Fed Holds Rates as Crypto Markets Dip Amid Geopolitical Tensions

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at three point five percent to three point seven five percent, marking the third consecutive hold and Powell's final meeting as Fed Chair. Bitcoin pulled back to seventy-six thousand dollars while Ethereum dropped to twenty-two hundred and sixty dollars as traders reacted to hawkish language changes. Major institutional developments included Meta launching USDC creator payouts, Visa expanding stablecoin settlements to nine blockchains, and Pump.fun ending its nine-month token burn program. Geopolitical tensions escalated as oil prices surged above one hundred dollars per barrel following UAE's OPEC exit and Iran standoff. Senator Tillis pushed forward on the Clarity Act as prediction market ETFs prepare to launch next week.