Ether (ETH) recorded a slight uptick among leading cryptocurrencies, climbing past the $2,700 mark early Thursday. This came even as the broader digital asset market stayed largely within a narrow trading range, amid a wave of macroeconomic and corporate developments.
Traders reported that institutional investors continued to show strong interest in Ether-based spot ETFs, as these funds saw steady net inflows. Meanwhile, inflows to Bitcoin (BTC) products slowed.
XRP’s value showed minimal movement following the announcement by Nasdaq-listed VivoPower of a $121 million commitment to establish an XRP-centered treasury reserve — a move that mirrors the bitcoin-focused strategies previously adopted by Strategy (MSTR) and Metaplanet.
“Although U.S. equities climbed after a federal court halted Trump’s proposed tariffs, Bitcoin experienced a decline following the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates,” stated Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research.
“These indicators may suggest that while long-term sentiment stays optimistic, short-term caution is prompting investors to scale back their exposure to Bitcoin,” Ruck noted.
At the same time, Bitcoin slipped below the $108,000 mark, and the overall crypto market capitalization dropped by 2.5%. Over the past 24 hours, major tokens like Cardano’s ADA, BNB Chain’s BNB, Dogecoin (DOGE), and Solana’s SOL showed little movement.
Traders Navigate ‘Just Right’ Market Conditions
Toncoin, which sits outside the top ten cryptocurrencies, experienced a decline during early Asian trading hours. This drop followed a surge of over 20% the previous day, driven by reports suggesting a collaboration with Elon Musk’s xAI to embed the Grok AI service into its platform.
Elon Musk later clarified on X that “no deal has been signed.” In response, Pavel Durov of Toncoin stated that an agreement had been made in principle, though certain formalities were yet to be completed.
Some traders believe the markets are entering a ‘Goldilocks zone’ marked by stable data, reduced major risks, and growing anticipation for upcoming catalysts.
QCP Capital noted in a Tuesday update that volatility had significantly diminished across various asset classes, attributing the shift to falling yields on long-term bonds from both the U.S. and Japan.
The firm observed that current conditions resemble a “Goldilocks zone” and emphasized that the recent data releases show minimal impact from the tariff policy introduced last month. It added that adjustments in pricing and spending habits by companies and consumers would take time, with these effects expected to become visible in the third quarter.
The firm noted that yields on 10- and 30-year U.S. Treasuries slipped below 4.5% and 5%, respectively, while Japan’s 30-year government bond yield dipped under 3%. Although debt levels remain historically high, immediate concerns over fiscal instability have seemingly eased.
