December core consumer prices climbed at an annual pace of 2.6%, landing below market forecasts. The cooler-than-expected inflation print signals potential shifts in Fed policy direction, which typically reverberates across crypto and traditional asset classes. When inflation runs hotter or cooler than consensus, it moves the needle on rate expectations—something traders and hodlers alike watch closely when positioning portfolios. This kind of macro data often acts as a catalyst, either easing or intensifying pressure on risk assets depending on what central banks signal next.