FOMC Minutes Signal Fewer Rate Cuts; Bitcoin Retreats
The Federal Reserve's FOMC minutes released Wednesday showed a clear reluctance among many officials to pursue another rate cut this year, highlighting mounting inflationary pressures. That tone further damped expectations for a December easing, shifting investors toward a more cautious outlook on monetary policy and increasing uncertainty about the pace of any future loosening.
Crypto and risk assets reacted quickly: Bitcoin slipped as traders scaled back bets on near-term rate relief and repriced a stickier Fed. The move underscores how sensitive digital assets remain to macro signals—less accommodative policy can raise funding costs and amplify volatility—so Bitcoin's near-term trajectory will likely depend on upcoming inflation data and further Fed commentary clarifying the policy path.