Bitcoin calm, altcoins surge: Fed cut ushers in new chapter for crypto markets
Bitcoin steady at $116K as Ethereum, Dogecoin, Solana, and XRP rally strong.
XRP and Dogecoin ETFs debut in US, unlocking fresh mainstream investor demand.
Fed rate cut sparks hope for a new crypto rally not seen since the 2021 bull run.
The crypto market woke up to a new monetary landscape after the US Federal Reserve delivered its long-awaited rate cut, lowering borrowing costs by 25 basis points.
Unlike past years when central bank decisions would send digital assets lurching in one direction, Wednesday’s policy pivot sparked a measured response from market heavyweights, even as traders searched for the next big catalyst.
Bitcoin steady, altcoins lead gains
Bitcoin proved its maturity by brushing off early choppiness. The world’s leading crypto hovered just above $116,000 for most of the day, slipping a modest 0.35% in a session marked by tight range-trading and lower-than-average spot volumes.
For seasoned market watchers, the calm felt telling: Wall Street’s risk radar may be shifting, but Bitcoin continues to march to its own beat.
Ethereum took the baton and ran with it. The second-largest cryptocurrency jumped 2.5%, breaking through the $4,600 mark in early trade.
Bulls pointed to optimism that cheaper money will revive DeFi and NFT activity, while a pickup in staking metrics added further tailwind.
Meme coin faithfuls celebrated a minor breakout as Dogecoin surged 5.5%. Blame it on lighter liquidity, or credit it to the social media machine, either way, DOGE’s run was the day’s standout among retail traders.
Solana, meanwhile, snapped back 3.9% to trade near $245, with bullish developer news propelling fresh capital into the ecosystem.
Not to be left out, XRP managed a 1.8% pop, riding a string of solid inflows and a brewing rumor mill over new ETF products.
Investors will be watching closely: if the Fed signals more cuts ahead, the tide for high-beta risk assets could turn decisively, something crypto bulls haven’t had in their favor since 2021.
New XRP, DOGE ETFs shine; LayerZero makes waves
While prices grabbed headlines, the day was just as busy beyond the charts.
For starters, US investors got their first taste of XRP and Dogecoin ETFs, thanks to listings from REX Shares and Osprey Funds.
It’s a landmark moment for altcoin access on mainstream platforms, and early volume figures suggest significant pent-up demand among both retail and institutional players.
Elsewhere, LayerZero, an up-and-comer in the cross-chain arena sealed its $110 million acquisition of Stargate, with overwhelming backing from the Stargate DAO.
The move was widely interpreted as a signal that decentralized finance is firmly in “consolidate and build” mode as competition heats up just below the major protocols.
With macro currents swirling and new products landing on the scene, digital assets are poised for a lively finish to September, one in which both the cautious and the bold can find opportunity.
All eyes are now on the next signals from Washington and Wall Street to see if crypto’s comeback rally truly has legs.
