The FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) is the Fed group that sets US interest rates. It holds eight scheduled meetings a year, and when the outlook for rates shifts, bitcoin tends to move along with the dollar and stocks - sometimes sharply.
Why rate decisions move bitcoin
- Lower rates make borrowing cheaper and safe yields less attractive, which tends to push money toward risk assets like crypto.
- Higher rates, or rates held high for longer, make cash and Treasuries more appealing, which tends to pull money out of risk assets.
What matters most isn't the decision itself but how it compares with what the market expected. A fully priced-in decision often barely moves price. A surprise - or a change in tone about what comes next - is what causes the big swings.
Three things to watch on the day
- The statement. A short document released with the rate decision. Traders compare it line by line with the last one; a single changed phrase can move markets.
- The dot plot. Four times a year, alongside the Fed's economic projections, each official marks where they expect rates to go. It shows the path, not just today's step.
- The press conference. Shortly after the statement, the Fed Chair takes questions. The mood can flip here, even after the first reaction to the statement.
The decision comes out in the US afternoon, which lands in the middle of the night in much of Asia. For exact dates, check the meeting calendar on the Federal Reserve's official website.
How traders often prepare
- Expect volatility around the release. Many traders cut leverage or set their stop-loss ahead of time.
- Don't chase the first move. Direction often changes once the press conference is underway.
Seeing it on WhaleCue
The Economic calendar on the News screen lists major US and China events for the next 10 days. As a release approaches it shows a countdown ("in N min"), and once the number is out it shows the actual figure next to the forecast and previous values. Turn on Right before data releases in your alerts and we'll notify you right before major US releases.
This isn't investment advice. Always make your own decisions.