TL;DR
- Bitcoin has surpassed $115,000 amid growing optimism for an upcoming Federal Reserve rate cut, marking a strong shift from recent investor caution.
- The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has moved into neutral territory for the first time since mid-October, signaling renewed market confidence.
- Meanwhile, older altcoins such as Zcash, Bitcoin Cash, and Dash have outperformed newer projects, suggesting that capital is returning to more established networks.
Bitcoin climbed past $115,000 on Monday as investor sentiment improved, reflecting expectations that the Federal Reserve will announce a 0.25% rate cut this week. The leading cryptocurrency rose more than 4% in 24 hours, reaching $115,200, while Ethereum traded higher at $4,160. The broader crypto market rebounded after weeks of uncertainty linked to global macroeconomic pressures and falling liquidity.
Ethereum And Altcoins React To Renewed Optimism
Ethereum followed Bitcoin’s upward momentum, regaining strength after dipping below $3,900 earlier this month. Its recovery to $4,160 placed it back in positive territory. Older altcoins like Zcash (ZEC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Dash (DASH) also rallied, gaining between 6% and 10%. These veteran assets benefited from increased trading activity and a renewed interest from long-term investors seeking stability amid volatility.
In contrast, newer tokens struggled to maintain momentum. Plasma (XPL) fell to $0.36, while Aster (ASTER) dropped 43% in a month to $1.07. Analysts pointed to weak trading volumes and limited on-chain usage as factors behind their decline, highlighting the growing preference for assets with proven track records.
Bitcoin Surpasses $115K As Market Confidence Improves
Investor mood has clearly shifted. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose to 51, moving out of the “fear” zone for the first time since October. This reflects a balance between caution and optimism. Data from Glassnode shows a reduction in aggressive selling behavior, with both spot and futures Cumulative Volume Delta metrics flattening, an indication that selling pressure is easing.
Funding rates across major exchanges remain near neutral, suggesting traders are not over-leveraging long positions. Bitcoin’s market dominance now stands at 59.1%, confirming that investors are leaning toward BTC’s perceived safety amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Macro analysts note that the broader financial backdrop supports continued recovery. With a 96.7% probability of a Fed rate cut this week, risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are likely to benefit. Lower borrowing costs and weaker yields on traditional instruments could drive more institutional and retail capital into crypto markets through November.
