Bitcoin dips to $72K on hot US PPI inflation hours before Fed FOMC meeting

1 hour ago

Bitcoin (BTC) slid 2.5% astir Wednesday’s Wall Street unfastened arsenic a caller US ostentation overshoot spooked markets.

Key points:

  • US PPI ostentation surpasses marketplace expectations again, continuing its “hot” 2026 trend.

  • BTC terms unit results astatine the Wall Street open, arsenic markets brace for the Federal Reserve interest-rates decision.

  • Traders spot nary crushed to rethink their bearish stance connected Bitcoin.

Fed rates “less supportive” for Bitcoin, crypto

Data from TradingView showed $72,000 coming backmost into absorption for BTC terms enactment aft the February people of the Producer Price Index (PPI).

BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


This came successful markedly supra expectations astatine 0.7% month-on-month and 3.4% year-on-year, extending a trend from caller months. Markets had foreseen 0.3% and 3%, respectively. 

“On an unadjusted basis, the scale for last request roseate 3.4 percent for the 12 months ended successful February, the largest 12- period beforehand since expanding 3.4 percent successful February 2025,” an official statement from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirmed.

US PPI one-month % change. Source: BLS


The timing of the merchandise was pertinent, coming conscionable hours earlier the Federal Reserve was owed to merchandise its determination connected interest-rate changes.

While markets saw practically nary chance of a complaint chopped oregon hike, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) gathering could inactive spark volatility based connected the code of Chair Jerome Powell’s accompanying connection and property conference.

“Macro remains the ascendant operator into what is arguably the astir important cardinal slope week of the year,” trading institution QCP Capital wrote successful its latest “Market Color” investigation connected the day.

QCP noted that different large cardinal slope complaint moves were scheduled for the time aft the Fed.

“Markets person sharply pared easing expectations arsenic higher lipid prices complicate the way for complaint cuts, adjacent arsenic maturation and labour information soften,” it continued. 

“For crypto, the accusation is straightforward: the rates backdrop is becoming little supportive, not more.”
Fed people complaint probabilities for March 18 FOMC gathering (screenshot). Source: CME Group FedWatch Tool


Lower involvement rates connote amended liquidity prospects for crypto and hazard assets, portion a hawkish Fed tends to unit prices.


”Caution pays” for BTC terms into FOMC

Going into FOMC, Bitcoin traders were firmly risk-off.

Related: Bitcoin sparks ‘bull trap’ informing aft BTC terms rejects astatine $76K

“$BTC hovering beneath play resistance; FOMC aboriginal contiguous - I deliberation caution pays here,” trader Jelle wrote successful his latest commentary connected X.

BTC/USD chart. Source: Jelle/X


An accompanying illustration showed the hazard of a caller BTC terms enactment breakdown, with Jelle and others having stated that Bitcoin remains successful a carnivore market.

$BTC 1D

It looks astir precisely the same.

Bear Flag Breakdown & Retest with debased measurement connected the upward move.

Most oversold indicators person wholly reset. pic.twitter.com/NBvrE1K5Mf

— Roman (@Roman_Trading) March 17, 2026

Crypto expert Michaël van de Poppe, meanwhile, was much optimistic, inactive seeing a accidental of $80,000 reappearing.

“Very beardown determination connected $BTC this month, and present it's consolidating. Nothing incorrect with that, the other actually,” helium told X followers. 

“It's precise apt that we'll proceed to trial higher, arsenic resistances are inactive supra us.”
BTC/USDT one-day chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X


Van de Poppe acknowledged that helium besides “wouldn’t beryllium surprised” astatine a trial of scope lows.

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