Bitcoin climbed back above $77,500 during Asian trading hours on September 3, 2026, with XRP leading the major tokens after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signaled openness to holding rates steady, easing implied odds of a September hike toward 62%. For Southeast Asian traders logging on in Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila, the rebound arrived as a risk-on cue after a jittery week.
Bitcoin Reclaims $77,500 as Sentiment Turns Risk-On
Bitcoin traded just above $77,600 in the Asian morning session after touching a 24-hour low of $76,400, CoinDesk reported. Reclaiming a round-number zone matters because it flips a level that had capped buyers into near-term support. For related coverage, see Best Bitcoin Casinos Brazil 2026: PIX, BRL, and SPA-Regulated Guide.
By the latest market snapshot, bitcoin was changing hands at $81,108, up roughly 4.1% on the day, extending the recovery well clear of the headline level. This article focuses on that near-term price action rather than a longer cycle call. For related coverage, see American Bitcoin Mined 932 BTC in Q2 2026, Record High.
Broader mood is firmly greedy. The Fear and Greed Index reads 74, in “Greed” territory, while total crypto market capitalization sits near $2.74 trillion. That risk appetite echoes the setup seen when bitcoin held above $78,000 earlier as majors jostled for leadership.
XRP Outperforms the Majors in the Latest Upswing
XRP led the majors in the session at $1.36, up almost 3%, while ether lagged at just under $2,400, per market reporting. XRP’s relative strength stood out against a mixed field of majors.
On the day’s tape, XRP was up 5.63% over 24 hours versus bitcoin’s 4.10%, outrunning ether, solana, and dogecoin in the sampled set.
When a large-cap altcoin like XRP outpaces bitcoin, it often signals broadening risk appetite beyond the flagship. That participation is closely watched on regional venues such as Indodax and Coins.ph, where XRP is a retail favorite across the archipelago markets.
Waller’s Comments Ease Pressure on Risk Assets
The catalyst was policy. Waller said he would be inclined to support holding the federal funds target at its current setting if incoming disinflation data continue over the next two weeks, while still leaving a hike at the September 15-16 FOMC meeting on the table if August data show the improvement was fleeting, according to his prepared remarks.
Markets moved fast. After Waller spoke, the odds of a September hike fell from nearly 65% toward roughly 50-50, AP reported. Softer rate-hike expectations reduce the pull of yield-bearing assets, giving room for non-yielding bets like crypto to rally.
Early coverage pegged the implied hike probability near 62% at publication, according to a single CoinDesk snapshot citing CME FedWatch, though later same-day figures had already drifted closer to 50%. Waller flagged 12-month PCE inflation running at 3.7%, well above the Fed’s 2% goal, keeping the door open either way.
The dovish tilt reverses part of the hawkish framing from Chairman Kevin Warsh, who said at Jackson Hole on August 28 that the Fed must be confident inflation is moving to target at sufficient speed or “we have work to do.” That earlier stance had helped drive the sell-off when bitcoin slid to $78.4K on Warsh’s tone.
Nansen senior research analyst Nicolai Søndergaard said bitcoin may have formed an important local bottom, but the broader cycle turn remains unconfirmed, per the same reporting. The rebound resembles prior episodes when dovish Fed signals lifted XRP and DOGE alongside bitcoin.
For Southeast Asia, the read-through is direct: a steadier Fed path tempers the dollar strength that squeezes the rupiah, peso, and baht, easing imported pressure on local exchanges. Regional desks on Tokocrypto and Upbit KR now turn to the August inflation print and the September 15-16 FOMC decision, the two events that will confirm whether this macro relief holds.
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.
