Bitcoin Holds Above $81,000 as Fed Keeps Rates Steady
Bitcoin held above $81,000 and Ethereum traded above $2,350 after the US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate at 3.75%–4.00%. The Federal Open Market Committee voted 10–2 to leave rates unchanged, as expected; two members favored a 0.25 percentage-point increase. Chair Kevin Warsh said future decisions would depend on incoming data.
US stocks rose for a third consecutive session, while crypto price swings narrowed. Bitcoin traded between $80,397 and $81,823 over 24 hours; Ethereum ranged from $2,323 to $2,392. Solana gained 0.56% to $101.82, while XRP fell 0.63% to $1.3204. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index was unchanged at 51, in neutral territory.
Bitcoin’s daily RSI was neutral at 47.6, while Ethereum’s reading of 38.9 pointed to weaker momentum. Both remained below their 20- and 50-day moving averages but above their 200-day averages. Traders are watching the Fed’s December meeting and major technology company earnings for fresh catalysts. Near-term crypto trading is expected to remain range-bound.
Neutral
The immediate market impact is neutral. The Fed’s decision to hold rates was widely expected, so it provided little surprise-driven momentum for crypto. Bitcoin staying above $81,000 and Ethereum recovering above $2,350 indicate resilience, while the narrower trading ranges and Fear & Greed Index at 51 point to cautious, balanced sentiment rather than a decisive breakout.
In the short term, traders may treat the Fed outcome and rising US equities as modest support for risk assets, but price action remains technically mixed. Bitcoin is below its 20- and 50-day moving averages, and Ethereum’s weaker RSI and position below those averages signal ongoing pressure. Key levels identified in the article include Bitcoin support near $79,800–$79,200 and resistance around $81,900, then $84,100. Ethereum support is near $2,303–$2,282, with resistance around $2,420 and $2,536. A break of these levels could prompt renewed momentum or liquidations; until then, range trading appears more likely.
Similar Fed decisions have often produced a muted initial reaction when already priced in, with subsequent moves driven more by policy guidance, economic data, Treasury yields and earnings. Longer term, the Fed’s data-dependent stance leaves the outlook open: evidence supporting easier policy could aid risk appetite, while persistent inflation or renewed rate-hike concerns could weigh on crypto. The article therefore supports a neutral view, with traders watching macro catalysts and technical levels rather than treating the rate hold as a strong directional signal.