Bitcoin and ethereum prices rise after Fed rate hike

Bitcoin and ethereum prices increased on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following the Federal Reserve's unanimous decision to raise interest rates. This marks the first rate increase in three years, a move that has prompted questions about its sufficiency in controlling inflation, according to a bank CEO cited in the report.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $76,143.81, up 0.7% from Wednesday's opening price. By 7:23 a.m. ET, the price had climbed to $76,264.91. Ethereum (ETH-USD) followed a similar trajectory, opening at $2,416.14, also a 0.7% increase over the previous day. As of the same morning hour, ethereum traded at $2,432.60.

Despite recent price pressures attributed to the failure of the CLARITY Act in the Senate, both assets are holding significant monthly gains. Bitcoin has risen 21.2% over the past month, while ethereum has gained 28.9% during the same period.

The current price action contrasts with longer-term performance metrics. Over the last week, bitcoin has declined by 2.7%, and ethereum has dropped by 2.1%. On a yearly basis, bitcoin is down 34.8% from its level one year ago, while ethereum has fallen 46.4% over that timeframe.

Historical data shows that bitcoin reached an all-time high of $126,198.07 on October 6, 2025. Its all-time low was recorded at $0.04865 on July 14, 2010. Ethereum's peak value was $4,953.73 on August 24, 2025, with an all-time low of $0.4209 on October 21, 2015.

Financial advisors are reversing course on cryptocurrencies as an investment, raising questions about market dynamics in the event of a future crash. Additionally, Coinbase is slated to launch the Coinbase One Card in fall 2025, a product exclusively for Coinbase One subscription members that offers up to 4% bitcoin back on purchases.