Bitcoin climbed back above $77,500 on September 3, 2026, with XRP leading gains among major tokens, as markets interpreted a slide in Fed rate-hike odds to 62% as a reason to add risk — even though those odds still leave a hike firmly on the table.

Bitcoin reclaims $77,500 as macro pressure eases

Bitcoin moved back above the $77,500 mark, a recovery that CoinDesk reporting tied to easing rate-hike expectations rather than any single crypto-specific catalyst. For related coverage, see Bitcoin Breaks $77K as Crypto Liquidations Hit $1.24B, $730M From BTC.

Bitcoin traded back above its $77,500 threshold as macro pressure loosened, while XRP led major tokens higher, signaling the move was not limited to Bitcoin. Market-implied Fed hike odds eased to 62%, a shift traders treated as supportive of risk assets. This is a description of a market reaction, not a confirmed policy outcome. The $77,500 level is the price threshold at the center of the story, and reclaiming it matters mainly as a sentiment marker after recent choppiness. For related coverage, see Bitcoin Price Level Where Leveraged Bulls Could Get Whacked.

The macro cue traces back to remarks from Fed Governor Christopher Waller in a September 3 speech, which markets folded into their rate expectations. That contrasts with an earlier stretch when Bitcoin slipped on shifting Fed commentary — a reminder that crypto has repeatedly taken its cue from Fed communication in this cycle, with single speeches moving both rate expectations and token prices. Fed governors like Waller sit on the Federal Open Market Committee that sets the federal funds rate, which is why their public remarks feed directly into instruments like fed funds futures.

Why XRP is leading the majors in this move

Where Bitcoin's story was about reclaiming a level, XRP's was about outperformance: it stood out as the standout gainer among major tokens on the day, according to the same CoinDesk report.

That leadership suggests the bid was broad rather than confined to Bitcoin alone. When an altcoin leads a recovery, it often points to improving risk appetite across the market instead of a defensive rotation into the largest asset.

The balance is worth keeping in view, however. XRP's relative strength has not been a constant; the token has also lagged in periods when XRP-linked ETF momentum faded even as Bitcoin products drew inflows — a pattern that has swung XRP between leadership and laggard status depending on flows.

What falling Fed hike odds could mean for crypto sentiment next

The core macro input was the drop in market-implied hike odds to 62%, a figure tracked through the CME FedWatch tool, which derives probabilities from pricing in fed funds futures markets. Lower perceived tightening pressure tends to ease the headwind on speculative assets like crypto.

Still, odds at 62% describe uncertainty, not a dovish all-clear. A majority reading that still favors a hike leaves room for the move to reverse if incoming data or Fed messaging turns — a dynamic that has cut the other way when hawkish Fed bets pressured majors.

For now, the read-through is straightforward on both sides: softer rate expectations gave Bitcoin and XRP room to bounce, while the same 62% figure is a reminder that the macro backdrop has not fully turned in crypto's favor. The near-term variables to watch are the ones that moved this market in the first place: further Fed speakers, the next round of inflation and employment data, and whether the CME FedWatch probabilities shift materially in either direction.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.