Fed Hikes Rates, But Crypto Market Remains Unfazed

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter point on September 16, 2026, marking its first hike since 2023. Bitcoin barely reacted, staying above $75,000 as traders had already priced in the move.

The Fed's main rate now sits at 3.75%-4.00%, according to the Federal Open Market Committee's notes from September 17, 2026. This decision breaks a three-year streak without an increase and flips the market assumption that the next Fed move would be a cut, not a climb.

Despite the rate hike, the crypto market remained calm, with Bitcoin's dominance sitting at around 58.53% as of September 18, 2026, according to Binance data. The whole crypto market cap was valued at approximately $2.7 trillion during this time.