Market participants are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the short-term outlook for Bitcoin and other digital assets. The spotlight is on the potential for an interest rate cut, and many traders and investors have been speculating about it for some time now.

Although the exact magnitude of the rate cut has not yet been confirmed, there is widespread anticipation that the FOMC will opt for either a 25-basis point reduction or a more substantial 50-basis point cut. According to a prominent economist, FOMC’s decision could either lead to a sell-the-news event for risky assets like Bitcoin or give them a boost.

Economist Predicts Massive ‘Sell The News’ Event

In a recent conversation with The Block, Steve Hanke, an economist from Johns Hopkins University, shared his perspective on the potential implications of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate cut for the cryptocurrency sector. According to Hanke, a 25-basis-point rate cut, which many investors currently expect, could ultimately result in a ‘sell-the-news’ event for the broader crypto industry.

He explained that the market has already priced in the possibility of such a reduction and has been absorbed into the price action of several investment markets. In fact, once the cut is officially announced, the market’s reaction could be underwhelming, potentially triggering a wave of sell-offs among cryptocurrencies.

In contrast to the more expected 25-basis-point reduction, Hanke pointed out that a 50-basis-point cut by the Federal Reserve has not yet been fully priced into the market. As such, a 50-basis point rate cut by the Fed could surprisingly “give the market a lift.”

What To Expect In Light Of The Upcoming FOMC Meeting

Inflation in the US is starting to cool down, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noting last month that “the time has come” for rate cuts. The rate points are currently in the 5.25%-5.50% range, its highest level in 23 years. In the context of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), rate points refer to changes in the federal funds rate. The Fed raises or cuts interest rates primarily to stimulate economic growth and control inflation.

A reduction in the Fed’s interest rates could, in theory, provide a favorable environment for cryptocurrencies. Rate cuts mean that traditional savings and fixed-income investments (like bonds) offer lower returns, prompting risk-averse investors to turn to cryptocurrencies.

However, given the current market conditions, predicting the market reaction to a rate cut is easier said than done at the time of writing. This is because the expected rate cut is one factor that contributed to Bitcoin’s increase earlier in the year, leading to speculations about whether the rate cut is already priced in.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at around $60,000, up by 3.5% in 24 hours.