There’s a tough battle to fight next week.

At 3 a.m. on December 11, the Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision. The market is currently pricing in an 87% chance of a rate cut. If they really loosen up, and liquidity floods in, can Bitcoin lead the charge upward this time? But don’t let your guard down—if Powell suddenly changes his tune, the whole picture could flip in an instant.

Besides the Fed, the “main course,” there are some easily overlooked variables:

US productivity data and trade balance figures are set to be released in quick succession. These directly influence whether people think the economy is headed for recession or inflation. If sentiment shifts, the crypto market will sway along with it.

China’s trade data is about to be published, and OPEC’s oil report is coming soon. Even more notable is the recent surge in copper prices, which have already reached new highs. These seemingly unrelated events are actually quietly shifting the direction of capital flows.

Copper prices are worth a few extra words. The surge is driven by the explosive growth in AI industries and global electricity demand. You see, this lines up perfectly with the current “AI + blockchain” narrative that’s hot in the crypto space. Will there be action in related sectors down the line? It might be wise to keep an eye on AI-related projects within the Ethereum ecosystem.

In short, next week isn’t just about whether the Fed loosens policy—you have to connect all these dots to see the bigger picture.