Crypto Market Slides as FOMC Minutes Signal Potential 2026 Rate Hike

Key Insights:

• The crypto market declines as FOMC news shows officials still see inflation risks and another 2026 hike.
• All 19 officials supported September’s rate increase, while some saw inflation risks skewed higher.
• Officials cited AI investment, energy costs, tariffs, and Treasury yields among factors affecting inflation and markets.

The crypto market faced renewed selling pressure after FOMC news showed officials remained concerned about inflation. The minutes showed broad support for maintaining pressure on the economy. All 19 officials backed September’s rate hike, while most considered another increase in 2026 potentially appropriate.

Meanwhile, several officials said the current policy rate remained only mildly restrictive or not restrictive. Bitcoin traded near $83,088, down 2.8% over 24 hours. Ethereum fell 5% to about $2,547, while XRP dropped 5% to $1.42. Solana declined 3.2% to $116.14. Zcash also fell 3% to $1,305.

The latest FOMC news centered on inflation, with officials reporting limited progress toward the 2% target. Most participants judged inflation risks as tilted toward the upside. Consequently, policymakers continued assessing whether additional rate increases could become necessary.

That assessment also shaped views on the next policy move. Most officials considered another rate hike in 2026 potentially appropriate. However, several officials said the current policy rate was not restrictive. Others described it as only mildly restrictive.

Meanwhile, labor market conditions provided another factor in the policy discussion. Most officials viewed the labor market as being near full employment. Therefore, employment conditions did not emerge as a reason to stop tightening.

The minutes also identified specific inflation risks. Officials pointed to oil prices and tariffs as potential sources of additional pressure. Higher energy costs could spread into broader prices. Further tariff increases could also increase inflationary pressure.

The crypto market also faced the FOMC news against a backdrop of growing attention toward artificial intelligence investment. Officials discussed the AI buildout as a potential source of additional demand and inflation.

Notably, policymakers linked the AI expansion with demand for workers, equipment, and power. Those pressures could contribute to higher prices in the near term. At the same time, officials recognized that AI investment was supporting economic growth.

This assessment adds another element to the inflation discussion. The minutes indicated that policymakers were monitoring AI-related activity alongside energy costs and tariffs. Meanwhile, officials continued to assess broader financial conditions.

Higher Treasury yields also featured in that assessment. Many officials said financial conditions remained supportive of economic growth despite the increase in long-term yields. The minutes therefore indicated that higher yields had not fully replaced monetary tightening as a policy tool.

The bond market provided another area of focus within the FOMC news. The minutes referenced uncertainty around Treasury buybacks and heavy AI-related debt issuance. Market participants associated both factors with higher Treasury yields.

The latest crypto market moves showed weakness in several major tokens as investors digested the FOMC news. Bitcoin, the first-born cryptocurrency, hovered around $83,088 after falling over the past 24 hours. Ethereum traded near $2,547, down more on the day.

Meanwhile, XRP remained under pressure at $1.42. Its seven-day decline reached 5.1%. Solana also extended its weekly decline to 2.1%, while Zcash recorded the steepest weekly loss among the listed major assets at 8.8%.

BNB gained 0.2% over seven days despite a 1.5% daily decline. Stablecoins, including Tether and USDC, remained broadly unchanged. Figure Heloc also gained 1.9% over 24 hours. Analyst Ted Pillows earlier highlighted the continued possibility of another rate increase.

Pillows also pointed to labor market strength as a factor supporting continued policy pressure. The minutes similarly showed that most officials considered employment conditions close to full employment.

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