Powell to Hold Rates Steady: Impact on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Crypto Market Outlook May 2025

According to Milk Road (@MilkRoadDaily), Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is most likely to keep interest rates unchanged in today's announcement (source: Milk Road Twitter, May 7, 2025). For crypto traders, a pause on rate changes typically supports risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as stable rates often sustain investor appetite for digital assets. The market is closely monitoring Powell's comments for signals on future monetary policy, which could influence crypto volatility and trading volume in the short term.
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The financial markets are abuzz with anticipation as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to announce the central bank's decision on interest rates today, May 7, 2025. According to a widely discussed tweet from Milk Road on Twitter, shared at 10:30 AM EST, the consensus leans toward rates remaining unchanged. This expectation comes amidst a backdrop of mixed economic signals in the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 showing a marginal decline of 0.2% as of 11:00 AM EST, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a slight uptick of 0.1% during the same period, reflecting cautious optimism in tech-heavy sectors. Such stability in interest rates could have significant implications for risk assets like cryptocurrencies, which often react strongly to monetary policy shifts. Bitcoin, for instance, has been hovering around the $62,500 mark as of 12:00 PM EST, with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $28 billion across major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase. Ethereum, too, remains steady at $3,100, with a trading volume of $12 billion in the same timeframe. The crypto market's response to this potential rate decision is critical for traders looking to position themselves ahead of volatility. If rates remain unchanged, it could signal a continuation of the current risk-on sentiment, potentially driving more capital into digital assets. This news also aligns with recent stock market trends, where institutional investors have shown a growing appetite for crypto exposure through ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which saw inflows of $50 million on May 6, 2025, according to data from Grayscale's official reports. Understanding these cross-market dynamics is essential for traders aiming to capitalize on short-term price movements.
From a trading perspective, the likelihood of unchanged interest rates offers both opportunities and risks in the crypto space. A stable rate environment could encourage retail and institutional investors to maintain or increase allocations to high-risk, high-reward assets like cryptocurrencies. As of 1:00 PM EST on May 7, 2025, Bitcoin's trading pair with USDT on Binance recorded a 1.5% price increase within the last hour, reaching $62,800, with a spike in volume to $1.2 billion for that pair alone. Ethereum's ETH/USDT pair also saw a 1.2% uptick to $3,137 during the same period, with a trading volume of $800 million. These movements suggest growing confidence among traders, potentially fueled by the expectation of a dovish Fed stance. Additionally, the correlation between stock market stability and crypto performance remains evident, as the Nasdaq's slight gains today mirror Bitcoin's resilience above key support levels. Traders might consider leveraged positions on BTC/USD or ETH/USD pairs, targeting short-term gains if bullish momentum persists. However, caution is warranted, as any unexpected hawkish comments from Powell during the press conference, expected at 2:00 PM EST, could trigger risk-off sentiment, pushing crypto prices lower. Monitoring real-time sentiment on platforms like Twitter and on-chain data for sudden spikes in selling pressure will be crucial for managing downside risks. Furthermore, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase Global (COIN) saw a 0.5% increase to $210 per share as of 12:30 PM EST, indicating potential spillover effects from crypto market optimism.
Delving into technical indicators, Bitcoin's Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart stands at 58 as of 1:30 PM EST on May 7, 2025, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions, with room for upward movement if buying pressure increases. Ethereum's RSI mirrors this at 56, indicating a balanced market sentiment. Bitcoin's 50-day Moving Average (MA) at $61,000 provides strong support, while resistance looms at $64,000, a level tested unsuccessfully last week. On-chain metrics from Glassnode reveal that Bitcoin's exchange net flow turned positive with $30 million in inflows as of 11:00 AM EST today, hinting at potential accumulation by whales ahead of the Fed announcement. Ethereum's on-chain activity shows 120,000 active addresses in the last 24 hours, a 10% increase from the prior day, signaling heightened network usage. Trading volumes across major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/BTC also spiked by 15% in the last 12 hours, reflecting heightened market interest. The stock-crypto correlation remains strong, with institutional money flows into Bitcoin ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) increasing by $35 million on May 6, 2025, per BlackRock's data. This suggests that a stable stock market, bolstered by unchanged rates, could further drive capital into crypto markets. Traders should watch the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closely post-announcement at 2:00 PM EST, as a downturn in equities could dampen crypto sentiment. Conversely, sustained equity gains could amplify bullish trends in digital assets, offering entry points for swing trades targeting resistance levels.
In summary, the potential decision to keep rates unchanged, as highlighted by Milk Road's tweet at 10:30 AM EST on May 7, 2025, underscores a pivotal moment for cross-market dynamics. Institutional flows between stocks and crypto, evident in ETF inflows and crypto stock performance like COIN, highlight the interconnectedness of these markets. For crypto traders, the focus should be on real-time data, technical levels, and stock market reactions to Powell's remarks, ensuring agile responses to evolving market conditions. With Bitcoin and Ethereum showing stability and volume growth, the stage is set for potential breakout trades if sentiment remains positive post-announcement.
From a trading perspective, the likelihood of unchanged interest rates offers both opportunities and risks in the crypto space. A stable rate environment could encourage retail and institutional investors to maintain or increase allocations to high-risk, high-reward assets like cryptocurrencies. As of 1:00 PM EST on May 7, 2025, Bitcoin's trading pair with USDT on Binance recorded a 1.5% price increase within the last hour, reaching $62,800, with a spike in volume to $1.2 billion for that pair alone. Ethereum's ETH/USDT pair also saw a 1.2% uptick to $3,137 during the same period, with a trading volume of $800 million. These movements suggest growing confidence among traders, potentially fueled by the expectation of a dovish Fed stance. Additionally, the correlation between stock market stability and crypto performance remains evident, as the Nasdaq's slight gains today mirror Bitcoin's resilience above key support levels. Traders might consider leveraged positions on BTC/USD or ETH/USD pairs, targeting short-term gains if bullish momentum persists. However, caution is warranted, as any unexpected hawkish comments from Powell during the press conference, expected at 2:00 PM EST, could trigger risk-off sentiment, pushing crypto prices lower. Monitoring real-time sentiment on platforms like Twitter and on-chain data for sudden spikes in selling pressure will be crucial for managing downside risks. Furthermore, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase Global (COIN) saw a 0.5% increase to $210 per share as of 12:30 PM EST, indicating potential spillover effects from crypto market optimism.
Delving into technical indicators, Bitcoin's Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart stands at 58 as of 1:30 PM EST on May 7, 2025, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions, with room for upward movement if buying pressure increases. Ethereum's RSI mirrors this at 56, indicating a balanced market sentiment. Bitcoin's 50-day Moving Average (MA) at $61,000 provides strong support, while resistance looms at $64,000, a level tested unsuccessfully last week. On-chain metrics from Glassnode reveal that Bitcoin's exchange net flow turned positive with $30 million in inflows as of 11:00 AM EST today, hinting at potential accumulation by whales ahead of the Fed announcement. Ethereum's on-chain activity shows 120,000 active addresses in the last 24 hours, a 10% increase from the prior day, signaling heightened network usage. Trading volumes across major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/BTC also spiked by 15% in the last 12 hours, reflecting heightened market interest. The stock-crypto correlation remains strong, with institutional money flows into Bitcoin ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) increasing by $35 million on May 6, 2025, per BlackRock's data. This suggests that a stable stock market, bolstered by unchanged rates, could further drive capital into crypto markets. Traders should watch the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closely post-announcement at 2:00 PM EST, as a downturn in equities could dampen crypto sentiment. Conversely, sustained equity gains could amplify bullish trends in digital assets, offering entry points for swing trades targeting resistance levels.
In summary, the potential decision to keep rates unchanged, as highlighted by Milk Road's tweet at 10:30 AM EST on May 7, 2025, underscores a pivotal moment for cross-market dynamics. Institutional flows between stocks and crypto, evident in ETF inflows and crypto stock performance like COIN, highlight the interconnectedness of these markets. For crypto traders, the focus should be on real-time data, technical levels, and stock market reactions to Powell's remarks, ensuring agile responses to evolving market conditions. With Bitcoin and Ethereum showing stability and volume growth, the stage is set for potential breakout trades if sentiment remains positive post-announcement.
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