Fed Rate Cuts for the next Year - Risk assets should rejoice

Mike McKenzie
Aug 29, 2024By Mike McKenzie

The prospect of Federal Reserve rate cuts being priced in as 100% likely over the next 11 meetings from September 2024 to December 2025 is seen as a significant catalyst for upward price action on Bitcoin. Lower interest rates typically reduce the attractiveness of traditional savings and fixed-income investments like bonds, as their yields decrease in response to rate cuts. This environment often drives investors to seek higher returns in alternative assets, including Bitcoin.

As the Fed lowers interest rates, the cost of borrowing decreases, which can lead to increased liquidity in the financial system. More money in circulation often finds its way into various investment vehicles, including speculative assets like Bitcoin. Investors, anticipating a more accommodative monetary policy, might increase their allocation to Bitcoin, viewing it as a hedge against the potential inflationary pressures that can accompany a prolonged period of low interest rates.

Moreover, lower rates weaken the US dollar's value relative to other currencies and assets. As Bitcoin is often seen as a store of value or "digital gold," a weaker dollar can make Bitcoin more attractive as a hedge against currency depreciation. Investors looking to protect their wealth might turn to Bitcoin as a way to preserve value in the face of a declining dollar, further driving demand.

The anticipation of rate cuts also tends to create a risk-on environment in financial markets, where investors are more willing to take on risk in search of higher returns. Bitcoin, known for its volatility and potential for substantial gains, benefits from this shift in investor sentiment. As traditional assets offer lower returns due to rate cuts, Bitcoin’s potential for high returns can attract more capital, pushing its price higher.

Additionally, the narrative of Bitcoin as a hedge against central bank policies and fiat currency devaluation gains traction in a rate-cutting environment. The perception that central banks are artificially manipulating the economy through rate cuts reinforces the appeal of Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and its fixed supply, making it an attractive alternative to traditional financial assets.

In essence, the likelihood of Fed rate cuts over the next several meetings creates a favorable macroeconomic backdrop for Bitcoin. With lower interest rates reducing the appeal of traditional investments, increasing liquidity in the market, and potentially weakening the US dollar, Bitcoin stands to benefit as investors seek alternative assets that can offer protection and potentially higher returns in a low-rate environment. This confluence of factors is expected to contribute to upward price pressure on Bitcoin as investors adjust their portfolios in response to the Fed’s anticipated policy moves.

https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html