Is Bitcoin Being Propped Up? Jim Cramer Stokes Controversy | US Crypto News

Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.

Grab a coffee and settle in. This week, Bitcoin’s movements have traders talking, analysts scratching their heads, and even some familiar voices hinting that not everything is as it seems. Amid dips, recoveries, and cryptic warnings, one question lingers: who—or what—might really be pulling the strings behind the scenes?

Crypto News of the Day: Behind Bitcoin’s Strength—A Cabal? Jim Cramer Thinks So

Jim Cramer has once again sparked a wave of speculation across Crypto Twitter and trading desks, after suggesting that unseen forces may be at work to keep Bitcoin elevated despite mounting macroeconomic pressure.

“Almost feels like a cabal is trying to keep Bitcoin above $90,000. I like Bitcoin, but I do not like any of the derivatives created to play it, game it, or mine it,” he stated.

The remark landed at a sensitive moment for the market. Bitcoin dipped below $90,000 earlier in the week before recovering, prompting traders to dissect Cramer’s choice of words.

His reference to a “cabal,” even if rhetorical, was enough to spark theories ranging from ETF market makers defending key levels to institutional buyers accumulating quietly as liquidity thins.

Cramer doubled down hours later with another pointed message: “Even after all of this destruction, we are not oversold!!!”

To many traders, this sounded less like caution and more like classic Cramer timing, historically notorious for aligning with market inflection points in the opposite direction.

That instantly fed the Inverse Cramer narrative: when Cramer turns bearish or warning-heavy, some traders look for a bottom instead.

BUY everything

— Ali (@ali_charts) November 19, 2025

However, analysts argue that the market’s recent behavior has far more to do with macroeconomic forces than memes.

Macro Forces, Not Memes: What’s Really Driving Bitcoin’s Recent Volatility

According to QCP, Bitcoin’s brief break below the $90,000 threshold reflected the asset’s growing sensitivity to shifts in liquidity and interest-rate expectations.

Firmer rate outlooks, coupled with persistent outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, have weighed on sentiment for weeks. The rapid repricing in Federal Reserve expectations, from an assumed December rate cut to a coin flip has only intensified those pressures.

“Markets have sharply repriced Fed expectations, cutting December rate cut odds from ‘near certain’ to ‘even,’” QCP noted, emphasizing how such macro adjustments disproportionately affect duration-sensitive assets like Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, equities have remained relatively resilient thanks to blockbuster earnings from AI-driven hyperscalers. Big Tech’s strength has left crypto trailing behind, amplifying volatility as liquidity thins.

Now that the US government has reopened and economic data releases are resuming, traders are bracing for a critical week.

Labor-market indicators and the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index, updated with new vacancy metrics, are expected to shape market expectations as we enter 2026.

These data points will help define whether the Fed leans toward caution on inflation or acknowledges signs of cooling.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s recent reminder that a December cut is “not guaranteed” has reinforced the cautious mood.

For Bitcoin, the question is whether recent turbulence represents a standard positioning shakeout or the opening act of broader risk-off dynamics.

Cramer’s “cabal” comment may have dominated the headlines, but the real driver may still be the macro tide, and whether it turns against crypto or slowly back in its favor.

Chart of the Day

Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Byte-Sized Alpha

Here’s a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:

• Japan’s yield shock threatens global markets — and Bitcoin may be next.
• Andrew Tate becomes “one of the worst traders in crypto” after losing over $800,000.
• Tether dominance hits 6% in November – Why this is a worrying signal.
• LIBRA price pumps 30% as investigators uncover a political bombshell.
• Analysts reveal key support levels for Bitcoin if selling pressure doesn’t ease in November.
• Ethereum drops near $3,000, but on-chain ‘opportunity zone’ hints at rebound.
• Top 3 Price Prediction Bitcoin, Gold, Silver: Bulls come ashore ahead of October FOMC Minutes.
• From 2052 to 2034: Quantum progress accelerates the countdown to Q-Day.

Crypto Equities Pre-Market Overview

Company	At the Close of November 18	Pre-Market Overview
Strategy (MSTR)	$206.80	$205.75 (-0.51%)
Coinbase (COIN)	$261.79	$262.73 (+0.36%)
Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY)	$25.58	$25.84 (+1.02%)
MARA Holdings (MARA)	$11.88	$11.99 (+0.93%)
Riot Platforms (RIOT)	$13.94	$14.03 (+0.65%)
Core Scientific (CORZ)	$15.43	$15.80 (+2.40%)

Crypto equities market open race: