Fed Rates Hold Steady: Bitcoin Price Unimpacted as Other Assets Bleed

Published by

Qadir AK

February 1, 2024

Fed’s Big Decision: Will They Lower Interest Rates? Here Are Some Clues

The world held its breath as the Fed announced its decision… would interest rates rise or fall?

But Bitcoin has proven its resilience following the recent decision by the Federal Reserve to maintain interest rates. This sets it apart from the broader market, which experienced a downturn. While various assets were affected by the Fed’s announcement, Bitcoin emerged relatively unharmed.

What does this mean for the future of finance? Let’s read on.

Bitcoin Stands Strong

Contrary to the widespread anticipation of a rate cut, the Fed’s decision resulted in declines for both traditional stocks and cryptocurrencies. However, Bitcoin stood out, experiencing only a marginal 2.2% dip and maintaining a price above $43,000. This demonstrated its resilience compared to other digital assets, with Ethereum, for instance, facing a more substantial 1.5% drop.

For the fourth consecutive time, the Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates steady, maintaining the target range for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 percent. Fed Chairman Powell’s cautious remarks conveyed a reluctance to hastily implement rate cuts, stating, “We’re not declaring victory yet.” The central bank emphasized the importance of gathering more positive economic data and ensuring sustained progress towards the 2% inflation target.

Expert Opinions

Financial experts provided diverse perspectives on the Federal Reserve’s stance. James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares, noted that Powell’s comments were “a little more hawkish than expected,” leading to declines in tech and banking stocks. Analyst Tony Sycamore highlighted potential challenges for Bitcoin and risk assets due to the Fed’s hawkish sentiment.

Is An Upswing Coming?

In response to the Fed’s decision, Bitcoin’s price temporarily dipped but remained above $42,000. Analyst Tony Sycamore suggested a potential rally towards $45,000 before a correction to the mid-$30,000 range. Despite short-term fluctuations, Sycamore anticipated a resumption of Bitcoin’s general uptrend.

Also Read: Decoding The Possibility Of Bitcoin (BTC) Price Dropping Below $38K in February

Qadir AK

Qadir Ak is the founder of Coinpedia. He has over a decade of experience writing about technology and has been covering the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2010. He has also interviewed a few prominent experts within the cryptocurrency space.