Bitcoin Price Remains Flat After Fed Holds Interest Rates
Bitcoin’s price remained mostly flat after the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates at their current level, as expected. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the benchmark federal funds rate in the range of 5.25%-5.50%, marking the first rate pause of 2024.
The FOMC stated that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace, with moderate job gains and a low unemployment rate. However, inflation remains elevated, and the committee does not expect to reduce the target range until there is greater confidence that inflation is moving toward 2% sustainably.
Institutional Participation May Impact Bitcoin’s Responsiveness to Interest Rates
CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill suggested that as financial institutions increasingly participate in the market through multiple spot bitcoin ETFs, bitcoin will become more responsive to interest rate decisions. This means that bitcoin prices may be influenced by interest rate sensitive macro data in the future, such as payrolls and CPI.
Hot Take: Bitcoin’s Stability Reflects Maturity in the Market
The stability of bitcoin’s price following the Fed’s decision to hold interest rates showcases the growing maturity of the cryptocurrency market. As more institutional investors enter the space and regulatory clarity improves, bitcoin is becoming less volatile and more responsive to traditional market factors. This trend is expected to continue as financial institutions continue to embrace cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.