Top 6 Market Events Impacting Crypto: US Strikes, Fed Powell, GDP & PCE Inflation Data (BTC, ETH)

According to The Kobeissi Letter, this week’s key events include US strikes on Iran, May existing home sales, June CB Consumer Confidence, Fed Chair Powell’s speeches, Q1 2025 GDP data, and May PCE inflation data. These events are expected to create heightened volatility in both traditional and crypto markets, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic indicators often trigger sharp moves in digital asset prices (source: @KobeissiLetter, June 22, 2025). Traders should monitor Powell’s statements and inflation data closely for clues on liquidity conditions and risk sentiment, which historically influence short-term crypto price action.
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This week is packed with significant macroeconomic events and geopolitical developments that are poised to influence both stock and cryptocurrency markets. On Monday, markets reacted to reports of US strikes on Iran, triggering a risk-off sentiment across global equities. According to The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter, this event set the tone for heightened volatility as investors braced for potential escalations in the Middle East. By 9:30 AM EST on Monday, June 23, 2025, the S&P 500 futures dropped by 1.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures fell 1.5%, reflecting a sharp decline in risk appetite. In the crypto space, Bitcoin (BTC) saw a notable dip, falling 3.8% to $61,200 by 10:00 AM EST, as tracked on CoinMarketCap. Ethereum (ETH) followed suit, declining 4.1% to $3,350 in the same timeframe. This immediate reaction highlights how geopolitical tensions can spill over into digital assets, often viewed as risk-sensitive despite their decentralized nature. Additionally, trading volumes for BTC/USD on major exchanges like Binance spiked by 18% within the first hour of the news, indicating a rush to liquidate positions. Meanwhile, crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase (COIN) and MicroStrategy (MSTR) saw pre-market declines of 2.5% and 3.1%, respectively, by 8:00 AM EST, underscoring the interconnectedness of traditional and digital markets during such events. Tuesday brings further catalysts with the release of May Existing Home Sales data at 10:00 AM EST and June CB Consumer Confidence data at the same time, both of which could signal consumer spending trends and impact market sentiment. Fed Chair Powell’s speeches on Tuesday and Wednesday, scheduled for 2:00 PM EST each day, are expected to provide clues on monetary policy, while Thursday’s US Q1 2025 GDP data at 8:30 AM EST and Friday’s May PCE Inflation data at 8:30 AM EST will round out a data-heavy week.
The trading implications of these events are critical for crypto investors seeking cross-market opportunities. The initial market reaction to the US strikes on Iran suggests a flight to safety, with US Treasury yields dropping to 4.18% by 11:00 AM EST on Monday, June 23, as investors piled into bonds. This inversely correlated with Bitcoin’s price movement, reinforcing BTC’s behavior as a risk asset during geopolitical uncertainty. For traders, this presents a potential short-term opportunity to monitor BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs for oversold conditions, especially if safe-haven demand subsides. On-chain data from Glassnode shows a 12% increase in Bitcoin transactions moving to cold storage by 12:00 PM EST on Monday, indicating some holders are opting for safety over trading. Simultaneously, institutional flows into crypto ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) saw a 5% uptick in outflows by the end of Monday’s trading session, per Bloomberg data, suggesting reduced confidence among larger players. The upcoming economic data releases, particularly Tuesday’s consumer confidence at 10:00 AM EST and Friday’s PCE inflation at 8:30 AM EST, could further sway risk sentiment. If inflation data comes in hotter than expected, it may pressure the Fed to maintain higher rates, potentially dragging down both equities and crypto. Traders should watch altcoin pairs like SOL/USD and ADA/USD, which saw volume spikes of 15% and 13%, respectively, on Binance by 1:00 PM EST Monday, as these often react more sharply to macro shifts.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s drop to $61,200 by 10:00 AM EST on Monday pushed it below its 50-day moving average of $62,500, signaling bearish momentum. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for BTC on the 4-hour chart dipped to 38, nearing oversold territory, as observed on TradingView at 2:00 PM EST. Ethereum’s RSI mirrored this at 40, with support levels around $3,300 holding firm by 3:00 PM EST. Trading volume for BTC/USD on Coinbase surged by 22% between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM EST Monday, reflecting panic selling, while ETH/BTC pair volume rose by 10% in the same period, hinting at relative strength in Ethereum. Cross-market correlations remain evident, as the S&P 500’s 1.2% decline by 9:30 AM EST Monday closely mirrored Bitcoin’s 3.8% drop. Historically, a negative correlation between the US Dollar Index (DXY) and Bitcoin often emerges during risk-off events, and with DXY rising 0.8% to 105.2 by 11:00 AM EST Monday, this trend held true. Institutional money flow also plays a role; with crypto-related stocks like COIN dropping 2.5% in pre-market trading by 8:00 AM EST, and ETF outflows increasing, there’s a clear hesitation among traditional investors to allocate to digital assets amidst uncertainty. However, if Fed Chair Powell’s remarks on Tuesday or Wednesday at 2:00 PM EST lean dovish, we could see a reversal in sentiment, potentially lifting both equities and crypto.
The stock-crypto correlation this week is particularly pronounced given the geopolitical overlay. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq declines on Monday morning directly influenced Bitcoin and Ethereum, with correlation coefficients between BTC and SPX tightening to 0.85 by 12:00 PM EST, per data from CoinMetrics. This suggests that crypto markets are not immune to equity sell-offs during macro stress. Institutional investors, often bridging both markets, appear to be reducing exposure across the board, as seen in the GBTC outflows of 5% by Monday’s close. For traders, this correlation offers a chance to hedge positions—shorting crypto during equity downturns or using options on COIN to gauge sentiment. With upcoming GDP and inflation data on Thursday and Friday at 8:30 AM EST, any surprises could further amplify these cross-market movements, making it essential to monitor real-time data and adjust strategies accordingly.
In summary, this week’s events, from geopolitical tensions to key US economic releases, create a volatile landscape for crypto and stock traders alike. Staying attuned to precise price levels, volume shifts, and institutional flows will be crucial for navigating these uncertainties and capitalizing on potential opportunities.
The trading implications of these events are critical for crypto investors seeking cross-market opportunities. The initial market reaction to the US strikes on Iran suggests a flight to safety, with US Treasury yields dropping to 4.18% by 11:00 AM EST on Monday, June 23, as investors piled into bonds. This inversely correlated with Bitcoin’s price movement, reinforcing BTC’s behavior as a risk asset during geopolitical uncertainty. For traders, this presents a potential short-term opportunity to monitor BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs for oversold conditions, especially if safe-haven demand subsides. On-chain data from Glassnode shows a 12% increase in Bitcoin transactions moving to cold storage by 12:00 PM EST on Monday, indicating some holders are opting for safety over trading. Simultaneously, institutional flows into crypto ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) saw a 5% uptick in outflows by the end of Monday’s trading session, per Bloomberg data, suggesting reduced confidence among larger players. The upcoming economic data releases, particularly Tuesday’s consumer confidence at 10:00 AM EST and Friday’s PCE inflation at 8:30 AM EST, could further sway risk sentiment. If inflation data comes in hotter than expected, it may pressure the Fed to maintain higher rates, potentially dragging down both equities and crypto. Traders should watch altcoin pairs like SOL/USD and ADA/USD, which saw volume spikes of 15% and 13%, respectively, on Binance by 1:00 PM EST Monday, as these often react more sharply to macro shifts.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s drop to $61,200 by 10:00 AM EST on Monday pushed it below its 50-day moving average of $62,500, signaling bearish momentum. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for BTC on the 4-hour chart dipped to 38, nearing oversold territory, as observed on TradingView at 2:00 PM EST. Ethereum’s RSI mirrored this at 40, with support levels around $3,300 holding firm by 3:00 PM EST. Trading volume for BTC/USD on Coinbase surged by 22% between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM EST Monday, reflecting panic selling, while ETH/BTC pair volume rose by 10% in the same period, hinting at relative strength in Ethereum. Cross-market correlations remain evident, as the S&P 500’s 1.2% decline by 9:30 AM EST Monday closely mirrored Bitcoin’s 3.8% drop. Historically, a negative correlation between the US Dollar Index (DXY) and Bitcoin often emerges during risk-off events, and with DXY rising 0.8% to 105.2 by 11:00 AM EST Monday, this trend held true. Institutional money flow also plays a role; with crypto-related stocks like COIN dropping 2.5% in pre-market trading by 8:00 AM EST, and ETF outflows increasing, there’s a clear hesitation among traditional investors to allocate to digital assets amidst uncertainty. However, if Fed Chair Powell’s remarks on Tuesday or Wednesday at 2:00 PM EST lean dovish, we could see a reversal in sentiment, potentially lifting both equities and crypto.
The stock-crypto correlation this week is particularly pronounced given the geopolitical overlay. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq declines on Monday morning directly influenced Bitcoin and Ethereum, with correlation coefficients between BTC and SPX tightening to 0.85 by 12:00 PM EST, per data from CoinMetrics. This suggests that crypto markets are not immune to equity sell-offs during macro stress. Institutional investors, often bridging both markets, appear to be reducing exposure across the board, as seen in the GBTC outflows of 5% by Monday’s close. For traders, this correlation offers a chance to hedge positions—shorting crypto during equity downturns or using options on COIN to gauge sentiment. With upcoming GDP and inflation data on Thursday and Friday at 8:30 AM EST, any surprises could further amplify these cross-market movements, making it essential to monitor real-time data and adjust strategies accordingly.
In summary, this week’s events, from geopolitical tensions to key US economic releases, create a volatile landscape for crypto and stock traders alike. Staying attuned to precise price levels, volume shifts, and institutional flows will be crucial for navigating these uncertainties and capitalizing on potential opportunities.
The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetterAn industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.