When central banks tighten monetary policy, the ripple effects hit risk assets hard—and crypto doesn't escape. Take the Bank of Japan's rate hike cycle: as borrowing becomes more expensive, investors pull capital from speculative positions and rotate toward safer assets. The pattern repeats globally. You're seeing similar dynamics unfold with other regional central banks considering rate adjustments. It's not just headline news—it's about how monetary policy fundamentals reshape market flows. When institutions face higher carry costs and stricter liquidity conditions, assets like Bitcoin and altcoins tend to face selling pressure. The correlation is real: tighter money typically means tighter portfolios. Watch the broader central bank moves—they're often the real market drivers beneath the surface noise.