At its July meeting, the U.S. central bank kept interest rates unchanged, reaffirming its wait-and-see approach despite mounting pressure from Donald Trump. Fed Chair Jerome Powell maintained a cautious tone, triggering unease among investors and the crypto community.
Fifth Straight Hold, But Internal Fed Split Emerges
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to maintain the interest rate at 4.25% to 4.5%, marking the fifth consecutive meeting with no change.
However, the decision revealed internal disagreement. Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, both Trump appointees, voted for a 25-basis-point cut, citing strong GDP and macroeconomic performance. Still, the final vote was 9–2 in favor of holding steady.
The Fed remains concerned about the potential consequences of Trump’s tariffs, particularly the new 25% duty on India and the revised trade deal with South Korea.
Trump Pushes for Cuts, Powell Holds the Line
Trump has repeatedly claimed that each additional rate point costs the U.S. $365 billion, insisting that inflation is under control and rates should fall. But Powell pushed back:
“Cutting rates too early could undermine inflation control, while waiting too long could hurt the labor market.”
While he acknowledged slowing housing activity and moderately elevated inflation, Powell emphasized that no decision has been made for September. Nevertheless, the market remains hopeful: CME FedWatch shows a 45.2% probability of a rate cut in September and 48.7% in October.
Trump, in his own briefing, mentioned hearing about “changes being prepared for September,” stoking further speculation.
Markets Disappointed — Stocks and Crypto Slide
The Fed’s decision and Powell’s cautious rhetoric disappointed Wall Street:
🔹 S&P 500 dropped 0.1%
🔹 Dow Jones fell 0.4%
🔹 Bitcoin dropped 0.9%, followed by most altcoins
Tokens like BNB and FLOKI suffered sharper declines, especially after being mentioned in the White House’s new crypto policy report, which addressed digital asset reserves.
Cautious Optimism Lingers Despite Pullback
The crypto market had already faced volatility earlier in the week, so investors are treading carefully. Despite the dip, market sentiment remains greedy, and a rebound is still possible — depending on monetary signals in the coming weeks.
🔍 One-Minute Summary:
The FOMC kept rates unchanged, though two Fed members pushed for cuts. Powell remains cautious, warning against premature easing. Stocks and crypto fell after the announcement, but expectations for a September cut are still alive. Trump continues to pressure the Fed, and markets await the next move.
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