Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell states that the central bank is ready to perform a long-discussed rate cut this September. At a recent press conference, Powell explained that the economy is gradually getting closer to the conditions requiring a change, including cutting the current policy rate. He further stressed the Fed’s approach: “In that, we will be data dependent, but not data point dependent,” Markets debated whether the first rate cut should have been signaled as early as July; the decision to hold off till the next meeting was unanimous.
For now, the central bank is keeping a tight eye out for signals of labor market weakness. Powell said, “The overall scope of the data reflects a normalizing labor market. We’re checking to see whether this is still the case.” He went on to say that in the most recent meeting, there was a lot of debate over whether to move, considering the possible impact on inflation.
Impact of the Views on Cryptocurrency Market
The Fed seems to be dovish, but at the same time, it probably does not want to risk seeing inflation rise with an unexpected rate cut. However, after Powell’s dovish tone, the probability of a rate cut in September is now 93.5%. The current head of Galaxy Digital, Mike Novogratz, has chosen rate cuts as the variables that would be bullish for Bitcoin. While he signaled its readiness for several cuts in the reference rate this year, Powell also pointed out that the Fed could maintain rates at the current level.
However, there is an expectation of a rate cut soon, which is currently not evident in the BTC market; this asset has been struggling to stay above $65,000. This decline follows the movement of approximately $3.3 billion worth of Bitcoin by Mt. Gox earlier today, adding to market volatility.
Conclusion
Jerome Powell’s remark indicates a probable shift in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, with a rate decrease expected in September. The decision is based on a rigorous assessment of economic statistics and aims to stimulate development while avoiding inflation. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market responds strongly to these events, notably Bitcoin, which faces increased pressure. As the economic environment shifts, conventional and digital financial markets will watch the Fed’s future steps.
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