Investor Bets Big on Fed Rate Prediction, Wins $35,000 Profit

In a stunning display of confidence and risk-taking, an investor recently turned a massive $1.86 million bet into a 35,000 profit by predicting the outcome of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on the Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction platform.

A High-Stakes Bet on Interest Rates

On January 2, the investor placed a large bet on Polymarket, speculating on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Traders had three main possibilities: the Fed could either keep rates unchanged, cut them by at least 25 basis points, or raise them by 25 or 50 basis points.

When the FOMC meeting concluded on January 29, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced that interest rates would remain between 4.25% and 4.50%—a decision most experts had expected.

This came after three rate cuts in 2024, as the central bank continues to balance economic growth with inflation control.

A Risky Gamble Pays Off

Betting on no rate cut, the investor took a big risk—and it paid off with a $35,000 profit.

While the profit seems small compared to the initial $1.86 million bet, the stakes were high. Had the Fed opted for a rate cut, the investor could have lost everything.

Crypto Market Reacts to FOMC Decision

The FOMC meeting also had an impact on the cryptocurrency market. Powell’s remarks that U.S. banks can handle risks associated with crypto clients were seen as positive for the industry.

Following the announcement, Bitcoin surged to $106K, gaining 5%, while altcoins followed with strong momentum. Trading activity spiked as investor confidence grew, and Bitcoin ETFs continued attracting inflows.