Bitcoin Plunges Below $102K Amid Weak U.S. Demand, Fed Divided on December Cut

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Market Performance - Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a significant drop, falling back below $102,000 after briefly exceeding $105,000, marking a 3% decline as U.S. markets opened [1] - Ether (ETH) also saw a decline of nearly 5%, dropping below $3,400, while other major altcoins like Solana (SOL) and XRP faced similar downturns [1] - The overall weak performance of cryptocurrencies during U.S. trading hours has been a consistent trend, with the Coinbase Premium indicating a lack of U.S. investor demand since late October [3][4] Group 2: Impact on Crypto-Related Stocks - U.S. stocks related to cryptocurrency are experiencing declines, with Circle (CRCL) dropping 9.5% following its third-quarter earnings report [2] - Crypto mining companies such as Bitfarms (BITF), Bitdeer (BTDR), Cipher Mining (CIFR), Hive Digital (HIVE), Hut 8 (HUT), and IREN have seen their stock prices fall between 5% and 10% [2] Group 3: Federal Reserve Sentiment and Market Uncertainty - There is growing uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's next moves, with a divide among policymakers about whether to prioritize concerns over persistent inflation or a softening labor market [5][6] - The recent government shutdown has complicated the situation by delaying key employment and inflation data, making a December rate cut uncertain [7] - Since the Fed's October meeting, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have experienced over $1.8 billion in net outflows, reflecting the market's uncertainty and lack of positive catalysts [8]