Bitcoin Climbs Back Above $91,000 as Fed Rate-Cut Expectations Strengthen and Crypto Markets Stabilize

Bitcoin moved above $91,000 as expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut continued to build. Altcoins also advanced, while a major $10 billion acquisition in South Korea added further support to overall crypto market sentiment.

Bitcoin Recovers After a Sharp Pullback, Though Caution Remains

Bitcoin opened Thursday’s session with renewed momentum, rising above $91,000 after several days of volatility. By early Asian trading hours, the world’s largest cryptocurrency traded near $91,201, marking a 4% intraday gain.

The rebound comes shortly after Bitcoin slipped to approximately $80,000, its lowest level since April, driven by profit-taking and concerns over broader macroeconomic signals. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the recovery, analysts remain divided on whether the latest move signals the beginning of a sustained uptrend or merely a technical correction.

Growing Expectations for a Fed Rate Cut Drive Renewed Interest

The central narrative shaping market sentiment this week is the shift in expectations for U.S. monetary policy. Market pricing now reflects an 85% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut at the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting—nearly double the level seen a week ago.

A potential rate cut typically benefits Bitcoin and other high-volatility assets because:

The opportunity cost of holding risk assets declines

Liquidity conditions tend to improve

Yield-driven traditional assets become less attractive

Investors show greater interest in alternative returns

Even so, concerns persist. Inflation in the U.S. remains stubbornly elevated, and recent macroeconomic indicators have sent mixed signals. This leaves uncertainty around how decisively the Fed may pivot and whether a December adjustment would mark the start of a broader easing cycle.

Adding to the speculation is the possibility that Kevin Hassett, seen as more accommodative toward monetary easing, could be nominated as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve. While no confirmation has been made, the prospect alone has supported investor sentiment.

A Major Crypto-Sector Move in South Korea: Naver Financial Acquires Dunamu

Beyond macroeconomic speculation, global attention turned to South Korea following one of the most significant crypto-related acquisitions in the region. Naver Financial, the fintech arm of Naver Corp, announced plans to acquire Dunamu, operator of the Upbit exchange, in a deal valued at roughly $10 billion through a share-swap transaction.

Why this deal matters:

It links one of Korea’s largest digital payment ecosystems with the country’s leading crypto exchange

It highlights Naver’s ambitions in blockchain-based financial services

It reinforces the belief that traditional tech companies are increasingly committed to digital assets

It marks one of the largest fintech–crypto M&A deals in Asia to date

Pending regulatory approval, the acquisition may reshape the Korean fintech landscape and strengthen institutional confidence in digital assets.

Altcoins Extend Gains as Market Sentiment Improves

As Bitcoin recovered, altcoins followed with broad-based increases.

Ethereum (ETH)

ETH gained 3%, trading near $3,030, continuing its period of stabilization after recent fluctuations.

XRP

XRP rose 0.5% to $2.21, showing more measured momentum compared to ETH.

Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC)

Solana: +3%

Cardano: +2.2%

Polygon: +1%

The gains reflect a renewed interest in high-beta crypto assets as liquidity improves across the market.

Meme Tokens

More speculative tokens reacted moderately:

Dogecoin: +1.3%

$TRUMP: largely unchanged

This suggests that while sentiment has improved, investors are not fully embracing aggressive speculative behavior.

What Is Fueling the Market Rebound?

The current market upswing appears to be driven by three primary factors:

1. Expectations of Monetary Easing in the U.S.

This remains the dominant driver, setting the overall tone for global markets.

2. Institutional Expansion Through High-Profile M&A

The Naver–Dunamu deal underscores growing institutional participation in digital assets.

3. Technical Recovery After an Oversold Phase

Bitcoin appears to have found strong support near the $80,000 level.

Outlook: Conflicting Signals Shape Bitcoin’s Near-Term Trajectory

Analysts continue to take differing views on Bitcoin’s path forward.

The Optimistic Case

The Fed could begin easing sooner than expected

Institutional demand is steadily increasing

The $80,000 support zone has proven resilient

Potential Fed leadership changes may lean toward accommodative policies

The Cautious Case

Inflation may limit the Fed’s flexibility

Global markets remain highly sensitive to macroeconomic shifts

Bitcoin continues to correlate strongly with broad risk sentiment

If the recovery continues, Bitcoin will soon face a technical test in the $95,000–$100,000 range—a key zone that may determine the strength of the next trend. Failure to break through could result in renewed consolidation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Bitcoin rise above $91,000?

Because expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut strengthened, lifting demand for risk assets.

2. How likely is a Fed rate cut in December?

Market pricing currently implies an 85% probability.

3. What is the significance of the Naver–Dunamu acquisition?

It represents one of the largest fintech–crypto mergers in Asia, reinforcing institutional confidence in digital assets.

4. Are altcoins expected to follow Bitcoin’s move?

Yes. Ethereum, Solana, Cardano and several major altcoins typically rise in conjunction with Bitcoin during periods of improved sentiment.