Fed Holds Rates, But Rare Hawkish Dissent Rattles Bitcoin and Stocks
The Federal Reserve held rates steady at 3.50%-3.75% on July 29, 2026, but the decision’s 9-3 vote split—the most hawkish dissent since September 2016—sent Bitcoin and equities tumbling as traders reassessed the path forward for monetary policy. Three regional Fed governors demanded a 25-basis-point hike, signaling that a meaningful faction of policymakers views further tightening…