Bitcoin and the Japanese Yen are seeing notable price shifts following predictions for a Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate hike. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes the BOJ will act to combat inflation, prompting analysts to expect the yen’s strength against both the U.S. dollar and Bitcoin. His comments contrast with the cautious stance of BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda, who argues underlying inflation remains below their 2% target despite headline inflation exceeding it. The potential for a rate hike has triggered a stronger yen across major currency pairs: BTC/JPY dropped by 1.7%, while BTC/USD slipped to $121,650 on Coinbase. The USD/JPY also experienced a decline for the third consecutive day, reaching a three-week low of 146.21 according to TradingView data. **However, analysts are questioning whether the yen’s strength will be as potent as in the past. Marc Chandler from Bannockburn Global Forex suggests that the yen may no longer be the go-to funding currency, with other options like the Swiss Franc offering lower interest rates.** This shift could potentially signal a diminishing role for the yen as a primary trigger for risk-off movements in the market.