Altcoins Mixed as Markets Steady: ETH, BNB, SOL and XRP React Ahead of Fed Decision

Bitcoin hovered around $90,400 on Tuesday as the crypto market attempted to stabilize following one of its sharpest November declines since 2018. Despite the mild recovery, market sentiment remained cautious, with thin liquidity ahead of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision keeping traders on edge.

Over the past 24 hours, BTC gained about 1%, while ether posted a modest 0.2% rise, according to CoinGecko. Major altcoins were mixed—BNB advanced nearly 1%, SOL dipped 0.6%, and XRP saw slight losses—reflecting the broader market’s tentative rebound.

Fresh timezone-based analysis from Presto Research highlighted that Europe was the largest source of November’s sell pressure, driving substantial 20–25% drawdowns in both BTC and ETH. European trading sessions saw deeply negative returns throughout the month, while Asia and U.S. sessions were mostly neutral, signaling a stark divergence in regional flows as leverage unwound across the market.

November’s downturn also aligned with notable activity in listed crypto equities. Strategy disclosed its largest Bitcoin purchase in more than three months, acquiring 10,624 BTC worth $963 million. The buy was largely funded through new equity issuance and pushed the company’s total holdings to roughly 660,600 BTC, valued near $60 billion. Despite the buildup, the firm’s stock traded near $180, down nearly 50% over six months amid concerns about potential exclusion from major MSCI indices.

Macro conditions continued to weigh heavily on crypto performance. Asian equities drifted lower as investors awaited clues on the Fed’s rate-cut trajectory into 2026, while elevated global bond yields pressured risk assets. On-chain sentiment also deteriorated, with CryptoQuant’s Bull Score falling to zero for the first time since early 2022.

Still, medium-term catalysts are emerging, including potential U.S. 401(k) regulatory changes in early 2026 that could expand retirement fund access to Bitcoin.

Bitcoin last traded near $90,300, with traders watching whether momentum can push toward the $94,000–$98,000 rangeor whether continued European selling will dominate year-end positioning.