What to watch this week?

Between August 18 and 24, 2025, the path of cryptocurrencies will be shaped less by token-specific news and more by macro catalysts. The Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium, FOMC minutes, global inflation reports, and a wave of economic indicators will test investor conviction on interest rates, liquidity, and risk appetite—all key drivers for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

For crypto, the spotlight is firmly on Jackson Hole (Aug 21–23). Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s keynote on Friday, August 22, is the week’s defining event. Digital assets, which have tracked global liquidity closely, could see sharp moves depending on whether Powell leans dovish or hawkish. Any hint of earlier-than-expected rate cuts would support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins, while a firmer tone on inflation would weigh on liquidity and speculative assets.

Before that, the FOMC minutes on Wednesday, Aug 20 provide a preview of how divided policymakers were in July. Crypto traders will scan for signs of consensus on easing versus caution on inflation. These details are crucial because crypto often reacts ahead of traditional markets to perceived liquidity shifts.

Global inflation data adds another layer. UK CPI (Aug 20), Canada CPI (Aug 19), and Japan CPI (Aug 22) will feed into expectations for central banks outside the US. With Bitcoin increasingly behaving like a macro asset, sticky inflation abroad could keep global monetary conditions tighter, limiting upside momentum.

Midweek also brings two important central-bank decisions: the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Aug 20) and the Riksbank (Sweden, Aug 20). While not direct drivers of crypto, their willingness to cut rates provides a read on the global cycle of easing—a backdrop that matters for capital flows into high-beta assets like crypto.

China’s Loan Prime Rate setting (Aug 20) is another indirect catalyst. Any aggressive move by Beijing to stimulate growth could lift risk sentiment globally, improving conditions for speculative assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Finally, US economic releases on Thursday, Aug 21—jobless claims, the Philadelphia Fed survey, Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index, and existing-home sales—will give short-term volatility cues. Weak labor or growth numbers typically reinforce the “rate cuts coming” narrative, which crypto bulls embrace as a liquidity tailwind.

What to watch, day by day (crypto lens)

• Tue, Aug 19: Canada CPI.
• Wed, Aug 20: UK CPI; RBNZ and Riksbank decisions; FOMC minutes.
• Thu, Aug 21: Flash PMIs; US jobless claims, Philly Fed, LEI, existing-home sales.
• Fri, Aug 22: Powell’s Jackson Hole keynote; Japan CPI.
• Wed, Aug 20 (China): Loan Prime Rate decision.