The price of %Bitcoin ($BTC) has stabilized at $41,000 U.S. after falling 8% earlier in the week and dropping from a 20-month high.
%Cryptocurrency investors appear to be waiting on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision that’s expected later today (Dec. 13).
The price of Bitcoin has fallen 1% over the last 24 hours to $41,200 U.S., declining from its recent peak of just over $44,000 U.S., which was its highest level since April 2022.
Cryptocurrencies have rallied over the past two months on expectations that U.S. regulators will soon approve the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Anticipation that the U.S. central bank will start lowering interest rates in 2024 has also helped to lift the prices of riskier assets such as cryptocurrencies.
While markets widely expect the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady at current levels, comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell will be parsed for signs of when rate cuts could start.
Some analysts see $44,000 U.S. as a key support level for Bitcoin and expect the next big run in the largest cryptocurrency to occur once the price breaks above $45,000 U.S.
Bitcoin is currently up 148% in 2023 after enduring a brutal downturn in 2022 during a wider bear market in equities.