Fed Holds Rates Steady Despite Three Policymaker Dissents, Bitcoin Surges

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, but three policymakers voted to raise them. The vote was the most contested outcome of Kevin Warsh's short tenure as chair.

Bitcoin and gold both climbed within minutes of the announcement, with Bitcoin reaching an intraday high near $64,700 and gold spot prices touching $4,084. The split vote signals growing internal divisions at the Fed.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the federal funds target range at 3.50% to 3.75% by a vote of 9 to 3. Cleveland's Beth Hammack, Minneapolis chief Neel Kashkari, and Dallas president Lorie Logan each wanted a quarter point increase.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh joked that he had asked for a 'good family fight' and got one, as the split signal growing internal divisions at the central bank.