The crypto market got a modest lift Tuesday after weaker-than-expected U.S. unemployment figures rekindled hopes that the Federal Reserve might deliver another interest rate cut come January. Bitcoin (BTC) led the charge with a 1% gain, though not all major cryptocurrencies joined the party equally.

Here's where the leading digital assets stood:

Market Turbulence Continues

The past 24 hours haven't been kind to leveraged traders. According to Coinglass data, 110,839 traders faced liquidations totaling $282.47 million. That's the kind of number that reminds you leverage cuts both ways.

The institutional picture wasn't much prettier. SoSoValue data reveals spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced net outflows of $357.7 million on Monday, while spot Ethereum ETFs shed $224.8 million. When the smart money heads for the exits simultaneously, it's worth paying attention.

Among individual tokens, the day's biggest losers included MemeCore, Aster, and Pump.fun.

What the Charts Are Saying

Crypto technical analyst Kevin offered a measured take on Bitcoin's current behavior, noting it's performing exactly as you'd expect during the late stages of a significant correction. Looking at the three-day chart, BTC appears to be entering the second phase of building what he calls a "durable bottom." This isn't a quick process, and it's definitely not comfortable for those holding positions.

The signals currently point to a high probability that a bottom is taking shape. Kevin anticipates a countertrend bounce within the next five weeks, likely pushing toward former support levels that are now acting as resistance. It's textbook technical analysis: yesterday's floor becomes today's ceiling.

Daan Crypto Trades highlighted a fascinating pattern: nearly all of Bitcoin's gains this year have materialized on Wednesdays, while Thursdays and Fridays have absorbed most of the downside. The other days? Largely flat on average. Whether this anomaly represents genuine market structure or statistical noise remains an open question, but it's the kind of quirk that makes crypto markets endlessly interesting.

Ted Pillows painted a picture of Bitcoin trapped between two significant liquidity pools. There's downside liquidity clustered around $85,200 and upside liquidity near $91,000. Think of it as being stuck between a rock and a hard place, except both the rock and the hard place are made of limit orders.

With the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision looming, a known catalyst for downside volatility in crypto markets, Pillows suggests Bitcoin could first sweep the November lows before any meaningful reversal materializes. It's worth noting that Japanese monetary policy has increasingly become a factor in global risk asset pricing, including cryptocurrencies.

Looking Ahead

The crypto ecosystem continues to evolve beyond just price action. Binance recently announced plans to launch a zero-fee prediction market, positioning itself as a competitor to platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. Meanwhile, Visa has taken another significant step in its stablecoin payments strategy, signaling continued institutional interest in crypto infrastructure even as spot prices languish.

Grayscale weighed in with a prediction that quantum computing won't meaningfully influence crypto prices, including Bitcoin, through 2026. That's one less existential threat to worry about for now.

As for Ethereum's struggles below $3,000, some traders argue this represents a buying opportunity rather than a reason to panic. Whether that optimism proves justified depends largely on whether Bitcoin can establish a convincing floor and lead the broader market higher.