Main navigation

BREAKING: Bitcoin Spikes to Intraday High as Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged

Wed, 01/26/2022 - 19:06
article image
Alex Dovbnya
The Fed has signaled that the first rate hike will take place in March
BREAKING: Bitcoin Spikes to Intraday High as Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged
Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here is not investment advice – it is provided for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of U.Today. Every investment and all trading involves risk, so you should always perform your own research prior to making decisions. We do not recommend investing money you cannot afford to lose.

Read U.TODAY on
Google News

The price of Bitcoin, the top cryptocurrency, spiked to an intraday high of $38,820 on the Bitstamp exchange after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it had left the overnight interest rate unchanged. 

Bitcoin
Image by tradingview.com

In its postmeeting statement, the Fed has indicated that it could raise rates in mid-March, but there is no concrete timeline for now.

The central bank was widely expected to signal that it would start hiking interest rates.

The Fed's hawkish shift has been seen as the biggest headwind for cryptocurrencies and equities.

Related
Blockbuster Preparing to Enter Crypto and NFTs
Earlier this week, Bitcoin plunged below $33,000 during a sell-off that analysts believe was caused by the unfavorable macro environment. Analysts believe that crypto and other assets were able able to benefit from the ultra-easy monetary policy conducted by the central bank to cushion the blow delivered by the pandemic.

In March 2020, the Federal Reserve slashed the benchmark short-term rate to a range of 0%-0.25%.

The central bank is also expected to phase out its unprecedented bond-buying program this March. It has now been reduced to just $30 billion a week.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell expects Omicron cases to "drop off rapidly," but he adds that the virus continues to cause "great hardship."

Inflation remains "way above" the central bank's goal of 2%, according to Powell: 

We understand that high inflation imposes significant hardships.

When it comes to the rate policy, Powell says that no decision has been made so far, adding that Fed officials will be "guided by incoming data."    

The Fed head says that there's "quite a bit of room" to move rates up without undermining the labor market. 

article image
About the author

Alex Dovbnya (aka AlexMorris) is a cryptocurrency expert, trader and journalist with extensive experience of covering everything related to the burgeoning industry — from price analysis to Blockchain disruption. Alex authored more than 1,000 stories for U.Today, CryptoComes and other fintech media outlets. He’s particularly interested in regulatory trends around the globe that are shaping the future of digital assets, can be contacted at alex.dovbnya@u.today.