Bitcoin BTC/USD and Ethereum's ETH/USD surge highlights how tightly crypto markets have become bound to global liquidity cycles, with central bank signals now moving prices as sharply as on-chain developments.
What Happened: According to analysis from Cracked Labs, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's recent Jackson Hole speech, in which he hinted at possible "policy adjustments," was enough to spark a broad rally.
Bitcoin broke above $117,000 and Ethereum approached $4,900, showcasing how macro liquidity signals have become the primary catalyst for crypto markets.
"Macro liquidity cycles are not background noise, they are the operating system," the blog noted, warning that ecosystems which fail to align strategy with shifting liquidity conditions risk developer churn, token drawdowns, and lost momentum.
All-time highs (ATHs) are proving to be both a magnet for retail capital and a point of fragility.
The report showed that while ATHs trigger euphoria, they also coincide with rising exchange supply, inflated profit ratios, and sharp swings in sentiment.
The result is an emotionally unstable market where optimism can collapse within days.
Also Read: Fundstrat’s Tom Lee Says Ethereum Has ‘50% Chance’ Of Flipping Bitcoin
Why It Matters: The divergence between fundamentals and hype is stark.
Chainlink LINK/USD rallied to $25 in August on the back of increased network usage and whale accumulation, while Solana SOL/USD-based Yeezy Coin YZY/USD launched by Kanye West collapsed after briefly touching a $3 billion valuation built almost entirely on memes and speculation.
For ecosystems, the lesson is that liquidity may fuel rallies, but fundamentals sustain communities.
"All-time highs often mark the riskiest moments," Cracked Labs wrote, emphasizing the need for projects to reward long-term contributors, manage treasury deployment around liquidity cycles, and highlight credible utility during hype phases.
The broader implication is that Powell's policy hints are now as critical to crypto's trajectory as any technological upgrade.
Liquidity provides the gasoline, ATHs spark the fire, but only fundamentals, the report argued, can keep it burning.
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