TLDR
- Ethereum traded near $2,445 after dipping to an intraday low of $2,372.
- The Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points to a 3.75%–4.00% range.
- U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs saw a combined $520 million in outflows on September 16.
- The Senate rejected the CLARITY Act’s procedural motion by a 49–50 vote.
- RSI near 53.7 and MACD at 6.31 point to neutral to mild short-term momentum.
Ethereum traded at $2,445 on Thursday. This came after the price briefly dropped below the $2,400 support level.
Bitcoin traded near $76,845 during the same session. XRP sat around $1.31, while Solana moved toward $100.88.
The moves followed a volatile stretch in crypto markets. Tighter monetary policy, ETF withdrawals, and a regulatory setback in Washington all played a part.
Ethereum touched an intraday low of $2,372 before buyers stepped back in. Dip demand helped push the price back above $2,400.
Institutional selling has continued, though. Higher borrowing costs are also testing how strong that recovery really is.
Fed Rate Hike Adds Pressure
The Federal Open Market Committee raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday. The decision was unanimous.
The new target range sits at 3.75% to 4.00%. This marks the first rate increase since 2023.
Officials pointed to high inflation, steady consumer spending, and stable employment growth as reasons for the move. Business investment across the economy was also cited.
Higher rates tend to weigh on assets like Ethereum. Rising Treasury yields reduce demand for higher-volatility investments, and tighter funding conditions limit speculative trading.
The Fed said future rate decisions will depend on inflation and employment data through the rest of the year.
Regulatory news added to the uncertainty. The Senate rejected a procedural motion on the CLARITY Act by a 49–50 vote, short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
Democrats pointed to unresolved ethics concerns. Three Republicans also voted against the motion.
ETF Outflows Continue
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $296 million in net withdrawals on September 16. Spot Ether products lost another $224 million.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs Record $159 Million in Net Inflows on Sept. 17
On Sept. 17 (ET), spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded total net inflows of $159 million, with BlackRock’s IBIT being the only fund to report net inflows. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw total net outflows of $39.2445 million,… pic.twitter.com/EWHuy3NIHR
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 18, 2026
Combined outflows across both asset types reached about $520 million for the day. The timing lined up closely with the Fed’s rate announcement.
BlackRock’s ETHA fund saw the largest single withdrawal among Ether products, losing $110 million. Morgan Stanley’s MSBT was an exception, pulling in $3.47 million in new capital.
Continued Ether redemptions could limit how far the price climbs, even if it holds above $2,400.
The $2,400 level remains the line between stabilization and further decline for Ethereum. A drop below it could open the door to $2,372, then $2,350.
$ETH tapped the 50W EMA before bouncing back.
Now, Ethereum needs to manage a weekly close above $2,450 to avoid further correction. pic.twitter.com/ZaHW1SsijF
— Ted (@TedPillows) September 17, 2026
Holding above $2,400 would support a move toward resistance between $2,450 and $2,500.
The Relative Strength Index reads near 53.7, a neutral level that is not overbought. The MACD indicator sits at 6.31, which points to a short-term buy signal as momentum ticks higher.
