Fed Opts for Stability, Bitcoin Benefits

Following the latest announcements by the Federal Reserve, cryptocurrency investors have reason to be satisfied.

Federal Reserve opted for stability on Thursday, leaving interest rates unchanged and hinting at two cuts in 2025, while also reducing its balance sheet reduction program. This announcement had a positive impact on cryptocurrency investors, with the Bitcoin price quickly surging towards $88,000 in response.

As anticipated by economists polled by Dow Jones, the US central bank decided to keep its benchmark rates within the current range of 4.25% to 4.5%. This decision follows a rapid series of rate hikes in 2022, implemented to curb inflation, which has since eased but remains above the Fed's 2% target.

"We will be attentive to incoming information in evaluating the appropriate economic and financial policy responses to promote the realization of the [Fed's] goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and optimal long-term economic performance," the Fed stated in its statement.

"The Fed officials' median projection showed two quarter-point rate cuts in 2025, after which rates would stabilize around 3%. These projections, known as the "dot plot," displayed a slight increase in the terminal rate from 3.75% to 3.9%.

While the Fed's statement did not express any concern over the US default on its debt obligations earlier this year, officials signaled their willingness to lower the Treasury securities purchase cap from $25 billion per month to $5 billion. This move was highly anticipated by traders, who believe it could further fuel risk appetite.

"The Fed is winding down QT more slowly than the market had anticipated. This will put more downward pressure on yields and provide additional support for equities and other risky assets," stated Ben Peoples, a senior economist at Deutsche Bank.

In his post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the institution's primary focus remains on returning inflation to the 2% goal.

"We are fully committed to returning inflation to the 2% goal. We will use our instruments and knowledge to do so. And if our analysis indicates that a reduction in the pace of QT would support the realization of the goal, then we will be prepared to do so."

During the press conference, officials also revealed their projections for economic growth in 2023, ranging from 3.0% to 3.5%, a revision from the 1.0% to 2.0% projection in March. The projections for 2024 displayed a narrower range of 1.8% to 2.0%, compared to the 1.0% to 1.8% projection.

For 2025, officials project a modest growth rate of 1.5%, remaining optimistic despite the pessimistic tone of private-sector economists.

In his opening remarks, Powell highlighted the resilience of the US economy, which has prevented a recession despite the rapid series of interest rate hikes.

"The US economy has proven to be more resilient than many economists anticipated. It has absorbed the rapid tightening of monetary policy without a recession."

Despite the positive outlooks and projections, Fed officials displayed caution regarding the economic outlook, particularly in the second half of the year.

"Several officials expressed concern over the persistence of inflation in the 2.5 to 3.0 percent range, which is higher than the 2 percent goal, and the potential for slower-than-expected economic growth in the second half of 2023."

This concern is evident in the projections for the unemployment rate, which officials see stabilizing at 3.8 to 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 3.9 to 4.1 percent in 2024, before a slight decrease to 3.7 to 3.9 percent in 2025.

The projections also indicate a pessimistic outlook for consumer price inflation, with officials projecting a rate of 2.3 to 2.5 percent in 2025, following a 2.1 to 2.3 percent projection for 2024. Only one official predicts that inflation will reach the 2 percent goal by the end of 2025.

"The projections indicate that inflation will decline to 2.1 to 2.3 percent in 2024 and 2.3 to 2.5 percent in 2025. One official predicts that inflation will return to the 2 percent goal by the end of 2025," the Fed stated in its release.lower interest rates on the horizon for 2025

Crypto investors will be pleased to hear that the Federal Reserve hinted at the possibility of two rate cuts in 2025.

As the Fed keeps its rates unchanged and signals future easing, Bitcoin price is surging towards $90,000.

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