and delayed monetary easing, a violent derivatives-driven deleveraging, and a collapse in market sentiment that has pushed fear to multi-month extremes.

While technical indicators hint at potential exhaustion, any sustainable recovery will depend on a stabilisation in equity markets, a reduction in liquidation pressure, and a recalibration of Fed expectations. Until then, the path of least resistance for crypto remains downward, with US$90,000 standing as the last line of defence before deeper levels come into play.

 

Source: https://e27.co/crypto-crashes-13-per-cent-as-fed-rate-cut-hopes-fade-sp-500-correlation-hits-0-95-20251118/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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43 per cent chance of a Fed rate cut isn’t enough: Markets brace for a volatile December

43 per cent chance of a Fed rate cut isn’t enough: Markets brace for a volatile December

We are caught between the surging optimism of the AI revolution and the sobering reality of a Federal Reserve that shows no immediate signs of pivoting toward monetary easing. The dominant narrative of the past six months, a powerful rally in US equities that saw the S&P 500 climb a robust 21 per cent from April through October, has now run into a wall of technical resistance and macroeconomic uncertainty. This creates a delicate and precarious balance for investors, who must navigate a market that is technically stretched, fundamentally challenged by a lack of broad-based participation, and now facing its first major test of conviction since the rally began.

The S&P 500’s impressive run, which brought its year-to-date return to over 30 per cent by mid-November, has been almost exclusively driven by the so-called Magnificent Seven technology giants. Their valuations, trading at more than 30 times earnings, are a clear signal that the market’s gains have been concentrated in a narrow cohort of AI beneficiaries. This dynamic echoes the excesses of the dotcom era.

This concentration creates a fragile foundation. The index now struggles at its 50-day moving average, a key technical level that often acts as a barometer of short-term sentiment. A failure to break through this resistance, especially after such a strong run, suggests that much of the easy money has been made and that further upside will be limited and hard-fought. Historical seasonal trends support this cautious view, as the final two months of the year typically offer only marginal gains following such a powerful rally.

The single most important event for the market’s immediate trajectory will be Nvidia’s earnings report on November 19. As the undisputed leader in AI chips, Nvidia has become the canary in the coal mine for the entire AI investment thesis. Its guidance on future demand, data center growth, and gross margins will be scrutinised for any sign of a slowdown in the frenzied spending by hyperscalers and tech firms. A strong beat and bullish outlook could provide a final burst of momentum to push the S&P 500 to new highs before year-end. Conversely, any hint of a demand deceleration or a more challenging competitive landscape would likely trigger a broad-based selloff, as it would call into question the core engine of the market’s gains over the past year.

Compounding this technical and earnings-driven anxiety is the shifting landscape of monetary policy. The Federal Reserve’s stance has become a primary source of near-term worry. Markets had been pricing in a high probability of a rate cut at the December meeting, but recent strong economic data, particularly in the labour market, have forced a dramatic reassessment. The odds of a December rate cut have now fallen to just 43 per cent, a coin flip at best. This sudden withdrawal of expected liquidity is a major headwind for risk assets. The implications are clear in the bond market, where the 10-year Treasury yield has climbed to 4.148 per cent, and in the foreign exchange market, where the US Dollar Index has strengthened to 99.299. A strong dollar and high yields are a toxic combination for global growth and for expensive, long-duration assets like technology stocks.

This environment of Fed uncertainty makes a barbell investment strategy particularly prudent. On one end, investors should retain exposure to high-quality, large-cap growth companies that are genuine AI leaders with strong balance sheets and clear paths to monetisation. On the other end, they should anchor their portfolios with resilient, high-quality dividend payers. These companies, often found in sectors like consumer staples and utilities, provide a steady income stream and act as a ballast during periods of market volatility and economic doubt. This dual approach allows investors to participate in the ongoing AI narrative while simultaneously protecting their capital from the potential fallout of a hawkish Fed.

The contrast between the US and emerging markets is also becoming more stark. While US valuations are stretched and corporate profit margins are at or near peak levels, many emerging markets offer a more compelling long-term risk-reward profile. Within this group, China remains a complex and challenging investment case, plagued by issues of capital misallocation and intense domestic competition. However, a selective approach is warranted. Chinese technology firms with a strong international footprint and a capacity for overseas expansion present a unique opportunity, as do high-quality dividend-paying stocks that can provide stability in an otherwise volatile market. The key is to avoid broad, passive exposure and instead focus on specific, well-managed companies that can navigate the domestic headwinds and capitalise on global opportunities.

The cryptocurrency market, deeply intertwined with the Nasdaq and broader risk sentiment, has been a stark reflection of this growing macro anxiety. Over the past 24 hours, the market has fallen 0.62 per cent, continuing a brutal 12 per cent monthly decline. The sentiment, as measured by the Fear & Greed Index, has plunged into the zone of “Extreme Fear,” registering a level of 17. A cascade of forced selling has amplified this fear.

In just four hours, over US$200 million in leveraged long positions were liquidated, creating a vicious feedback loop where falling prices triggered more margin calls, which in turn forced more selling. The unwinding of excessive leverage has left the market technically in a state of disrepair. The total crypto market cap has now fallen below its 200-day exponential moving average of US$3.63 trillion, confirming a bearish market structure.

The primary catalyst for this crypto selloff has been the same macro uncertainty plaguing traditional markets: the fading hope for imminent Fed rate cuts. As the odds for a December cut dropped to 44 per cent, the correlation between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq surged to 0.86, confirming that crypto is once again being traded as a high-beta risk asset. This has been compounded by a significant outflow of institutional capital, with Bitcoin ETFs experiencing US$1.1 billion in weekly outflows and a sharp 33 per cent monthly decline in stablecoin reserves, indicating a severe contraction in available trading liquidity. The market’s fragility was further exposed by a piece of news from Japan, where a proposal to slash the punitive crypto tax rate from 55 per cent to a more reasonable 20 per cent actually triggered short-term profit-taking. Investors, wary of any regulatory change, used the news as an excuse to exit positions, demonstrating how any event can become a catalyst for selling in such a risk-averse environment.

The key question now for the cryptocurrency market is whether a major technical support zone can hold. Analysts are closely watching the US$88,000 to US$90,000 range for Bitcoin. A decisive break below this level could unleash a wave of further liquidations, potentially totaling US$5.5 billion in short-term positions.

The market’s fate, much like that of the S&P 500, is now hostage to the same macro forces. Until there is greater clarity on the Fed’s path or a major, definitive catalyst, both traditional and digital asset markets are likely to remain range-bound and volatile, caught in a tense stalemate between the powerful promise of a new technological era and the immediate, sobering reality of a central bank determined to keep a tight grip on its monetary policy.

 

Source: https://e27.co/43-per-cent-chance-of-a-fed-rate-cut-isnt-enough-markets-brace-for-a-volatile-december-20251117/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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Crypto crashes 3.7 per cent despite US shutdown deal: US$260M liquidations and whale exodus trigger sell-off

Crypto crashes 3.7 per cent despite US shutdown deal: US$260M liquidations and whale exodus trigger sell-off

The past 24 hours have exposed the fragility beneath recent crypto market gains, delivering a sobering reminder that sentiment can shift abruptly even amid macroeconomic progress. At first glance, the backdrop appears favourable. The US Senate passed a government funding bill on Monday evening, November 10, that would extend operations through January, marking a decisive step toward ending what has become the longest government shutdown in American history.

With a 60 to 40 vote, the chamber cleared the path for the measure to advance to the Republican-controlled House, where Speaker Mike Johnson signalled readiness to pass it swiftly and forward it to President Donald Trump for signature. This legislative breakthrough should, in theory, stabilise risk sentiment and restore confidence in the continuity of US fiscal governance.

The market’s reaction has been conspicuously muted, even negative. While US equities closed mixed on Tuesday, with the Dow surging 1.18 per cent, the S&P 500 edging up just 0.21 per cent, and the Nasdaq slipping 0.25 per cent, the crypto market tumbled by 3.67 per cent over the same 24-hour window. This divergence underscores a growing decoupling between legacy risk assets and digital ones, at least in the short term.

The Nasdaq 100, a traditional proxy for tech-driven risk appetite, now shows a sharply negative 24-hour correlation with crypto at negative 0.77. This marks the most pronounced short-term divergence in months, suggesting that crypto traders are acting on distinct catalysts absent in broader equity markets.

Three interlocking forces drove this sell-off: a cascade of leveraged liquidations, coordinated whale exits in Ethereum, and macro-level caution despite apparent political resolution. The first, and perhaps most mechanically significant, was the unwinding of excessive leverage in futures markets. Over US$260 million in crypto positions were liquidated in just one day, with longs accounting for 84 per cent of Bitcoin and 90 per cent of Ethereum losses.

This follows a 10 per cent weekly increase in open interest, indicating that speculators had aggressively positioned for further upside. When prices dipped, even modestly, margin calls triggered a feedback loop of forced selling, amplifying the initial decline into a full-blown washout.

Compounding this technical pressure was a strategic retreat by institutional and whale participants in the Ethereum ecosystem. Data confirms that two large holders offloaded 178,080 ETH, valued at approximately US$528 million, in what appears to be a coordinated profit-taking manoeuvre. This move coincided with the worst weekly outflow period for Ethereum spot ETFs since their launch. US$796 million fled the nine US-listed funds over the prior week, with every single ETF posting net redemptions.

Such synchronised outflows suggest more than just retail sentiment fatigue. They reflect a loss of institutional conviction at current valuations. With Ethereum’s RSI hovering near 38, a level often deemed oversold, the asset lacks organic buying pressure to absorb such large-scale exits, leaving technical support at US$3,360 as the next critical threshold.

Meanwhile, the macroeconomic data released this week offers a mixed signal. On one hand, the ADP National Employment Report published on November 5 showed that private employers added 42,000 jobs in October, the first monthly gain since July. Annual pay growth held steady at 4.5 per cent, signalling persistent wage pressures. However, a separate weekly ADP metric covering the four weeks ending October 25 paints a bleaker picture.

Private-sector employers shed an average of 11,250 jobs per week during that window. This internal contradiction, monthly gains versus deteriorating weekly trends, fuels uncertainty about labour market resilience heading into year-end. With the Federal Reserve still data-dependent, such ambiguity keeps rate-cut expectations tentative, despite gold rising to US$4,118.58 per ounce on hopes of easing monetary policy.

The US Dollar Index edged down 0.13 per cent to 99.46, while Brent crude rose 1.72 per cent to US$65.16 per barrel, reflecting cautious optimism about global demand. Crypto failed to participate in this risk-on drift. Instead, it exhibited classic risk-off behaviour, not because of direct Fed commentary or CPI surprises, but due to internal market structure vulnerabilities, namely, too much leverage and too little institutional anchoring.

From a strategic standpoint, this correction may be healthy. The 2.99 per cent weekly gain preceding the drop had stretched technical indicators and elevated funding rates into unsustainable territory. The liquidation event serves as a necessary recalibration, clearing weak hands and resetting leverage ratios.

The simultaneous ETF outflows and whale selling in Ethereum suggest deeper concerns about the token’s near-term utility or valuation relative to Bitcoin. While Bitcoin continues to benefit from its digital gold narrative and ETF inflows, Ethereum faces scrutiny over scaling progress, staking yields, and its role in a potential Web4 stack that increasingly integrates AI and decentralised finance in novel ways.

Looking ahead, all eyes turn to two pivotal levels. Bitcoin’s psychological and technical floor sits at US$60,000, and Ethereum’s support rests at US$3,360. A break below either could trigger further algorithmic selling and sentiment deterioration.

Conversely, suppose the government funding bill passes the House and is signed into law, currently estimated at a 96 per cent probability by November 15. In that case, it may restore enough macro calm to reignite risk appetite. Crypto’s fate will ultimately depend less on political theatre and more on whether organic demand can replace speculative leverage and institutional outflows. Until then, volatility remains the only certainty.

 

Source: https://e27.co/crypto-crashes-3-7-per-cent-despite-us-shutdown-deal-us260m-liquidations-and-whale-exodus-trigger-sell-off-20251112/

 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j