Market Update: As we enter the last week of February, investors and crypto enthusiasts have several key economic and market events to monitor. From major U.S. economic reports to crucial earnings results and blockchain updates, here’s what you need to know for the week ahead.
Major U.S. Economic Reports & Fed Speakers
This week will be packed with economic data releases and Federal Reserve commentary, which could influence market sentiment and trading decisions. Since the U.S. economy is a major driver of global markets, these reports can also affect the overall crypto market.
Tuesday, Feb 25:
- CB Consumer Confidence (Feb) – Forecast: 104.1, Previous: 102.4
This measures how optimistic people in the U.S. feel about the economy. If confidence is high, people tend to spend more, which boosts economic activity and can indirectly impact crypto markets.
Wednesday, Feb 26:
- New Home Sales (Jan) – Forecast: 698,000, Previous: 674,000
This tells us how many new houses were sold in the U.S., which helps gauge the strength of the housing market. - Nvidia (NVDA) Earnings Report – Nvidia’s performance is crucial for the AI-driven crypto narrative.
As Nvidia leads AI technology, its earnings could impact AI-related stocks and cryptocurrencies, potentially influencing investor sentiment in the crypto market.
Thursday, Feb 27:
- Initial Jobless Claims (Feb 22) – Forecast: 219,000, Previous: 225,000
This report shows how many people in the U.S. applied for unemployment benefits, giving insights into job market health. A strong job market can boost investor confidence, affecting both traditional and crypto markets. - US Q4 2024 GDP (Second Reading) – Forecast: 2.3%, Previous: 2.3%
GDP measures the economic growth of the U.S. economy. If growth is strong, markets, including crypto, tend to react positively; if weak, it may signal economic trouble. - Pending Home Sales (Jan) – Forecast: -5.5%, Previous: -2.0%
A measure of how many home sales are expected to close soon in the U.S., indicating future housing market trends.
Friday, Feb 28:
- PCE Inflation (Jan) – Forecast: 0.3% (Month-over-Month)
- Core PCE Inflation (Jan) – Forecast: 0.2%, Previous: 0.3%
- Year-over-Year PCE Inflation – Forecast: 2.4%, Previous: 2.6%
- Year-over-Year Core PCE Inflation – Forecast: 2.6%, Previous: 2.8%
These inflation reports help the U.S. Federal Reserve decide on interest rates. Lower inflation may prevent rate hikes, which is good for markets, including crypto, as lower rates encourage investment in riskier assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Additionally, 10 Federal Reserve speakers are scheduled to provide insights on U.S. monetary policy and economic trends, which could influence investor sentiment across both traditional and crypto markets.
Major Crypto & Blockchain Events
Several key events in the crypto industry could impact prices and investor sentiment.
Enjin Coin (ENJ) – Bugis Upgrade (Feb 24, 2025)
- The Bugis upgrade goes live on Feb 24 for the Enjin Relaychain and on March 24 for the Enjin Matrixchain, bringing enhanced speed, tools, and functionality. This update improves performance for Enjin’s blockchain, mainly used for gaming and NFTs.
Source | Enjin
Hedera (HBAR) – HederaCon 2025 (Feb 25, 2025)
- Held alongside ETHDenver, this event marks Hedera’s first major user conference since 2018.
- Includes thought leadership sessions and technical deep dives. A conference where developers and industry leaders discuss the future of Hedera’s blockchain technology.
Source | Hederacon
BNB Chain – Major Upgrades (Feb 25, 2025)
- opBNB Testnet Hardfork: Brings Ethereum compatibility and smart contract improvements.
Source | BNBChain
- Pascal Testnet Fork: Enhances Ethereum compatibility and enables multi-signature transactions. These upgrades improve BNB’s blockchain security and compatibility with Ethereum applications.
Source | BNBChain
Ethereum (ETH) – Research Team Reddit AMA (Feb 25, 2025)
- The Ethereum Foundation will host an AMA, potentially revealing major updates or improvements. This Q&A session might unveil new developments that could affect Ethereum’s future.
Conflux (CFX) – XSpace with GraFun (Feb 26, 2025)
- A discussion on launching Memecoins and AI tokenization at 2 PM UTC. An interactive session discussing how AI can be integrated into crypto projects.
The Sandbox (SAND) – Town Hall (Feb 27, 2025)
- A Discord event focused on the Builders Challenge with industry insights and expert tips. Developers and creators discuss The Sandbox metaverse and upcoming projects.
WOO (WOO) – 1.5MM Token Burn (February 2025)
- By month-end, 1.5 million WOO tokens will be burned, potentially affecting tokenomics. Burning tokens reduces supply, which can drive up prices if demand remains strong.
Optimism (OP) – 31.34MM Token Unlock (Feb 28, 2025)
- Unlocking 1.93% of circulating supply at 12 AM UTC (35.1 million USDT worth).
Sui (SUI) – 22.97MM Token Unlock (Mar 1, 2025)
- Unlocking 0.74% of circulating supply at 12 AM UTC (74.87 million USDT worth).
dYdX (DYDX) – 8.33MM Token Unlock (Mar 1, 2025)
- Unlocking 1.14% of circulating supply at 12 AM UTC (6.25 million USDT worth).
Market Outlook
- U.S. Economic Data Impact: The combination of PCE inflation data and GDP readings will provide key insights into inflation trends and economic growth, which have a direct effect on global financial markets, including crypto.
- Nvidia Earnings: Given Nvidia’s role in AI, its earnings report could influence both tech stocks and AI-related crypto assets.
- Crypto Events: With multiple token unlocks, increased supply could lead to short-term price pressure on affected assets.
This week promises significant volatility and potential trading opportunities across both traditional markets and the crypto space. Stay tuned for real-time updates as these events unfold!
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. For more insights, visit blog.millionero.com. If you’re looking to trade spot and futures, check out Millionero Exchange.