December's US inflation numbers just landed: monthly CPI came in at 0.3% against expectations of 0.3%, while the year-over-year reading hit 2.7%—right on the dot with forecasts. Nothing surprised the markets, but that's exactly what the Fed wants to see. Steady inflation readings like these matter for crypto traders paying attention to rate expectations and dollar strength. When CPI matches consensus, it typically signals the central bank has room to breathe and adjust policy without radical shifts. For the crypto ecosystem, this kind of predictable economic data usually translates to calmer markets and clearer directional signals.