FOMC Statement — September 16, 2026

What it is

The FOMC statement is the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision, released at 2:00 PM ET and followed by the Fed Chair's press conference at 2:30 PM. The decision itself is usually priced in; the market's real reaction comes from the guidance and tone about future cuts or hikes. Crypto typically chops violently during the press conference — wait for the dust to settle before sizing in.

Details: Fed interest-rate decision

What to watch

The rate move itself is usually known in advance — watch the statement's wording changes, the projections, and the Chair's tone on the pace of future cuts. A "hawkish hold" (no move, cautious guidance) can sell crypto off harder than the decision itself.

How to trade it

• Reduce position size in the hour before the release.
• Watch BTC for direction, then rotate to high-beta alts on confirmation.
• Avoid market orders in the first 60 seconds — slippage is brutal.
• Use a stop-loss in case the move reverses (the initial spike often fades within 15 minutes).

What's next

We'll email you 24h and 1h before this event. The full calendar is the parent of this page.