The cryptocurrency market is in a cautious wait ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting to be held today. While Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP are trading in narrow price bands, investors are focusing on messages from Washington for direction. While no change in interest rates is expected in the markets, it is thought that the signals given by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell regarding inflation and economic outlook will be decisive on pricing. The limited risk appetite on a global scale makes the pre-volatility squeeze in crypto assets even more evident.
Critical Thresholds in Bitcoin and Ethereum are at the Forefront
Bitcoin price remains sideways just below the $89,000 band ahead of the FOMC meeting. While uncertainty regarding US monetary policy keeps investors away from aggressive positions, transaction volumes in the leading crypto asset remain relatively weak. Market actors agree that Powell’s messages about economic slowdown or inflation risks will determine the price direction.
From a technical perspective, the $90,000 level for Bitcoin is a psychological and structural threshold. An upward break that may occur accompanied by strong volume may pave the way for the revival of risk appetite. On the other hand, the scenario that the selling pressure may deepen if the $ 85,000 support is lost is kept on the table.
On the Ethereum front, a more balanced picture stands out. The fact that the price holds above the $ 3,000 region indicates that buyers remain present in the short term. ETH, which has fluctuated between $ 2,700 and $ 3,300 in the last three months, remains close to the support zone. It is considered that if volatility increases, a movement towards the upper band may bring the $ 3,500 target to the agenda, and if the lower support is broken, the $ 2,500 level may be retested.
Accumulation Process and Fed-Focused Waiting in XRP
The XRP price has stabilized in the range of $1.70–1.90 before the US Federal Reserve decisions. Despite the recent increased institutional interest, the cautious atmosphere in the market limits XRP’s upward momentum. Failure to exceed the $2.40 level shows that investors are protecting their positions against macro risks.
The technical outlook indicates that the upward structure is not disrupted if the demand zone is maintained. Permanence above $2.40 may open space for the price to move towards $3 and then $3.50. In the opposite scenario, it is possible that the horizontal course will be prolonged due to the impact of Fed-related uncertainties.
CME FedWatch data reveals that the market expects a strong pause in the current interest rate range. The fact that the decision is largely priced in has directed investors’ focus directly to Jerome Powell’s statements. Past examples in the cryptocurrency market show that changes in discourse can lead to harsher price reactions than interest rate decisions. Current narrow band movements reveal that the market is in the preparation process before the upcoming directional breakout.
