The recent remarks from Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester have undoubtedly caught the attention of crypto enthusiasts. Mester told FT that there is no compelling reason to pause the ongoing liquidity tightening, favoring a consistent approach to interest rate policy. Unsurprisingly, her comments have moved the market, with Bitcoin (BTC) experiencing nearly a 2% drop to $27,021.
As Mester’s statements made headlines, futures tied to Wall Street’s tech-heavy index Nasdaq fell by 0.38%, implying a potential negative start of the day. Meanwhile, the dollar index rose 0.27% to 104.40, and gold remained resilient with a 0.2% increase to $1,962 per ounce. It’s worth mentioning that the Federal Reserve has raised rates by 500 basis points to 5% since March 2022 in an effort to control inflation.
Some have argued that Mester’s support for further rate hikes lends credibility to the recent hawkish repricing of interest rate expectations in the U.S., following hotter-than-expected inflation data. In fact, official data released last week showed consumer spending in the U.S. increased more than anticipated in April, even as the central bank’s preferred inflation measure rose to 4.4% on a yearly basis.
For the past seven months, the market has been driven by a prevailing hope that the Federal Reserve would put rate hikes on hold in early 2023, potentially shifting towards more liquidity-promoting rate cuts later in the year. This sentiment has contributed to Bitcoin’s year-to-date gain of over 65%, sending the cryptocurrency to a 10-month high of $31,000 in April. Conversely, the dollar index dropped over 12% in the months leading up to April.
Adding to this, Mester mentioned that the recent debt ceiling deal eliminates a significant uncertainty from the U.S. economy. Over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached a tentative agreement to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, avoiding a potential default. However, the deal must still pass through the House and Senate to fully take effect.
Analysts have predicted that once the debt ceiling deal is approved, the Treasury will begin issuing bonds to refill its coffers. This action would likely remove dollar liquidity from the system, potentially exerting downward pressure on risk assets in general.
While Mester’s comments may be viewed with a hint of skepticism, they serve as a reminder that crypto enthusiasts must remain vigilant when it comes to global economic events and their potential impact on the market. The Federal Reserve’s ongoing policy decisions and the resolution of the debt ceiling issue are just a few examples of how economic news can sway the cryptocurrency landscape.
Source: Coindesk
