There is a major market event at 3 a.m. The Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes will be released, which could be the key turning point to break the nearly two-month "lying flat" situation for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Why has the market been able to hold steady within the 85,000-95,000 range for so long? Essentially, everyone has been waiting for a signal—the Fed's true stance. This December minutes are especially critical, as they can reveal the officials' real disagreements over inflation and the economy.

Currently, there are two factions within the Federal Reserve: one worries about a rebound in inflation and firmly opposes further rate cuts; the other sees rising unemployment and is eager to loosen policy. Market rumors suggest that this minutes are very likely to lean hawkish, emphasizing that the current interest rate levels may need to be maintained longer. For crypto assets, this poses obvious short-term pressure.

**Short-term Operation Tips**

Once a hawkish signal is confirmed, dollar appreciation usually suppresses risk assets. If Bitcoin breaks below the support zone of 83,821-86,284, it may test the 80,641 level below. Users holding high leverage positions should be alert tonight.

**Long-term Perspective**

The panic selling pressure after the release of these minutes might actually create good opportunities for phased accumulation. Interestingly, the amount of coins whales transferred to exchanges in December has halved, indicating that large holders are also waiting for similar low-entry opportunities. If policy concerns trigger a short-term decline, it might be worth paying attention to tokens with real application and ecological support.

Two months of sideways consolidation essentially reflect the market accumulating energy for a direction. After the minutes are released, whether the market's move is a false break caused by technical factors or a genuine downtrend will become clearer. Whether key supports can hold and which sectors will lead the rally are all worth close observation.