US inflation data just came in hotter than forecasted—November PPI printed at 3%, breaking through analyst expectations. This kind of print matters more than you'd think for crypto markets. When inflation stays sticky, it typically signals the Fed might hold rates higher for longer, which reshapes how traders think about risk assets across the board. Bitcoin and altcoins don't move in a vacuum; they're sensitive to the broader macroeconomic backdrop. The gap between actual and expected inflation creates volatility—watch the market's reaction closely over the next few trading sessions. Historically, stronger-than-expected inflation data has sent capital scrambling for yield and alternative stores of value.