Fed Speak: Market Focus Shifts to Second Rate Cut This Year, Aggressive Easing Still Stalled by Inflation
BlockBeats News, August 24th, Nick Timiraos, a well-known reporter from The Wall Street Journal and often referred to as the "Fed Whisperer," published a new article titled "Powell's Rate Cut Signal Reflects Delicate Economic Situation." The article stated that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is carefully paving the way for a rate cut next month, but has sent a subtle message to those expecting aggressive easing—don't expect a drastic move. The market has largely priced in a September rate cut, and the focus is now shifting to whether the Fed will consider another rate cut at the last two meetings of the year (October and December).
Powell's cautious tone reflects the complex economic dynamics facing the Fed: describing the labor market as showing "peculiar" signs of softness despite a low unemployment rate, while price increases driven by tariffs are starting to impact the economy. Powell has largely adopted the rate-cut argument put forth by Fed Governor Lael Brainard, who last month opposed Powell's decision to keep rates unchanged and supported a cut. Subsequent significant revisions to employment data confirmed concerns about labor market softness. Powell is waiting for data to validate this view—this may be a necessary step to persuade skeptical colleagues. Some Fed officials believe the case for a rate cut is weak due to high inflation and exaggerated risks in the labor market. Powell's speech clearly indicates that he is still pursuing the soft landing he has sought for a long time, but the need to address the complex situation has significantly increased. The question is whether his new strategy can allow the economy to achieve a smooth landing, neither losing speed nor veering off the runway.
You may also like

Guarding billions in assets, yet unable to sustain itself: Tally bids a dignified farewell after five years

SEC’s Stance on Crypto Assets: Most Not Considered Securities
Key Takeaways: The SEC’s new interpretation categorizes most crypto assets as non-securities under federal law. This move aims…

South Korea’s New Crypto Seizure Guidelines After Asset Mismanagement Incidents
Key Takeaways: South Korea’s National Police Agency (KNPA) has drafted guidelines for crypto seizure, with a focus on…

Institutional Confidence in Crypto’s 2026 Growth Trajectory
Key Takeaways: A significant 73% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto holdings by 2026. Exchange-traded products…

Ethereum Reduces Bridge Times by 98% with Fast Confirmation Rule
Key Takeaways: Ethereum introduces the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR) aiming to cut bridge times from L1 to L2…

Crypto Firms Advocate DeFi Education in US Colleges
Key Takeaways: Twenty-one crypto organizations have called on US colleges to integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) into their curricula…

RedotPay Reorganizes Amidst Funding Tries and IPO Goals
Key Takeaways: RedotPay is facing leadership changes and concerns over its connections with mainland China while eyeing a…

Bitcoin ETF Streak Nears October Highs While Inflows Lag Behind
Key Takeaways: US spot Bitcoin ETFs have continued their inflow streak for seven straight days, accumulating $1.2 billion…

Connecticut Suspends Bitcoin Depot as Revenue Prospects for 2026 Worsen
Key Takeaways: Connecticut halts Bitcoin Depot’s operations, citing regulatory breaches related to the Money Transmission Act. Bitcoin Depot…

DAO Governance Platform Tally Shuts Down Due to Market Challenges
Key Takeaways: Tally, after operating for five years, is shutting down due to a lack of viable business…

Trump Memecoin Shows Volatility Amid Mar-a-Lago Event
Key Takeaways: TRUMP memecoin holders surpassed 83 wallets with over one million tokens after a luncheon announcement with…

Bitcoin Surge in Australian E-commerce Faces Banking Hurdles: In-depth Analysis
Key Takeaways: Cryptocurrency usage in Australia for purchasing goods and services doubled from 6% to 12% in 2026.…

Meta Shuts Down Horizon Worlds VR for Mobile-Centric Strategy
Key Takeaways: Meta is transitioning Horizon Worlds from a VR to a mobile-centric platform starting June 2026. The…

Bitcoin Exchange Inflows Surge Amidst $75,000 Resistance
Key Takeaways: Bitcoin inflows to exchanges have spiked to 6,100 BTC, hinting at potential selling pressure. The large…

Bitrefill Identifies Lazarus Group Behind Cyberattack and Stolen Funds
Key Takeaways: Bitrefill suffered a cyberattack on March 1, likely orchestrated by the infamous Lazarus Group using sophisticated…

Coin Center Advocates for Rulemaking Over No-Action Letters in Crypto Regulation
Key Takeaways: Coin Center challenges the SEC’s reliance on no-action letters, promoting a shift toward comprehensive rulemaking in…

On the eve of the Fed meeting, are traders starting to bet on a rate hike?

Can AI Make $200 a Day with Weather Forecasting?
Guarding billions in assets, yet unable to sustain itself: Tally bids a dignified farewell after five years
SEC’s Stance on Crypto Assets: Most Not Considered Securities
Key Takeaways: The SEC’s new interpretation categorizes most crypto assets as non-securities under federal law. This move aims…
South Korea’s New Crypto Seizure Guidelines After Asset Mismanagement Incidents
Key Takeaways: South Korea’s National Police Agency (KNPA) has drafted guidelines for crypto seizure, with a focus on…
Institutional Confidence in Crypto’s 2026 Growth Trajectory
Key Takeaways: A significant 73% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto holdings by 2026. Exchange-traded products…
Ethereum Reduces Bridge Times by 98% with Fast Confirmation Rule
Key Takeaways: Ethereum introduces the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR) aiming to cut bridge times from L1 to L2…
Crypto Firms Advocate DeFi Education in US Colleges
Key Takeaways: Twenty-one crypto organizations have called on US colleges to integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) into their curricula…