The Federal Reserve has decided to keep interest rates unchanged for the third consecutive meeting in 2026, aligning with the expectations of most analysts. The benchmark rate remains within the 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent range following the latest FOMC decision.
Historically, Bitcoin has tended to struggle in the days immediately following such meetings, and early market reactions suggest a similar pattern may be unfolding again.
The decision, which passed with eight votes in favor and four against, is widely expected to be the final FOMC meeting led by Jerome Powell. Officials cited rising costs, particularly those influenced by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, as a key reason for maintaining current policy.
Recent inflation data for March showed a notable increase compared to February, with energy prices playing a major role due to continued geopolitical uncertainty.
Bitcoin Declines After Announcement
In the days leading up to the meeting, Bitcoin had already dropped by nearly 4,000 dollars. Following the announcement, the cryptocurrency extended its losses, falling below the 75,000 dollar level. The broader market mirrored this movement, with most altcoins also turning lower.
Just days earlier, Bitcoin had reached around 79,500 dollars before facing strong resistance and reversing course. From that peak, it has now lost close to 5,000 dollars.
Market volatility has also triggered a surge in liquidations, which exceeded 500 million dollars over a 24 hour period. Notably, around 200 million dollars of those liquidations occurred within a single hour, highlighting the intensity of the sell off.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic
