Bitcoin ticked slightly higher on Tuesday but continued to trade within a narrow range below the $90,000 level, remaining close to one-month lows. Investor sentiment stayed cautious ahead of a key policy meeting by the Federal Reserve, with risk appetite muted across markets.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last up 0.4% at around $88,296 during early trading hours, as price action remained subdued.
Bitcoin has struggled to regain traction following sharp losses last week and is up only about 1% so far in 2026. The underperformance stands out, particularly given recent weakness in the U.S. dollar and strength in other asset classes.
Bitcoin stalls as Fed decision looms
Despite macro conditions that have historically supported digital assets, Bitcoin has failed to attract fresh momentum. The muted performance contrasts with strong moves in traditional safe havens, as both gold and silver pushed to successive record highs amid geopolitical tensions and global growth concerns.
Market attention is now firmly on the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, which begins later Tuesday and is expected to end with interest rates left unchanged on Wednesday.
While a pause is largely anticipated, traders are watching the Fed’s statement and comments from Chair Jerome Powell for signals on future rate cuts and the central bank’s inflation outlook. Any change in tone could affect liquidity conditions and overall risk sentiment, both crucial drivers for cryptocurrencies.
Investors are also monitoring developments around Donald Trump’s expected nomination of a new Fed chair, a move that could shape longer-term monetary policy expectations.
Japan crypto ETF plans could boost adoption
Japan may see its first cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds as early as 2028, according to a report by Nikkei. Such a move could significantly improve retail access to Bitcoin and other digital assets.
The country’s Financial Services Agency is reportedly planning to include cryptocurrencies among eligible ETF assets, while also tightening investor protection measures.
Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings are among the firms expected to launch crypto-linked products, subject to approval from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Altcoins edge higher in rangebound trade
Most major altcoins posted modest gains but also remained rangebound. Ethereum rose about 1.5% to $2,935, while XRP advanced 1.1% to $1.90.
Solana and Cardano each gained roughly 1.5%, while Polygon fell more than 3%.
Among meme tokens, Dogecoin added 0.6%, while the $TRUMP token slipped 1.1%.
