December just brought some sobering news for market watchers—US manufacturing activity hit a 6-month low. The latest PMI readings came in weaker than expected, signaling cooling momentum in the world's largest economy.

What does this mean for the broader market? Economic headwinds like these typically ripple through risk assets, including crypto markets. When traditional economies show signs of slowdown, investors often reassess their exposure to volatile markets. At the same time, weakness in traditional finance sometimes drives attention toward alternative assets.

For traders and portfolio managers tracking macro trends, this data point joins a growing list of mixed economic signals to watch closely in the coming weeks.