Share this article
Crypto Bulls Brace for Bank of Japan's Rate Hike That Could Derail Momentum
Japan's headline inflation is at 2.9% year-over-year, at a 3-month high. A hot inflation print could set bitcoin back.
Jan 16, 2025, 2:10 p.m.
What to know:
- The market is currently pricing a 90% rate hike from the Bank of Japan for the meeting on Jan. 24.
- Japan’s headline inflation year-over-year is at 2.9%, with an inflation print the day before the interest rate decision.
- The Japanese Yen is at 156 against the U.S. dollar, the strongest in a month.
Most investors have their eyes set on President Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, which has the potential to be a key catalyst for bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
However, a few days later, there is a potential rate hike on the cards from the Bank of Japan (BoJ). According to a Bloomberg chart shared by analyst Michael Kramer on X, the market is currently factoring in a 90% chance of a rate hike on Jan. 24.
Previously, the BoJ rate hike caused havoc on both the traditional and digital assets market . This was a key catalyst for the Yen carry trade unwind at the start of August, which sent bitcoin tumbling to $49,000. Traders are likely bracing for another selloff this time around.
Since 2016, the BoJ has maintained negative interest rates; however, in 2024, they increased interest rates twice, from -0.1% to 0.25%. The implied rate going into the meeting is 0.45%; however, this could drastically change as Japan has an inflation report just the day before, on Jan. 23.
Headline inflation year-over-year is at 2.9%, the highest since August. A hotter-than-expected inflation print could create fears within the market, and another iteration of the Yen carry trade unwind could be on course.
Even with the remarkable strength of the DXY index, which is currently above 109, the highest level since November 2022, it has jumped from 100 from the September low.
The DXY index is following a similar trajectory to Donald Trump’s first presidential term, which saw a rally in the DXY leading into his inauguration and then fell considerably, giving risk assets a much-needed boost. The DXY index measures the value of the U.S. dollar against a basket of major foreign currencies.
The Japanese Yen is at its strongest level against the dollar since Dec. 16, at 156.
Read more: Bank of Japan Governor Hints at More Rate Hikes; BTC Drops 0.4%
Plus pour vous
Ce qu'il:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
Plus pour vous
Coinbase Sees Crypto Recovery Ahead as Liquidity Improves and Fed Rate Cut Odds Climb
The crypto exchange also took note of a so-called AI bubble that continues to go strong and a weaker U.S. dollar.
Ce qu'il:
- Coinbase Institutional is seeing a potential December recovery in crypto, citing improving liquidity and a shift in macroeconomic conditions that could favor risk assets like bitcoin.
- The firm's optimism is driven by rising odds of Federal Reserve rate cuts, with markets pricing in a 93% chance easing next week, and improving liquidity conditions.
- Several recent institutional developments, including Vanguard's crypto ETF policy reversal and Bank of America's greenlighting of crypto allocations, have contributed to bitcoin's rebound from recent lows.
Top Stories
