Bitcoin (BTC) news: Need more evidence before lowering rates further, says Fed's Hammack

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, who will become a voting member of the FOMC in 2026, stated her base case is to keep interest rates at the current level until there is clearer evidence that inflation is returning to target or employment weakens materially. Hammack expressed skepticism regarding the recent sharp decline in the November Consumer Price Index report, attributing distortions to the prior fall's government shutdown and estimating the inflation rate to be closer to 2.9% or 3.0%. Her view on monetary policy contrasts significantly with that of Fed Governor Chris Waller; Waller believes the current fed funds rate is restrictive, while Hammack thinks it is slightly below the neutral rate, suggesting it is somewhat stimulative. This difference in perspective between two key 2026 policy-setters suggests potential dissents in future FOMC decisions, which could complicate setting policy.

(Source：CoinDesk)