The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, set to be released at 3:30 PM Turkish time, could serve as a crucial turning point for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Caught between U.S. President Donald Trump’s strong calls for interest rate cuts, Powell faces either a rescue or a concession to presidential demands. Analyst Paul Barron suggests that lower-than-expected inflation might ignite the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin $118,096, having reached an all-time high of $123,000, might surge to $130,000 before the month’s end if the data aligns favorably. Expectations are strong that the released figures will decisively steer the market’s short-term direction.
June Inflation Expectations
The annual inflation rate for June is anticipated to hit 2.6%. However, if it falls below 2.4%, it could expedite the Federal Reserve’s timeline for interest rate cuts. Cheaper money might increase risk appetite, shifting investment flows from stocks and bonds into cryptocurrencies. Currently, markets are pricing in two rate cuts by the year-end in Fed funds futures.
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Barron assesses that a liquidity surge triggered by positive data could decouple Bitcoin from traditional indices. He foresees major altcoins like Ethereum $3,727 and XRP benefiting as part of an “escape route.” The analyst predicts that if spot ETF demand revives, $130,000 will become the baseline scenario for Bitcoin, rather than an optimistic prediction.
Rising Pressure on the Federal Reserve
While Trump persistently urges Powell to rapidly cut rates, the Fed’s headquarters remodeling costs have ballooned to $2.5 billion, surpassing the initial estimate of $700 million. Congress members are demanding transparency for the Fed’s headquarters renovation, and Powell has had to emphasize that no tax revenue is utilized. This scandal has tested the Fed’s credibility, intensifying pressure on Powell and his colleagues.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives will vote on three legislative bills during “Cryptocurrency Week.” The CLARITY Act aims to clarify cryptocurrency definitions, while the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act seeks to restrain state digital currency due to privacy concerns. Lastly, the GENIUS Act will establish stablecoin regulations. According to Barron, the regulatory clarity from these votes, combined with potential rate cuts, is likely to offer a dual-directional catalyst for the rise of cryptocurrencies.