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CryptoMedium•18 February 2026•

1 min read

Fed Minutes Spark Sell-Off in Bitcoin and US Stocks Amid Rate Hike Concerns

Golden Bitcoin coins and wallets in front of the US Capitol building and American flag, with an upward trend graph.

Bitcoin prices retreated to the $66,000 level as the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes revealed a surprisingly hawkish stance. The minutes indicated that policymakers remain open to further interest rate hikes if inflation persists, dampening investor sentiment across risk assets. This development has put Bitcoin on track for its fifth consecutive weekly decline, reflecting a broader shift in market liquidity expectations. U.S. stock indices also lost momentum as the prospect of higher-for-longer rates weighed on growth-sensitive sectors. Investors are now recalibrating their portfolios as the Fed's cautious approach complicates the outlook for monetary easing in 2024. Consequently, the sell-off underscores the continued sensitivity of both crypto and equity markets to central bank policy shifts.