Ethereum Developers Eye Upgrade Talks as U.S. Inflation Data Looms

Crypto markets are entering a week shaped by two major threads. One is a fresh U.S. inflation report. The other is continued discussion around Ethereum's next network upgrade. Inflation data remains one of the most closely watched macro releases for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Traders use the figures to gauge the path of Federal Reserve policy. Lower than expected inflation often fuels hopes of rate cuts. That, in turn, can boost appetite for riskier assets like Bitcoin and altcoins. A hotter than expected print tends to have the opposite effect, pressuring crypto prices alongside equities.