Bitcoin started the week with a cautious decline amid expectations of key signals from the Fed and inflation data. The cost of bitcoin decreased by 1% to $96,251. Amid concerns about tightening monetary policy, investors are being cautious, which is holding back the growth of the cryptocurrency. Previously published data on inflation in the United States showed that it remains above the Fed's target level of 2%. This reinforced expectations that the regulator would maintain a «tough» stance for longer than predicted. This prospect puts pressure on risky assets, including bitcoin, as high interest rates reduce interest in speculative investments. The market is waiting for new comments from the Fed, which may indicate the future course of policy. Any signals of an increase in rates or their long-term stabilization may increase the pressure on bitcoin. The cryptocurrency remains in a narrow range, reflecting the indecision of market participants. Altcoins are also showing a decline: Ethereum fell by 1.1% ($2,680.19), XRP – by 4.1% ($2,6724), Solana – by 6.2%. At the same time, Polygon grew by 2%, Cardano – by 3.1%. Among the meme tokens, Dogecoin lost 3.2%, while $TRUMP lost 5.7%.
