#PowellRemarks
Powell's Rate Hold Stalls Crypto Rally: Bitcoin Stuck in $104K-$105K Range
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's decision to maintain interest rates at **4.25%-4.50%** has frozen Bitcoin's momentum near **$104,000–$105,000**, a critical technical support zone. Despite mounting political pressure from former President Trump—who called Powell "a stupid person" for refusing to cut rates—the Fed emphasized a "well positioned to wait" stance, citing tariff-driven inflation risks .
### Key Market Reactions:
1. **Cautious Sentiment**: Bitcoin and Ethereum traded within narrow bands, with muted price swings reflecting investor uncertainty. Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows acted as a stabilizing buffer, absorbing selling pressure .
2. **Institutional Moves**: Firms like **Metaplanet** and **MicroStrategy** aggressively accumulated BTC during the lull, leveraging bonds and equity sales. U.S.-listed miners now contribute **31.6%** of global hashrate, underscoring institutional dominance .
3. **Technical Standoff**: Analysts flagged **$100,000** as the next major support if Powell's hawkish tone persists, while a break above **$112,000** could trigger a short-squeeze rally .
Powell acknowledged tariffs would "ultimately fall on consumers," potentially worsening inflation—a factor that may delay rate cuts until 2026. For crypto, this prolongs range-bound action unless geopolitical risks or Fed signals shift .
