Did Ethereum Merge Optimism Lift Ether or Was It the S&P 500?

Possibly behind the equity rally in July and the first half of August was the hope that inflation has peaked and the Federal Reserve would resort to rate cuts next year. That dovish Fed narrative, however, fizzled out in the second half last month, bringing renewed weakness in stocks and cryptocurrencies, with ether tumbling more than 20% from a peak hit on Aug. 14.