I’ll search for real-time data on crypto prices and the FOMC minutes impact to write a comprehensive news article.# Crypto Price Prediction as Hawkish FOMC Minutes Sparks Market Sell-Off
The latest Federal Open Market Committee minutes struck a hawkish tone, pressuring risk assets including cryptocurrencies. Policymakers warned inflation progress may be “slower and more uneven,” signaling rate cuts are not imminent and that hikes have not been fully ruled out. The FOMC conducted its voting during the January 27-28 meeting and reached a 10-2 decision to maintain rates at their current level of 3.5%-3.75%. This comes after three rate cuts totaling 75 basis points between September and December 2025.
The crypto market crashed for the third straight session on February 19, as digital assets faced broad-based selling pressure after Fed officials revealed they’re considering further rate hikes if inflation fails to ease. With Treasury yields rising and easing deemed potentially premature, high-beta assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP faced renewed selling pressure.
Bitcoin extended its pullback following the hawkish Fed minutes, briefly dipping toward $65,000 before stabilizing before staging a rebound. It is currently trading around $66,800, but remains well below the 50-day SMA near $82,600, which signals that the broader short-term trend is still bearish. The world’s largest cryptocurrency shed 1.66% in 24 hours, settling at $66,746 as of Wednesday morning.
The selloff marks a dramatic reversal from October 2025’s record high above $126,000. According to recent market data, Bitcoin has now retraced more than 47% from its all-time high of $126,198 achieved in October 2025. That decline has wiped more than $700 billion from Bitcoin’s market cap, leaving investors searching for signs of a bottom.
Since October 2025, an estimated USD 8.5 billion has exited US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, suggesting that the initial wave of institutional euphoria has transitioned into a period of consolidation or profit-taking. This shift has left the price vulnerable to retail volatility once again. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange reported that Bitcoin futures open interest plummeted 66% from late-2024 peaks, indicating reduced speculative activity from professional traders.
Technical indicators paint a grim picture. The RSI is hovering around 34, recovering from near-oversold territory but still below the neutral 50 level, suggesting weak momentum despite the bounce. Immediate support sits near $64,000, followed by the recent low around $60,000. On the upside, resistance is seen near $70,000, with stronger structural resistance around $75,000–$76,000.
Ethereum Consolidates Near $1,960 as Inflows Disappoint
Ethereum saw a sharp sell-off in early February, dropping toward the $1,900 zone before stabilizing. It is now trading around $1,960, consolidating in a tight range amid the Fed-driven volatility. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap dropped 2.06% on the day to $1,975, marking its lowest level since early January.
The Balance of Power indicator has turned slightly positive, hinting at mild buying pressure, but CMF remains marginally negative, suggesting capital inflows are still weak. Immediate support lies at $1,900, with a deeper floor around $1,800. Unless buyers step in decisively, Ethereum could test those levels in the coming sessions.
The network’s decentralized finance ecosystem has seen $2.3 billion in total value locked evaporate over the past month. Combined with lackluster ETF flows compared to Bitcoin products, Ethereum faces headwinds on multiple fronts. On the upside, ETH faces resistance near $2,050, followed by $2,200, where prior breakdown levels sit.
XRP Plunges Below Key Support as Traders Exit Risk
XRP remains under pressure compared to BTC and ETH. After sliding from above $2.00 earlier in the year, it recently bounced from the $1.20–$1.25 area and is currently trading near $1.41. The Ripple-affiliated token dropped 4.02% to $1.42, marking one of the steepest declines among major cryptocurrencies.
Price is sitting below the mid-Bollinger Band (around $1.46), while the upper band near $1.65 acts as dynamic resistance. CMF remains slightly negative, indicating limited buying conviction. The token has now lost more than 60% from its November 2025 high of $3.66, with technical momentum showing few signs of reversal.
XRP’s weakness reflects broader altcoin struggles. Other major cryptocurrencies—Ether and XRP—are also down, plunging by 2.06% and 4.02%, respectively. Solana dropped 4.07%, while smaller tokens faced even steeper losses as traders fled to cash or stable