USD Slide Fuels Crypto Rally; XRP Lags Today-Live!
Thu, December 04, 2025Introduction
The U.S. dollar weakened sharply over the past 24 hours as markets pushed up the odds of a Federal Reserve rate cut, creating a risk‑friendly environment for crypto assets. Bitcoin and other large tokens staged modest recoveries on the move, but XRP bucked the trend and underperformed. Below we unpack the cause of the dollar slide, how it translates into crypto flows, and why XRP failed to join the rally.
Why the dollar slide matters for crypto
Elevated Fed rate‑cut probability and dollar pressure
Short‑term futures pricing and investor positioning have meaningfully raised the likelihood of a Fed rate cut in the near term. That shift reduced the dollar’s safe‑haven appeal and helped drive a multi‑day decline in the greenback. With the dollar softer, assets priced in dollars—including cryptocurrencies—often become more attractive to global investors because returns look relatively higher in local currencies and borrowing costs can ease.
How currency moves translate into crypto gains
A falling dollar typically increases liquidity for risk assets in two ways: first, it lowers the opportunity cost of holding non‑yielding assets such as Bitcoin; second, it can prompt portfolio reallocations from cash and fixed income toward higher‑volatility instruments. The result today was a broadly supportive backdrop for major cryptocurrencies, which registered modest price gains as traders adjusted exposures into riskier, higher‑beta tokens.
XRP divergence: idiosyncratic drivers
Underperformance amid broader strength
Despite the risk‑on tone, XRP failed to keep pace, slipping while larger tokens regained ground. Asset‑specific factors can often override macrodriven flows—examples include recent liquidity shifts between coins, concentrated profit taking, exchange‑specific order book dynamics, or lingering regulatory and legal considerations unique to a token.
Possible mechanics behind XRP’s lag
- Rotation: Traders may favor Bitcoin and Ethereum for perceived near‑term upside, causing reallocations away from XRP.
- Order‑book dynamics: Lower buy interest or larger sell blocks at key technical levels can amplify small downward moves.
- Idiosyncratic risk: Ongoing legal, exchange listing, or network narrative developments can mute the impact of a broader risk rally on a single coin.
Practical implications for traders and investors
Short‑term trade considerations
In a dollar‑weakening environment, momentum trades into BTC/ETH and other high‑liquidity tokens often perform well, but dispersion increases—meaning select names (like XRP today) can lag or decline even when the rest of the market rallies. Traders should watch cross‑asset flows, spot and futures funding rates, and exchange order‑book depth to time entries and exits.
Portfolio and risk management
Longer‑term investors should assess whether price moves reflect macro repositioning or token‑specific news. A diversified approach can blunt the effect of single‑token divergences. Use position sizing, stop limits, and periodic rebalancing to manage volatility introduced by rapid currency shifts or abrupt risk‑appetite changes.
Conclusion
The recent slide in the U.S. dollar—driven by rising expectations of Fed easing—created a favorable environment for many cryptocurrencies, helping majors recover ground. However, the rally is not uniform: XRP underperformed, highlighting how token‑specific factors and short‑term positioning can produce divergence even during broad risk rallies. Observing policy signals, FX moves, and on‑chain and order‑book data will remain critical for navigating these mixed market signals.