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Bitcoin and ether whipsaw as unanimous Fed delivers first rate hike in more than three years

9/17/2026

Twenty-five basis points, unanimous. The Federal Reserve voted to raise its benchmark rate by a quarter-point for the first time in more than three years, with every committee member in agreement.

Bitcoin ($BTC) and ether ($ETH) swung sharply in both directions on the announcement. The unanimity carries weight beyond the increment.

A divided vote at the first hike after a prolonged hold would have introduced ambiguity about the Fed's confidence in its own direction. A full-house result closes that gap.

Warsh has pointed explicitly at inflation as the policy target, and the committee now stands behind that framing. For $BTC and $ETH, the whipsaw pattern after the decision is a read on positioning.

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