U.S. inflation in October is shaking up the crypto market and putting Bitcoin to the test. Here’s why this macroeconomic backdrop is crucial for you today.
The U.S. CPI rose 0.4% in October, exceeding expectations and triggering an immediate drop in Bitcoin. Bitcoin thus hit its lowest level in nearly three months as markets anticipated a tough response from the Federal Reserve.
Unlike U.S. stocks, which rebounded on Monday, Bitcoin continued to decline, marking a clear divergence between traditional markets and crypto assets.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $201 million, according to Coindesk. This massive withdrawal reflects nervousness around BTC-related financial products, as institutional investors awaited the inflation report. Despite hopes of renewed interest in the event of a positive surprise, caution prevailed.
On the monetary policy front, Chris Waller (Fed) hinted that a hike in interest rates remained on the table for the December meeting, even raising the possibility of a 50-basis-point increase. This “hawkish” stance adds pressure on risky assets such as Bitcoin.
As of November 11, 2026, the price of the $BTC is hovering around $73,868, with a change of -0.01% over 24 hours and -0.12% over the month. Despite this apparent stability, Bitcoin remains far below its October 6, 2025 record of $126,080. Its market capitalization remains solid, but speculative momentum appears to be fading.
The decline in oil prices did not reverse the negative trend in the crypto market, as traders remained focused on U.S. monetary policy and global uncertainty.
How do you expect Bitcoin to react if the Fed raises interest rates again in December?