Bank of Japan Raises Policy Rate by 25 Basis Points; Crypto Markets Extend Decline
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has increased its short-term policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75%, marking the highest level in 30 years. The decision was unanimous, although the BOJ stated that its policy remains accommodative. Officials signaled that real interest rates will continue to stay exceptionally low and that further hikes will depend on inflation and economic trends.
Meanwhile, crypto markets extended their decline amid this backdrop. Bitcoin (BTC) briefly dipped below $86,000, while Ethereum (ETH) hovered near $2,800. The AI token complex led the losses with a 5.34% drop, and broad declines were observed across several sectors including CeFi, Layer1, DeFi, PayFi, Layer2, and Meme.
However, some tokens notably reversed the trend, with Zcash, Beldex, and Bitcoin Cash posting gains during this period.
This live market update was last recorded on December 19, 2025.
