Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $60K Amid Fears of Sell-Off on 50 Basis Point Fed Rate Cut

Bitcoin (BTC) is holding its ground above the $60,000 mark, even after a brief dip below the level during late U.S. trading hours. Traders around the world are awaiting a key announcement from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), with many expecting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to reveal a rate cut. The decision, expected to be made later today, could have significant implications for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin’s Current Performance

As of early Wednesday, Bitcoin traded just above $60,300, marking a nearly 4% rise in the last 24 hours and a 7% gain for the week. The overall market saw mixed movements, with Ethereum (ETH), BNB, and Dogecoin (DOGE) showing slight increases, while XRP, Cardano’s ADA, and Toncoin (TON) experienced minor losses. 

Anticipation for the FOMC Meeting

The FOMC is set to release its statement and interest rate decision at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Historically, lower borrowing costs have sparked bullish sentiment in riskier assets like Bitcoin, as cheaper access to capital encourages growth in these sectors. According to Fed fund data, traders are pricing in a 67% chance of a rate cut, which would lower interest rates to the 4.5%-5% range, down from the current two-decade high of 5.25%-5.5%.

A larger cut, such as a 50 basis point (bps) reduction, could signal economic concerns and trigger a sell-off in the crypto market, as noted by analysts. On the other hand, a more modest 25 bps cut is expected to boost market sentiment, potentially driving further gains in Bitcoin.

Learn How the Federal Reserve’s Rate Cuts Impact Bitcoin and the Broader Cryptocurrency Market

Positive Sentiment in the Broader Crypto Market

In other cryptocurrency news, altcoins like Sui saw significant gains, rising more than 7%. This increase is attributed to the recent launch of USDC on the platform and Circle’s new Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), which allows for seamless cross-chain transfers on Sui.

Meanwhile, at the Token 2049 conference in Singapore, Circle announced a strategic partnership with Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform. The partnership aims to integrate Circle’s infrastructure, including CCTP, into Polymarket’s ecosystem. This move is expected to increase liquidity and enhance user experience in decentralized prediction markets.

Closing Remarks

As Bitcoin continues to hover above $60K, traders are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s rate cut decision and its potential impact on the market. While concerns over a 50 bps cut loom, long-term prospects remain optimistic, especially as key players in the crypto space like Circle continue to make strategic moves to drive innovation and growth.