As we roll into Monday, the crypto world is experiencing a bit of a shakeup. Bitcoin is hovering around $115,000 while Ether remains strong above $4,200. But signs of profit-taking are appearing, creating ripples across the markets.

Over the weekend, Bitcoin slipped 2.4% in the last 24 hours, while Ether experienced a 4.4% decline. Solana's SOL and XRP suffered even steeper losses, plunging nearly 5%, leading the pack of major cryptocurrencies downwards.

BNB stays resilient at about $833 after a slight daily fall, while Dogecoin slips closer to 22 cents and Cardano's ADA clings to around 91 cents despite sellers pushing liquidity intraday.

Investors are largely holding their breath, watching for the U.S. equity markets to open, as many anticipate that crypto might mirror stock responses in the absence of new macroeconomic signals. The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting in September continues to loom large, with expectations for potential rate cuts now deeply embedded in bond and futures markets.

Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, shared insights on Bitcoin's possible resurgence as a 'digital gold' if monetary easing gains traction, stating, “The Fed's potential rate cuts could bring Bitcoin closer to gold as a liquidity-driven hedge. However, recent trends show gold thriving on central bank demand, while BTC remains linked to risk-on sentiment.”

In a striking contrast, gold prices have soared to all-time highs, driven by unprecedented central bank buying and geopolitical concerns, pulling away from Bitcoin’s usual correlations with equities.

Experts believe the next few weeks could be pivotal. Jeff Mei, COO at BTSE, noted, "This weekend lacked major movement, so we anticipate that cryptocurrencies will align with stock trends when the U.S. market opens later today."

He continued, "With no major economic indicators on the horizon this week, traders' reactions to upcoming retail earnings announcements from giants like Wal-Mart, Lowe's, and Target could provide signals about the broader economic environment. It will be fascinating to see how markets respond to these insights."

In the near term, cryptocurrencies appear tethered to stock performances, but September could be a decisive month determining whether Bitcoin resumes its identity as a safe haven alongside gold or continues to ride the waves of liquidity and risk assets.