Elon Musk, Bill Ackman, Balaji, Cathie Wood Outrage Over US Fed Decision

Elon Musk, Bill Ackman, Balaji Srinivasan, Cathie Wood criticized the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate hikes amid the banking crisis.
By Varinder Singh

The U.S. Federal Reserve sticks to its goal of reducing inflation to 2% and raises interest rates by another 25 bps to 4.75%-5%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said officials don’t see rate cuts this year and could raise rates higher than expected if needed. He also added that US banks are “sound”. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen disclosed that the FDIC will not offer “blanket insurance” for all bank deposits.

Notable personalities including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, billionaire Bill Ackman, former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan, and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood criticized the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate hikes amid the banking crisis.

Elon Musk called the Fed rate hike decision “foolish”. He asserts it will worsen depositor flight as people move money from low-interest savings accounts to high-interest money market accounts. Earlier, Elon Musk warned the Fed of worsening market conditions and the banking crisis if the Fed continues to raise rates.

Bill Ackman also urged the Fed to pause rate hikes in March due to the ongoing banking crisis caused by the closure of three banks by regulators and Credit Suisse issue.

In fresh warnings after the Fed rate hike and Yellen comments, he said bank runs will continue risking impact on lending rates and the U.S. economy. Also, the Treasury not considering an expansion of deposit insurance is a “big mistake.”

Balaji Srinivasan asserts the U.S. government is secretly printing trillions of dollars while hiking rates. The Fed rate hikes caused domestic banks to collapse and risks further bank runs. He claims the BTFP, the swap lines, and the “FedDIC” policy are meant for printing money. The system will continue to attack crypto for its failure, but crypto is resilient.

He recommends buying Bitcoin and getting coins off exchanges. Also, he believes the crypto industry can thrive in a Bitcoin-friendly jurisdiction like Florida and Texas, or El Salvador and UAE.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Crypto Market Strong After Fed Rate Hike

Cathie Wood took to Twitter reminding investors and the government that crypto assets soared after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. The 20-fold increase in the Fed funds rate will make regional banks and the equity and bond holders to be “wiped out.”

TradFi businesses and individuals are hedging their fiat assets with some crypto assets. Meanwhile, regional banks are slowly moving from a liquidity crisis to a solvency crisis.

Meanwhile, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes thanked Fed Chair Jerome Powell for the rate hike. Hayes claims it will help him buy the Bitcoin dip, becoming more bullish on Bitcoin hitting $1 million.

Also Read: Bitcoin Price and Crypto Market Tank Over SEC’s Action on Coinbase

Advertisement
Varinder Singh
Varinder has over 10 years of experience and is known as a seasoned leader for his involvement in the fintech sector. With over 5 years dedicated to blockchain, crypto, and Web3 developments, he has experienced two Bitcoin halving events making him key opinion leader in the space. At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting. Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.