Japan's core inflation cooled down in December, but here's the catch: the Bank of Japan still has room to push forward with rate hikes. The slowdown in price growth doesn't necessarily mean policymakers will pump the brakes. This is the kind of mixed signal that keeps markets on edge. When central banks hold steady on tightening despite moderating inflation, it usually signals confidence in their inflation-fighting stance—and that tends to ripple through risk assets, including crypto. The BOJ's signal matters because Japan's monetary moves influence global capital flows and investor sentiment across markets.