Fed Holds Rates at 3.50–3.75% as Bitcoin, Ethereum Trade Flat Ahead of Powell
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday maintained its benchmark interest rate at 3.50%–3.75%, a move that produced little immediate market drama. Bitcoin and Ethereum traded flat in the run-up to Chair Jerome Powell's scheduled remarks, with traders treating the speech as the next key input for asset allocation. The decision preserves current borrowing costs but leaves the door open for guidance to shape near-term sentiment.
For crypto investors, steady rates remove an immediate policy shock, but Powell's tone could still trigger volatility. A hawkish message could lift the dollar and bond yields and weigh on risk assets, while a dovish tilt might restore some risk appetite for digital assets. Market participants will be watching Powell for clues on inflation, the pace of future hikes and liquidity conditions that could influence BTC and ETH price action.