Gold Price Near $4,550/oz Hits Fresh All-Time High as Safe-Haven Demand Sparks Historic Year-End Rally

During a light holiday week, crypto markets posted modest activity as investors watched macro cues. Bitcoin and leading smart-contract assets steadied near key supports, while altcoins faced thin liquidity. The tone remained cautiously constructive, with traders citing risk-off sentiment and a year-end liquidity push, as institutions rebalance portfolios ahead of holidays.

Macro highlights on the calendar included the Fed minutes from the latest policy meeting, followed by unemployment claims data and the PMI releases later in the week. Markets weighed policy flexibility against growth signals, pricing in potential rate cuts in 2025 and assessing the ripple effects for liquidity and funding costs across digital markets.

Looking ahead, digital assets traders anticipate a firmer finish to the year on improving risk appetite and sector rotation, with crypto broadly tracking broader equity strength into year-end while staying sensitive to macro surprises and regulatory developments.