Gate Research Institute: The Federal Reserve Resumes Rate Hikes, Crypto Market Enters Structural Divergence Phase Under High Interest Rates

Odaily Planet Daily News – Gate Research Institute recently released a rate hike report. In September 2026, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the first policy rate increase in over three years. However, the crypto market did not experience significant sell-offs. Over the following seven days, cumulative gains reached 11.58% and 11.94%, with SOL surging by 18.70%. Gate Research Institute's analysis suggests that rate hikes do not necessarily lead to declines in crypto assets; the market is fundamentally trading the gap between policy actions and expectations. During the four rate hikes in 2023, the market showed signs of divergence afterward, while the deep correction in 2022 was caused by rapid rate hikes compounded by an industry credit crisis. From a transmission mechanism perspective, high interest rates increase the yield on dollar-denominated assets and raise the opportunity cost of holding crypto assets. BTC, with its higher liquidity and institutional participation, is relatively more defensive, whereas high-beta assets like SOL exhibit greater elasticity during market recoveries but face higher pullback risks during liquidity tightening. Looking ahead, if inflation and employment gradually cool down and rate hike expectations peak, the market may begin to price in improved liquidity in advance, with momentum spreading from BTC to ETH and altcoins. As a globally leading digital asset platform, Gate continues to monitor changes in the macroeconomic environment and their impact on the crypto market, helping investors better grasp market trends and identify potential opportunities in an ever-evolving market landscape.