Bitcoin rallies to $92,000 amid Trump-Fed dispute, geopolitical developments

Bitcoin rose during Asian trading on Monday, holding broadly steady compared with last week, as risk appetite remained under pressure amid escalating tensions between US President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve.

Persistent global geopolitical uncertainty, alongside caution ahead of key US economic data due later this week, also kept markets in a wait-and-see mode.

Bitcoin underperformed the rally in technology stocks, which were supported by improving sentiment toward artificial intelligence. While the world’s largest cryptocurrency often moves in tandem with tech equities, this correlation appears to have weakened gradually over the past year.

At the same time, the absence of clear positive catalysts for crypto markets has kept Bitcoin under pressure through late 2025 and into early 2026.

Bitcoin rose 1.5% to $92,094.4 by 00:51 ET (05:51 GMT).

Federal Reserve indictment risks and geopolitical tensions cap risk appetite

A renewed hit to risk appetite on Monday limited further gains in Bitcoin.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank had received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice and that he faces the possibility of criminal charges related to ongoing renovation work at the Federal Reserve’s headquarters.

Powell suggested the investigation was politically motivated, pointing to repeated calls from the Trump administration for aggressive interest rate cuts.

Powell’s remarks weighed on US equity futures and triggered a renewed move into safe-haven assets, led by gold and other precious metals. Markets voiced concern that the escalating conflict between Trump and the Federal Reserve could undermine the central bank’s independence, particularly as Trump prepares to nominate Powell’s successor in the near future.

Risk aversion was further reinforced by persistent global geopolitical uncertainty. Trump renewed calls for the United States to take control of Greenland, a scenario that has unsettled markets further following last week’s US intervention in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic crisis between China and Japan showed no signs of easing, while attention also remained focused on widespread protests in Iran and ongoing fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Cryptocurrency prices today: modest gains in altcoins ahead of US inflation data

Other cryptocurrencies posted modest gains alongside Bitcoin on Monday but remained largely within their recent trading ranges.

Market focus this week is firmly on US consumer price index data for December, due on Tuesday, which is expected to play a key role in shaping interest rate expectations.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 2% to $3,160.47, while XRP slipped 0.6%.