El Salvador, the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, has faced criticism from traditional financial institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has repeatedly urged the nation to modify its Bitcoin policy, particularly by reducing public sector exposure. However, El Salvador has not heed these warnings.
Now, a $1.4 billion loan deal with the IMF is on the table, which still needs to be approved. As part of the agreement, El Salvador has agreed to amend its Bitcoin policy. This move has sparked concern among experts, contributing to recent market volatility.
The US Bitcoin ETFs experienced their largest net outflow, with Fidelity’s FBTC leading the charge at $208.5 million. BlackRock’s IBIT remained steady with zero net flow. The market saw a significant drop of nearly 6% in the last 24 hours, with Bitcoin and major altcoins dropping heavily. The cumulative crypto market cap stands at around $3.3 trillion, while the fear and greed index remains in ‘Greed’. Notable outflows were also reported from Grayscale’s GBTC and Ark’s ARKB, with total withdrawals reaching $21.24 billion and $87.86 million, respectively.
The United States Federal Reserve, under Jerome Powell's leadership, has once again lowered interest rates for the third time this year, with a 25 basis points (bps) cut. This move brings the Fed funds rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Powell emphasized the less restrictive nature of the Fed’s current economic policy, though he also cast doubt on the feasibility of a US Bitcoin strategic reserve, citing the Federal Reserve’s lack of authority to hold such an asset.
The US government is on the brink of shutting down over the weekend unless Congress can agree on a plan. President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk derailed a bipartisan deal to keep federal agencies operational. In response, Republicans introduced a revised funding proposal—extending government operations for three months and suspending the debt ceiling until January 30, 2027—but it was overwhelmingly rejected in a House vote on Thursday, leaving the next steps unclear.
Also read: Tomarket Daily Combo December 22, 2024: Don’t Miss $TOMA TokensSara Sethiya is an experienced crypto journalist with five years of experience in blockchain research, price movements, and market analysis. With a background in mass communication and journalism, she specializes in data-driven news articles, in-depth market reports, and SEO-optimized content. As a team lead and content writer at CoinGabbar, she examines on-chain metrics, evaluates liquidity trends, and analyzes tokenomics to uncover market patterns. Her analytical approach helps traders and investors interpret market shifts, identify potential opportunities, and understand the broader impact of blockchain innovations on the financial ecosystem.