On December 15, as global central bank policies increasingly diverge, markets are closely watching the Bank of Japan's upcoming interest rate decision. If the benchmark rate rises to 0.75%, it would not only mark a 30-year high but also signal a fundamental shift from the era of low-cost yen funding. RadexMarkets notes that this turning point is not neutral for liquidity-dependent risk assets.
Historically, there has been a clear correlation between yen exchange rate movements and Bitcoin prices. A stronger yen typically indicates rising global funding costs and tightening liquidity, putting pressure on Bitcoin as a highly liquidity-sensitive asset. RadexMarkets observes that the yen's current strength has already constrained market sentiment.
In terms of carry trades, Japan's prolonged low-rate environment once provided a stable "funding currency" for global capital. However, higher rates could reduce the appeal of borrowing yen to invest in high-risk assets, forcing some investors to deleverage or cover positions—potentially transmitting shocks from equities to crypto assets.
Nevertheless, RadexMarkets suggests this rate hike may not fully replicate past patterns. On one hand, market expectations for yen strength have already been priced into positioning, limiting short-term panic unwinding. On the other hand, Japanese bond yields had risen significantly beforehand, making this hike more of a policy "catch-up" than a sudden pivot.
Meanwhile, looser U.S. monetary conditions are offsetting some of Japan's tightening effects. RadexMarkets states that under these intertwined factors, the likelihood of severe year-end risk unwinding remains relatively contained—though Bitcoin cannot entirely ignore external rate shocks.
Looking ahead, RadexMarkets emphasizes monitoring fiscal and inflation expectations amid high debt levels. Should long-term stability concerns arise, stronger linkages between exchange rates, bond yields, and risk assets could become a key driver of crypto market volatility.