BTC Slips to $93,000 Following Fed’s Concerns Over Trump Policies

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve disclosed the records from their December 17th-18th gathering, indicating that members were worried about potential economic repercussions stemming from Donald Trump’s proposed policies as the incoming president.

According to the meeting minutes, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) deliberated on various topics such as potential inflation threats and the projected reduction in interest rate reductions, indicating a cautious stance by the Fed as they move towards 2025.

Fed’s Cautious Approach to Rate Cuts Amid Inflation and Economic Risks

As an analyst, I’ve observed that the FOMC minutes underscored their choice to reduce interest rates by 0.25%. The majority of participants favored a cautious strategy when it comes to additional monetary loosening. Notably, several officials underscored the significance of data-driven decision-making, given that inflation continues to exceed our set target levels.

The minutes mentioned that several people proposed multiple elements as reasons why caution should be exercised when making monetary policy choices during the next few periods.

some representatives advocated for a more adaptable approach. They suggested that interest rates could be reduced faster if inflation decreases or if the job market worsens beyond forecasts. Despite differing opinions, the general feeling was one of caution to prevent mistakes in policy-making as the Federal Reserve evaluates the appropriate neutral rate.

The meeting minutes showed an increasing apprehension about the potential for inflation, a worry that several Fed members linked to President Trump’s trade and immigration policies. At 2.8%, core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation was stable in October, yet officials warned that reducing it might take longer than initially thought.

The report indicates that the risk of inflation is currently evenly balanced, but it’s important to keep a close eye on unexpectedly high readings we’ve seen recently.

Although the job market has somewhat relaxed, unemployment stays relatively low at 4.2%, and the economy’s expansion is predicted to continue robustly. Yet, many individuals have pointed out financial pressures on lower-income families as a possible issue worth monitoring closely.

Markets Respond to Fed’s Stance on Trump’s Policies

Federal officials voiced concern over President Trump’s suggested trade and immigration policies, fearing they could worsen inflationary pressures. The meeting minutes implied that these policies could hinder the Fed’s efforts to achieve both its inflation and employment targets.

One person mentioned that increased tariffs and tougher immigration policies might interfere with supply lines and workforces, making the Federal Reserve’s job even more challenging due to added complexity.

swiftly responding to the situation, Zero Hedge – a well-known platform (once known as Twitter) – weighed in on the Fed officials’ apprehensions and actions regarding the inflation effects stemming from Trump’s administration’s policies.

He stated that instead of reacting to inflation, the Federal Reserve takes a proactive stance and is aggressively opposed to a president’s policy when they disagree, even if such a policy hasn’t been established.

The cryptocurrency market showed signs of turbulence following the FOMC minutes release, with Bitcoin (BTC) taking a significant dip. Immediately after the minutes were made public, BTC fell dramatically to approximately $92,500. This drop reflects the market’s vulnerability to uncertainties in monetary policy, as the cautious stance taken by the Fed caused apprehension among traders.

The recent drop in Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market underscores the complex relationship between economic policies, monetary strategies, and investor attitudes. This downturn occurred amidst speculations that President Trump’s favorable views on cryptocurrencies could greatly influence the market direction in the future.

According to a report by BeInCrypto, Donald Trump’s administration’s policies may encourage the use of cryptocurrencies. Yet, some argue that these same policies might lead to increased regulation which could cause price fluctuations or instability.

Based on information from BeInCrypto, Bitcoin was being bought and sold for approximately $93,001 at the time of writing, representing a drop of more than 3% since trading began on Thursday morning. As President Trump’s policies become clearer in the upcoming months, the Federal Reserve’s delicate juggling act will continue to be a significant concern for both conventional and cryptocurrency markets.

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2025-01-09 12:59