Inflation in Tokyo surprised on the downside as food and energy pressures finally eased up. On paper, that should cool things down, right? But here's the thing—don't expect the Bank of Japan to pump the brakes just yet. The central bank is still eyeing further rate hikes. Why? Because even with inflation moderating, underlying price stickiness remains a concern. It's a classic balancing act: cooling inflation readings versus the risk of derailing growth. For crypto markets, this matters more than you'd think. BOJ tightening cycles often ripple through global asset classes, affecting everything from altcoin flows to stablecoin demand.