Bitcoin Gets A Price Boost From Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Cointelegraph by William Suberg
2025-08-22 10:48:00
cointelegraph.com

Key points:

  • Bitcoin returns to $116,000 after gaining over 2% in minutes thanks to “dovish” comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

  • Powell’s Jackson Hole speech cemented the odds of an interest-rate cut next month.

  • Risk assets and crypto rose immediately, while US dollar strength fell.

Bitcoin (BTC) spiked to $116,000 on Friday as the US Federal Reserve hinted that it would cut interest rates.

Federal Reserve, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Market Analysis
BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin price rebounds from 6-week lows on Fed

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView followed volatile BTC price action as Fed Chair Jerome Powell delivered a policy speech.

Powell took to the stage at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium — traditionally an opportunity to hint at upcoming policy moves.

The current situation with inflation and the labor market, he said, “may warrant adjusting” the Fed’s monetary policy stance.

Markets immediately reacted, with crypto and risk assets jumping while US dollar strength tumbled.

BTC/USD gained over 3%, helping lift the pair from local lows of $111,658 — its lowest level since July 10.

“Good bounce from the range low sweep on the back of a dovish Powell. Going to remain volatile for the rest of the day,” popular trader Daan Crypto Trades wrote in a reaction on X.

BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X

Commentator TheKingfisher noted that the price had taken bid liquidity during the trip to the lows.

“Bitcoin is showing bullish divergence (again) with oversold RSI on the 4-hour… and 6-hour. Maybe the 12-hour. Maybe the daily. All at key $112K support,” trader, analyst and podcast host Scott Melker, known as the “Wolf of All Streets,” continued just before Powell began speaking. 

“Anything can happen, but always interesting when very strong signals appear in alignment with news events.”

BTC/USD four-hour chart with RSI data. Source: Scott Melker/X

Powell “setting the stage” for new rate cut

Considering the implications of Powell’s choice of words, market participants were skewed in favor of the Fed cutting interest rates at its upcoming meeting in September.

Related: Bitcoin won’t go below $100K ‘this cycle’ as $145K target remains: Analyst

“It appears Fed Chair Powell is setting the stage for a September rate cut,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter summarized.

Kobeissi suggested that the Fed would cut by 25 basis points, a view echoed by market expectations from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

Fed target rate probabilities for September FOMC meeting (screenshot). Source: CME Group FedWatch Tool

As Cointelegraph reported, uncertainty had previously reigned over the September outcome as Powell stuck by his hawkish tone amid rising inflationary cues and uncertainty over US trade tariffs.

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