Fed Chair Jerome Powell's hawkish outlook for 2025 spooked investors, leading to significant drops in cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin falling 8% to $92,000 and XRP plunging 13%. Although both have since rebounded, concerns about thinning liquidity over the holidays and a potential US government shutdown loom large. The aggressive tone from the Fed caught traders off guard, as they had anticipated a 0.25% rate cut, while Powell dismissed the idea of a US Bitcoin strategic reserve.
