The crypto market is experiencing a turbulent week: the Fed cut rates by 25 basis points, Bitcoin surged above $116,000, the CME announced the launch of XRP futures options, and a well-known trader transferred $18 million in Ethereum to Binance.

Fed Cuts Rates for the First Time Since 2024

The U.S. Federal Reserve decided to lower its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points – the first cut since December 2024.

  • Bitcoin immediately reacted, briefly rising above $116,000 before settling at around $115,997

  • The decision matched market expectations, with nearly all analysts predicting such a move

  • Only Standard Chartered and Societe Generale expected the Fed to act differently

On prediction market Kalshi, there was just a 7% probability of a deeper cut beyond 25 basis points. Fed Chair Jerome Powell had long faced criticism from Republicans for resisting a more aggressive, dovish approach to boost the economy.

CME to Launch XRP Futures Options

Alongside macroeconomic news, another milestone for the crypto market is unfolding. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) announced it will soon introduce futures options on XRP.

This could strengthen institutional trading of the token, which has increasingly positioned itself as one of the key cryptocurrencies for cross-border payments and derivatives products.

Ethereum Whale Moves $18M to Binance

Blockchain watchers also caught a major move. According to Lookonchain, a wallet linked to well-known trader DonAlt transferred exactly 4,001 ETH – worth around $18.02 million – to Binance.

  • Ethereum is currently trading near $4,498, less than $500 away from this month’s high

  • ETH has more than doubled since last year, when it traded below $2,200

  • Such a large transfer to the world’s largest exchange sparked speculation over whether a major sell-off or strategic shift is coming

DonAlt gained fame last year for correctly predicting XRP’s surge from $0.50 to $3.65, a jump of more than 700% that lifted its market cap to $180 billion. This time, however, the spotlight is firmly on Ethereum.

Bottom Line

The combination of the Fed’s rate cut, the launch of XRP options on CME, and the Ethereum whale transfer shows that the crypto market is entering a new phase of heightened activity. While Bitcoin rallies and altcoins follow its lead, investors are watching closely to see if these developments could fuel the next leg of the bull cycle.

#BTC , #Fed , #ETH , #xrp , #CryptoNews

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