Manufacturing momentum returned in December as factory output and new orders picked up steam heading into year-end holidays. The rebound signals renewed demand across industrial sectors, shifting market sentiment as we enter the final stretch.

What does this mean for crypto markets? Macroeconomic data like this often ripples through risk-on and risk-off cycles. When traditional manufacturing activity strengthens, it typically reflects broader economic confidence—something that historically influences institutional capital flows into digital assets.

The timing matters too. Holiday-season order surges can sustain into Q1, potentially supporting risk appetite and capital inflows. That said, watch the inflation and rate policy implications. If factory growth translates to price pressures, central banks may tighten further, creating headwinds for risk assets.

Worth monitoring as we move into the new year—macro data increasingly sets the tone for where smart money flows.