Trump Criticizes Jerome Powell After Fed Holds Rates Steady: Implications for Crypto Traders

According to The Kobeissi Letter, President Trump publicly criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a 'fool' after the Fed decided to keep interest rates unchanged. Trump asserted that there is 'virtually no inflation' and highlighted 'tariff money pouring into the US.' For crypto traders, this high-profile criticism and the Fed's rate decision could signal ongoing uncertainty in traditional markets, potentially increasing volatility and risk-on sentiment in cryptocurrencies as investors seek alternative assets. Source: The Kobeissi Letter (May 8, 2025).
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President Donald Trump has once again stirred financial markets with his latest comments on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, calling Fed Chairman Jerome Powell a 'fool' for holding interest rates steady. In a statement shared via social media on May 8, 2025, Trump criticized the Fed's decision, claiming it was 'too late' to act and asserting that there is 'virtually no inflation' while 'tariff money is pouring into the US,' as reported by The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter. This remark comes at a time when the Fed's decision to maintain interest rates, announced on the same day, has already created ripples across both stock and cryptocurrency markets. As of 14:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, the S&P 500 saw a slight uptick of 0.3% to 5,203 points, reflecting cautious optimism among investors, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.4% to 18,250 points, according to real-time data from major financial outlets like Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a modest gain of 1.2%, reaching $62,450 by 15:00 UTC, as tracked on CoinMarketCap, suggesting a potential risk-on sentiment spilling over from equities. This interplay between Trump's rhetoric, Fed policy, and market reactions provides a unique lens for crypto traders to analyze cross-market dynamics. The Fed's decision to hold rates steady, despite Trump's criticism, signals a cautious approach to inflation control, which could influence investor appetite for riskier assets like cryptocurrencies in the near term. Trading volume for BTC spiked by 8% within the first hour post-announcement (14:00-15:00 UTC), indicating heightened market activity.
From a trading perspective, Trump's comments and the Fed's unchanged policy create a mixed environment for crypto assets. The steady interest rates generally favor risk assets, as lower borrowing costs encourage investment in high-growth sectors, including cryptocurrencies. By 16:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, Ethereum (ETH) also saw a price increase of 1.5% to $2,480, while major altcoins like Solana (SOL) gained 2.1% to $145, as per data from CoinGecko. These movements suggest a correlation with the stock market's positive reaction to the Fed's stance, potentially driven by institutional investors reallocating funds into riskier assets. For crypto traders, this presents opportunities in BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, particularly for short-term bullish positions, as market sentiment appears to lean toward risk-on behavior. However, Trump's assertion of 'no inflation' contradicts recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which showed a 2.4% year-over-year increase as of April 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This discrepancy could lead to volatility if markets begin to question the Fed's policy effectiveness. Traders should monitor for sudden reversals in sentiment, especially if upcoming economic data challenges Trump's claims. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) saw a 1.8% uptick to $205 by 15:30 UTC on May 8, 2025, reflecting potential institutional interest in the sector, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
Technically, Bitcoin's price action post-announcement shows bullish momentum, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart climbing to 62 by 17:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, indicating room for further upside before overbought conditions, based on TradingView data. BTC also broke above its 50-day moving average of $61,800 at 16:30 UTC, a key level for short-term bulls. Trading volume for BTC across major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase surged by 12% between 14:00 and 17:00 UTC, signaling strong participation. In the stock market, the correlation between the S&P 500 and Bitcoin remains evident, with a 30-day correlation coefficient of 0.68 as of May 8, 2025, according to analytics from Skew. This suggests that further gains in equities could bolster crypto prices. However, on-chain metrics reveal mixed signals: Bitcoin's net exchange inflows increased by 5,200 BTC between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC, per Glassnode data, hinting at potential selling pressure from whales. For traders, key levels to watch include BTC resistance at $63,000 and support at $61,500. In terms of institutional money flow, the uptick in crypto-related ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which saw a 2% volume increase to $320 million by 17:00 UTC on May 8, per Grayscale's official reports, indicates growing interest from traditional finance players. This convergence of stock and crypto market dynamics underscores the importance of monitoring macroeconomic rhetoric and policy decisions.
Lastly, the stock-crypto correlation highlights broader market risk appetite. Trump's comments, while polarizing, may embolden retail investors to seek alternatives like Bitcoin as a hedge against perceived policy missteps. Institutional flows into crypto ETFs and stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR), which rose 2.3% to $1,780 by 16:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, per MarketWatch, further suggest a spillover effect. Traders should remain vigilant, as sudden shifts in Fed narrative or inflation data could disrupt this fragile balance. Cross-market opportunities lie in leveraging stock market momentum to time entries in major crypto pairs, while risks include potential policy-driven volatility in both sectors.
FAQ Section:
What is the impact of Trump's comments on Bitcoin prices?
President Trump's criticism of the Fed on May 8, 2025, coincided with a 1.2% rise in Bitcoin's price to $62,450 by 15:00 UTC, as reported by CoinMarketCap. This suggests a risk-on sentiment possibly fueled by his remarks and the Fed's decision to hold rates steady, encouraging investment in cryptocurrencies.
How do steady interest rates affect crypto trading opportunities?
Steady interest rates, as announced on May 8, 2025, generally support risk assets like cryptocurrencies by maintaining low borrowing costs. This environment saw Ethereum rise 1.5% to $2,480 by 16:00 UTC, per CoinGecko, presenting short-term bullish opportunities in pairs like ETH/USD for traders.
From a trading perspective, Trump's comments and the Fed's unchanged policy create a mixed environment for crypto assets. The steady interest rates generally favor risk assets, as lower borrowing costs encourage investment in high-growth sectors, including cryptocurrencies. By 16:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, Ethereum (ETH) also saw a price increase of 1.5% to $2,480, while major altcoins like Solana (SOL) gained 2.1% to $145, as per data from CoinGecko. These movements suggest a correlation with the stock market's positive reaction to the Fed's stance, potentially driven by institutional investors reallocating funds into riskier assets. For crypto traders, this presents opportunities in BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, particularly for short-term bullish positions, as market sentiment appears to lean toward risk-on behavior. However, Trump's assertion of 'no inflation' contradicts recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which showed a 2.4% year-over-year increase as of April 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This discrepancy could lead to volatility if markets begin to question the Fed's policy effectiveness. Traders should monitor for sudden reversals in sentiment, especially if upcoming economic data challenges Trump's claims. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) saw a 1.8% uptick to $205 by 15:30 UTC on May 8, 2025, reflecting potential institutional interest in the sector, as reported by Yahoo Finance.
Technically, Bitcoin's price action post-announcement shows bullish momentum, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart climbing to 62 by 17:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, indicating room for further upside before overbought conditions, based on TradingView data. BTC also broke above its 50-day moving average of $61,800 at 16:30 UTC, a key level for short-term bulls. Trading volume for BTC across major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase surged by 12% between 14:00 and 17:00 UTC, signaling strong participation. In the stock market, the correlation between the S&P 500 and Bitcoin remains evident, with a 30-day correlation coefficient of 0.68 as of May 8, 2025, according to analytics from Skew. This suggests that further gains in equities could bolster crypto prices. However, on-chain metrics reveal mixed signals: Bitcoin's net exchange inflows increased by 5,200 BTC between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC, per Glassnode data, hinting at potential selling pressure from whales. For traders, key levels to watch include BTC resistance at $63,000 and support at $61,500. In terms of institutional money flow, the uptick in crypto-related ETFs like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which saw a 2% volume increase to $320 million by 17:00 UTC on May 8, per Grayscale's official reports, indicates growing interest from traditional finance players. This convergence of stock and crypto market dynamics underscores the importance of monitoring macroeconomic rhetoric and policy decisions.
Lastly, the stock-crypto correlation highlights broader market risk appetite. Trump's comments, while polarizing, may embolden retail investors to seek alternatives like Bitcoin as a hedge against perceived policy missteps. Institutional flows into crypto ETFs and stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR), which rose 2.3% to $1,780 by 16:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, per MarketWatch, further suggest a spillover effect. Traders should remain vigilant, as sudden shifts in Fed narrative or inflation data could disrupt this fragile balance. Cross-market opportunities lie in leveraging stock market momentum to time entries in major crypto pairs, while risks include potential policy-driven volatility in both sectors.
FAQ Section:
What is the impact of Trump's comments on Bitcoin prices?
President Trump's criticism of the Fed on May 8, 2025, coincided with a 1.2% rise in Bitcoin's price to $62,450 by 15:00 UTC, as reported by CoinMarketCap. This suggests a risk-on sentiment possibly fueled by his remarks and the Fed's decision to hold rates steady, encouraging investment in cryptocurrencies.
How do steady interest rates affect crypto trading opportunities?
Steady interest rates, as announced on May 8, 2025, generally support risk assets like cryptocurrencies by maintaining low borrowing costs. This environment saw Ethereum rise 1.5% to $2,480 by 16:00 UTC, per CoinGecko, presenting short-term bullish opportunities in pairs like ETH/USD for traders.
Bitcoin
inflation
alternative assets
tariff impact
crypto market volatility
Trump slams Powell
Fed interest rates 2025
The Kobeissi Letter
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