Bitcoin Tests $90,000, Yet Downside Protection Stays Bid Into Fed and Funding Risk

Bitcoin price briefly tested $90,000 on Wednesday, extending a rebound from last week’s sharp sell-off. It comes ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) rate decision later today. However, analysts warn that the move offers relief rather than resolution as crypto markets brace for a dense cluster of US macro and policy risks. Bitcoin Tests $90,000 but Macro and Policy Headwinds Keep Downside Risks in Play According to QCP Capital’s January 28 Market Colour, Bitcoin’s recovery has eased immediate liquidation pressure without removing the structural forces keeping downside protection firmly bid. Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: TradingView BTC’s reclaim of the $88,000–$89,000 zone remains technically important. QCP analysts describe $88,000 as a “trap door” level. The description comes as recent breaks have triggered rapid, liquidation-led air pockets, while swift reclaims have pulled the price back into range. Sustained acceptance above that level matters more than brief intraday pushes, especially with macro catalysts converging in the days ahead. Those catalysts are stacking quickly. Markets are focused on: The FOMC’s rate decision later today A January 30 US government funding deadline that keeps shutdown risk alive, and Renewed Senate scheduling around crypto market-structure legislation. At the same time, foreign exchange markets remain unsettled following USD/JPY rate-check signals that highlighted how quickly crowded positioning can unwind. Options markets reflect this asymmetric risk profile. Volatility remains relatively contained, and the term structure stays in contango, suggesting consolidation rather than an outright crash. However, the left tail is bid. Negative skew and rich near-dated downside options point to demand for gap-risk hedging rather than expectations of a smooth volatility expansion. “…calm headline volatility does not equal safety, as traders continue to hedge gap risk,” QCP analysts noted. Hawkish Rate Expectations T...