Fed Minutes Reveal Hawkish Surprise, Bitcoin Drops to $66K

The Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes indicated a surprising shift towards a more hawkish monetary policy, with several officials considering potential rate hikes if inflation persists. The FOMC voted to hold rates steady, but a significant number of participants expressed concerns about easing policy prematurely and signaled openness to raising rates. This hawkish tone, combined with rising geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, triggered a decline in Bitcoin's price, dropping it below $66,500. Despite the dip, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong suggested the decline was largely psychological and highlighted the exchange's continued Bitcoin accumulation. The crypto market now faces uncertainty as it awaits clearer signals on inflation and future rate policy.

(Source：BeInCrypto)