Bitcoin Slips Ahead of U.S. Inflation Data — Risk Appetite Fades Across Crypto Markets
Bitcoin Slips Ahead of U.S. Inflation Data — Risk Appetite Fades Across Crypto Markets
Bitcoin reversed its weekend gains on Tuesday, dropping sharply as investors scaled back risk exposure in anticipation of key U.S. inflation data, dampening optimism around potential regulatory easing in the U.S.
Despite continued accumulation by Metaplanet — the sixth-largest corporate BTC holder — the market reaction remained muted. Altcoins also stalled after a strong rally late last week.
As of 09:31 Moscow time, Bitcoin was down 2.8% to $118,630.
📉 CPI in Focus: Crypto Markets Enter Wait-and-See Mode
The pullback in crypto mirrored a broader decline in risk assets, as traders shifted to a more cautious stance ahead of the upcoming U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for July.
Markets expect a slight uptick in inflation, but any surprise to the upside could challenge expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September. Investors are also watching for signs of whether President Donald Trump’s tariffs are beginning to influence price growth, though clearer signals are expected from August's CPI release.
Lower interest rates typically favor cryptocurrencies, increasing liquidity and encouraging investment in speculative assets.
🏢 Metaplanet Adds 518 BTC Worth $61.4M to Holdings
In the midst of this cautious climate, Metaplanet Inc. (TYO:3350) revealed the purchase of 518 more bitcoins for $61.4 million, at an average price of $118,519 per BTC.
With this latest acquisition, the company’s total holdings now stand at 118,113 BTC, valued at approximately $1.85 billion, further cementing its place in the top tier of corporate crypto holders — just behind Riot Platforms and MicroStrategy.
The purchase follows Metaplanet’s announcement of a $3.7 billion equity offering, largely intended to fund additional Bitcoin buys. The strategy closely mirrors that of Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy, which has leveraged stock sales to accumulate massive BTC reserves and boost its market valuation.
📊 Altcoins Pull Back After Recent Rally
The broader crypto market saw declines across major altcoins:
Ether dropped 0.6% to $4,281, retreating after nearing its all-time highs.
XRP fell 4.1% to $3.1360.
Solana and Cardano shed between 5.5% and 6%.
Even meme coins weren’t spared:
Dogecoin slipped 6.3%,
while $TRUMP dropped 5.2%.
