Bitcoin Edges Lower as Investors Await Federal Reserve’s Next Move
Bitcoin (BTC) traded within a tight range of $81,630 to $84,725, dipping slightly by 1.37% over the past 24 hours to $81,629 as markets anticipate the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. The leading cryptocurrency eked out a 0.66% gain over the past seven days.
Market Metrics Overview:
- 24-hour trading volume: $24.18 billion, marking a 3.58% decline as overall market activity slowed.
- Market capitalization: $1.63 trillion, down 1.30% since yesterday.
- BTC dominance: 61.67%, down marginally by 0.01% in the past day, signaling a stable market share relative to altcoins.
- Total BTC futures open interest: $48.57 billion, down 1.07%, indicating reduced leverage in the derivatives market.
- Liquidations: $49.39 million in total liquidations, with long liquidations at $26.60 million and short liquidations at $22.79 million, showing a balanced impact on bullish and bearish positions.
Fed Meeting Looms Over Markets
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, set for March 18-19, is a key event that could introduce significant price swings for bitcoin. Investors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates, with the official rate announcement scheduled for March 19 at 2 PM eastern standard time.
According to the CME Fedwatch tool, there is a 99% probability that interest rates will remain at the 4.25-4.50% level. While no rate hike is expected, the Fed’s commentary on economic conditions and future policy decisions will likely influence bitcoin’s trajectory in the coming days.
Outlook
Bitcoin’s recent price action suggests a cautious market, with traders holding their positions ahead of the Fed’s announcement. While BTC remains above the $82,000 level, a clear breakout or further decline may largely depend on how investors react to the Fed’s economic outlook. Should risk appetite grow, bitcoin may regain bullish momentum; however, lingering macroeconomic concerns could limit upside potential in the near term.