The Daily Drip

✅ Top Takeaways

• Majors firm into CPI: Total crypto market cap grows to about $3.22T as BTC pops to the mid‑$93Ks and ETH pushes above $3,190 while traders position ahead of key U.S. inflation data.
• SOL and privacy names lead: Solana outperforms large caps again, while Monero and Dash post outsized weekly gains as the privacy trade re‑emerges.
• Speculation vs structure: ETF inflows turn positive, yet XRP slides and Eric Adams’ NYC Token collapses 80% within minutes, highlighting the split between regulated flows and speculative memecoin experiments.

📰 Crypto Market Summary

• Market cap climbs on majors’ bid: The cryptocurrency market grows about 1.7% to $3.22T as Bitcoin rises 2.62% to roughly $93,576 and Ether gains 3.29% to around $3,193, with total trading volume near $115.6B as volatility cools after recent swings.
• Solana tops the leaderboard: SOL jumps about 3.06% to $143.31, outpacing both BTC and ETH as traders lean into high‑beta L1s ahead of December CPI and other inflation prints expected to shape the near‑term rate‑cut path.
• XRP’s trend turns fragile: XRP slips to about $2.10, extending its worst losing streak in two months with a 12.73% weekly drop after rejecting its 200‑day moving average for a third time, leaving technicals pointing toward possible tests of the $1.90 area if support fails.
• ETF flows flip back to positive: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs register roughly $116.67M in net inflows, led by Fidelity’s FBTC at about $111.75M, even as a $339M BTC transfer from BlackRock to Coinbase Prime fuels debate about whether more supply could hit the market.
• Range trading into data: The Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits near 41, signaling cautious sentiment as BTC oscillates in a $91K–$92K band and ETH runs into resistance in the $3,180–$3,300 zone while traders wait for the next macro catalyst.

📊 Sentiment Dashboard

🔢 Market Performance

• BTC and ETH extend their YTD gains, with BTC now up nearly 7% and ETH above 7.5%, consistent with a slow‑grind recovery rather than a parabolic burst.
• SOL, DOGE and ADA continue to post some of the strongest YTD numbers among majors, highlighting the ongoing appetite for higher‑beta names when macro conditions are calm.
• XRP and BCH lag on a weekly basis despite positive YTD prints, reflecting how quickly leadership can rotate as technical levels are tested.

💰 Funding & Institutional Moves

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $116.67M in net inflows, with Fidelity’s FBTC contributing roughly $111.75M and smaller allocations flowing into other issuers, reversing part of last week’s pullback.

At the same time, a $339M BTC transfer from BlackRock to Coinbase Prime has sparked speculation about whether some of those holdings could be redeployed or sold, a reminder that ETF‑linked balances can move rapidly even when net flows appear modest.

Signal: institutional participation remains active, but flows are no longer one‑way — allocations are being dialed up or down around inflation data, liquidity conditions and policy uncertainty.

🌍 Macro & Geopolitics Watch

Markets are bracing for December CPI and related inflation data that will help set expectations for the timing and depth of 2026 Fed rate cuts, keeping equities, bonds and digital assets sensitive to any surprise in core price pressures.

Ongoing tensions between President Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell — including subpoenas aimed at the Federal Reserve — have added another layer of uncertainty to central‑bank communications, supporting gold above $4,600 and contributing to a choppy backdrop for risk assets.

Macro lens: softer inflation prints and clearer guidance could extend the current “risk‑on but cautious” environment for crypto, while any escalation in the Fed–White House standoff risks fuelling safe‑haven trades at the expense of higher‑beta tokens.

🎟️ Ecosystem, Builders & Flows

• Privacy Monero jumps more than 50% on the week to around $671, while Dash gains nearly 37% to just over $51, underscoring renewed interest in privacy‑oriented rails as regulatory debates around surveillance and compliance continue.
• Memecoins Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ NYC Token briefly touches a roughly $580M market cap before crashing about 80% within minutes amid allegations of market manipulation, heavy wallet concentration and opaque governance — a reminder of the risks in thin‑liquidity meme launches.
• Market structure Outside the headlines, builders remain focused on improving settlement, custody and on‑chain analytics for institutional users, recognising that durable growth is more likely to come from infrastructure and regulation than from one‑off speculative spikes.

⚡ Risk & Market Lens

A mix of constructive ETF inflows, strong privacy‑coin rallies and high‑profile memecoin blow‑ups captures how uneven this phase of the cycle remains, especially with CPI and Fed‑related headlines on deck.

What to watch: whether BTC can hold the low‑$90Ks if inflation surprises, how SOL and other high‑beta names behave around key support if volatility spikes, and whether privacy‑coin strength proves durable or fades once the current news cycle passes.

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Disclaimer

This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice, solicitation, or an endorsement of any strategy or asset. H2cryptO does not warrant data accuracy or completeness. Crypto assets are highly volatile; always consult professional advisors, use caution, and comply with local laws before making strategic, financial, or investment decisions.