TLDR
- Bitcoin held around $76,000 after the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4%
- 16 of 18 FOMC officials expect at least one more rate hike before year-end
- Bitcoin fell over 3% Tuesday after the U.S. Senate rejected the Clarity Act 49-50
- U.S. Bitcoin and Ether ETFs saw $520 million in combined outflows on Sept. 16
- Analysts say Bitcoin’s spot demand absorbed some selling pressure from derivatives markets
Bitcoin held steady near $76,000 on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points — its first hike since July 2023. The new target range sits at 3.75% to 4%.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $76,663, up 1.35% in the past 24 hours. US stocks moved lower on the news, but Bitcoin showed little immediate reaction.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation remains too high while the US economy is strengthening. He also said financial conditions are not restrictive enough. The Fed’s updated projections show a median policy rate of 4.1% by end of 2026, pointing to at least one more hike this year.
🚨BREAKING: The Fed RAISED interest rates by 25 bps to 3.75%–4%, with a forecast of another 25 bps by year end.
This is the Fed’s FIRST hike since July 2023.
The decision was unanimous, with a 12–0 vote.
• 12 of 18 officials see one more hike this year, taking rates to… pic.twitter.com/lonQntgoCE
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 16, 2026
Cooper Duschang, research analyst at Talos, said the market had largely priced in the move. “Bitcoin has remained relatively resilient, holding broadly around pre-announcement levels even as equities moved lower,” he said.
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez of Ali Charts shared his take on what a sell-off could mean. “If the rate hike triggers a Bitcoin sell-off, I’m not panicking,” he said. “I’m watching the Short-Term Holder Realized Price near $71,200 as my next major accumulation zone. If the market gives me that opportunity, I’ll be ready.”
READY FOR ANYTHING!
If the rate hike triggers a Bitcoin $BTC sell-off, I’m not panicking.
I’m watching the Short-Term Holder Realized Price near $71,200 as my next major accumulation zone.
If the market gives me that opportunity, I’ll be ready. https://t.co/YPdLSiI5Th pic.twitter.com/iaXfUpaOfm
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) September 16, 2026
Derivatives vs. Spot Markets
Duschang noted movement beneath the surface. Perpetual futures shifted toward net selling, with around $82 million in Bitcoin and $68 million in Ether sold in the hour following the announcement. Meanwhile, Bitcoin recorded roughly $15.5 million in net spot buying.
Around 2,170 Bitcoin moved onto exchanges after the rate decision, followed by a withdrawal of 1,260 Bitcoin. Duschang said investors appear to be “actively repositioning” rather than making a uniform risk-off move.
Andrew Melville, head of research at Block Scholes, said a second rate hike would be a “more hawkish surprise than today’s 25bp hike.”
Senate Rejects Clarity Act
Before the Fed news, Bitcoin had already taken a hit. The coin fell more than 3% on Tuesday after the US Senate rejected the Clarity Act in a 49-50 vote. The bill aimed to create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and digital assets.
Senator Cynthia Lummis had pushed hard for Democratic support, arguing the final text met their demands. But every Democrat except one voted against it.
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said the vote was “unfortunate” and added that regulators could still act using existing statutory authority.
ETF Outflows
Wu Blockchain reported that US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $296 million in net outflows on Sept. 16. Spot Ether ETFs lost another $224 million, bringing combined outflows to $520 million. BlackRock’s ETHA led Ether ETF redemptions at $110 million. Morgan Stanley’s MSBT was an outlier, recording $3.47 million in inflows.
U.S. Bitcoin, Ether ETFs See $520 Million Combined Outflow as BlackRock ETHA Leads Redemptions
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $296 million in net outflows on Sept. 16, while spot Ether ETFs saw another $224 million leave, bringing combined daily outflows across the two… pic.twitter.com/hScqr16tqW
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 17, 2026
Martin Lee of DWF Labs said the hawkish “higher for longer” stance would lead risk-on assets to reprice.
