Judge Blocks Bid to Publicize Powell’s Rate Meetings
A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to unseal Federal Reserve transcripts of closed-door interest rate meetings chaired by Jerome Powell. The court upheld the Fed’s long-standing confidentiality policy for FOMC deliberations, noting that candid discussions among policymakers are essential for effective monetary policy. The transparency group behind the suit argued that releasing the interest rate meetings transcripts would bolster market discipline and investor confidence. However, the judge ruled that these internal records are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and that disclosure could undermine the central bank’s decision-making process. The ruling maintains the Federal Reserve’s control over timing and scope of communications around interest rate policy.
Neutral
The judge’s decision to keep FOMC interest rate meetings confidential preserves the current level of market opacity but is unlikely to provoke significant crypto price swings. Historically, delayed or early release of Fed minutes—such as during major policy shifts—has caused only modest volatility in Bitcoin and other digital assets. In the short term, traders will continue reacting to scheduled press conferences and economic data rather than this legal outcome. Over the long term, sustained opacity around monetary deliberations could elevate macroeconomic uncertainty, potentially curbing risk-on sentiment in crypto. However, with no change to rate policy or communication schedules, the immediate market impact remains muted.