<\/p>\n
Bitcoin and altcoin prices could stage a strong rally in July after a surprise statement from Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chair.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Powell changed his tune on when the Fed will start cutting interest rates. For the first time this year, he did not rule out slashing rates as soon as in the July meeting.\u00a0He said<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cI really can\u2019t say. It\u2019s going to depend on the data. And we are going meeting by meeting. I wouldn\u2019t take any meeting off the table or put it directly on the table. It\u2019s going to depend on how the data fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In his testimony to Congress last week, Powell insisted that the bank would maintain a wait-and-see approach before hiking interest rates. He and other officials are assessing the impact of Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs on interest rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some Federal Reserve officials have supported a July interest rate cut. In recent statements, Christopher Waller and Michele Bowman have insisted that Trump\u2019s tariffs were having a limited impact on inflation and that a July cut would be necessary.<\/p>\n Still, traders and the futures market are unconvinced that the Fed will cut in July. Polymarket data<\/a> pegs a July cut at 17% and no change at 82%. The CME FedWatch tool<\/a> puts the odds of a cut at just 19.1%.<\/p>\n A July rate cut would be highly bullish for Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins because it would reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. It would also increase risk appetite among investors, as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic when the bank brought rates to zero.\u00a0<\/p>\n The rate cut would also coincide with the passing of Donald Trump\u2019s Big Beautiful Bill, which introduces some tax cuts and reduces regulations. Some of the money saved in taxes will be invested in cryptocurrencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n While a July rate cut is not guaranteed, most analysts anticipate one in September, with odds standing at over 75%. In a statement this week, Goldman Sachs predicted three cuts this year, while Morgan Stanley sees seven in 2026.<\/p>\n Bitcoin and altcoins have other catalysts that will push them higher this year. For example, Bitcoin demand continues rising, with spot ETF inflows nearing the $50 billion mark. More companies like Coinbase, Block, GameStop, and MetaPlanet continue to accumulate Bitcoin.<\/p>\n\n
Bitcoin and altcoins have other catalysts<\/h2>\n