Fed’s first rate hike since 2023 sends risk assets higher on softer-than-feared outlook

The Federal Open Market Committee raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75–4 %. Chair Kevin Warsh cited persistently high inflation, yet the updated dot plot pointed to a median rate of just 4.1 % by the end of both 2026 and 2027 — implying only one more quarter-point move ahead.

Traders took the path as less aggressive than feared. Bitcoin climbed to 76 621 dollars, Ethereum to 2 444 dollars and Solana to 100.57 dollars. The dollar index slipped 0.17 %, Nasdaq-100 futures rose 1.04 % and gold gained 1.02 %. Crypto moved in tandem with equities rather than leading the charge.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs nevertheless recorded another 296 million dollars in outflows on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day total above one billion. Meanwhile Zcash surged 23 % to an all-time high near 1 369 dollars after Paradigm disclosed its holding, while the altcoin-season index edged up to 39.

Based on information from https://cryptonews.net