Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Drop Ahead of Fed Meeting on September 15, 2026
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $78,181.33 but fell to $76,931.56 by early morning trading ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day rate-setting meeting. Similarly, Ethereum (ETH-USD) dropped from an opening price of $2,515.17 to $2,480.37 in the same period. The decline came despite earlier gains driven by AI-related market fears and a broader crypto rally. Market participants are closely watching for potential rate hikes after expectations have risen sharply: according to CME Group's FedWatch tool, there is now a 92.5% chance of a rate increase following the meeting — up from 86.5% just one day earlier. The ongoing conflict with Iran and its impact on energy prices are also contributing factors that may influence market sentiment. Bitcoin has gained 1.8% compared to Monday's opening, while Ethereum rose by 1.6%. Over a longer timeframe, Bitcoin is up 24.1% from one month ago but down 32.3% year-over-year; Ethereum is up 33.7% monthly and -45.4% annually.
Topics: Bitcoin Ethereum Fed meeting interest rates