CoinDesk
Bitcoin's rally stalled in the $80,000 to $82,000 range on Monday as traders pulled bids ahead of the April U.S. consumer price index due 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The median FactSet estimate is 3.7% year-on-year, up from 3.3% in March and the largest annual CPI acceleration since January 2024, against a 12-month trailing average of 2.7%. Core CPI is seen ticking up to 2.7% from 2.6%. WTI crude futures jumped more than 3% and Nasdaq futures dropped over 0.7% in the same session — both pointing to a risk-off tape even before the print.
Why it matters
The combination of an accelerating headline CPI, still-elevated oil, and a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire described by President Trump as "unbelievably weak" has compressed the window for risk-taking. "Markets are entering a highly sensitive period where geopolitics, inflation risks and central bank expectations are colliding," said Lukman Otunuga, head of market research at FXTM. The asymmetry is real: a hot print likely feeds expectations that the Fed holds longer, while a softer core reading could be dismissed as backward-looking. Either way, the market is paying for optionality rather than direction.
Market impact
XRP briefly tagged $1.50 and SOL tested resistance near $97, both levels where breakouts have repeatedly failed since February. Yet institutional demand is quietly building beneath the surface — U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs pulled in $25.8 million on Monday, the strongest single-day haul since January 5, while Bitcoin and Solana ETFs continued to attract money and ether ETFs shed $16.9 million. A decisive XRP close above $1.50 is the level traders are watching for a momentum extension; until then, the tape looks range-bound into the print.
Frequently asked questions
-
What is the April 2026 U.S. CPI forecast and how does it compare to March?
The FactSet consensus calls for April headline CPI at 3.7% year-on-year, up from 3.3% in March — the largest annual acceleration since January 2024 and well above the 2.7% trailing 12-month average. Core CPI is seen ticking up to 2.7% from 2.6%.
-
Why did Bitcoin's rally stall around $80,000-$82,000?
Traders pulled bids ahead of Tuesday's CPI print on fears an accelerating inflation reading, paired with elevated oil and fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire dynamics, could trigger a risk-off reaction across stocks, commodities and crypto.
-
What is the significance of the $1.50 resistance level for XRP?
XRP has tested $1.50 multiple times since February, with recovery rallies repeatedly cut short by selling pressure above that level. A decisive daily close above $1.50 is the level traders are watching to trigger the next leg higher.
-
How much did spot XRP ETFs attract on Monday?
U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs pulled in $25.8 million in net inflows on Monday, the strongest single-day total since January 5, even as ether ETFs shed $16.9 million and Bitcoin and Solana ETFs continued to attract flows.
-
How are traditional markets positioned ahead of the CPI release?
WTI crude futures jumped more than 3% and Nasdaq futures dropped over 0.7% on Monday — both flagging a risk-off setup into the print. FXTM's Lukman Otunuga said the combination of geopolitics, inflation risk and central bank expectations is driving heightened cross-asset volatility.
CoinTelegraph
WuBlockchain
Crypto Rank News
TheBlock
CryptoSlate
WatcherGuru