Fed Decision Looms Over Year-End Market and Crypto Sentiment

Key Points:
  • Fed’s dovish stance may test market rallies, signaling economic slowdown.
  • S&P 500 nears record amid cautious optimism.
  • Crypto assets sensitive to Fed’s monetary policy signals.

Bank of America’s Michael Hartnett warns a dovish Federal Reserve stance in their upcoming meeting could challenge the ongoing S&P 500 rally.

Market reaction hinges on Fed signals, impacting equities and cryptocurrencies, as dovish cues could suggest economic slowdown over expected “Goldilocks” growth scenario.

Fed’s Dovish Policy and Market Reactions

Michael Hartnett, Chief Investment Strategist at Bank of America, highlighted potential implications of a dovish Federal Reserve meeting on December 9–10. “The only thing that can stop the Santa Claus rally is a Fed dovish rate cut triggering selling in the long end of the U.S. Treasury market,” Hartnett commented. The Fed’s current strategy of reducing rates could alter market receptions. If the Fed signals more cuts, it might be seen as acknowledging deeper economic challenges.

The potential rate cut may deter equity valuations. Rising long-term yields could negatively affect risk assets, with crypto and equities feeling the pressure. S&P 500 currently sits at 0.5% from its record high, yet delayed employment data may sway sentiments.

Government awareness of inflation and unemployment risks prompts interventions. Hartnett suggests capital allocation towards mid-cap stocks with promising valuations for broader economic resilience.

Assessing Crypto Market Against Historical Fed Moves

Did you know? In 2018, a Fed pivot from tightening policies supported market recoveries, demonstrating past impacts of dovish shifts.

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin (BTC) currently trades at $88,804.15 with a market cap of $1.77 trillion, reflecting a 3.65% decline over 24 hours. Market dominance is at 58.52% amidst a 29.35% 60-day drop.

bitcoin-daily-chart-4759
Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 17:30 UTC on December 5, 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap

Coincu’s analysis notes that if the Fed enacts another rate cut, dollar weakness could support crypto markets. Rate adjustments might initially cause volatility, yet long-term lower rates are generally favorable for BTC and ETH, benefiting from larger liquidity inflows.

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