Bitcoin Price Ahead of FOMC Minutes: Can BTC Break $87,000?

Bitcoin FOMC minutes day is here, and the $87K question has a conditional answer. BTC can break $87,000 only if the minutes read softer than the hawkish September projections. Anything else keeps the ceiling intact. 

The Bitcoin price today sits around $86,000 after repeated rejections just below $87,000 this week. Buyers keep knocking. Sellers keep answering. Tonight, the Federal Reserve hands both sides a fresh script.

Key Takeaways

• The minutes of the 15 to 16 September meeting arrive on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 2:00 pm ET (7:00 pm London).
• The Fed raised rates to 3.75% to 4.00% in September, its first hike since 2023, and 16 of 18 officials projected at least one more this year.
• A daily close above $87,400 opens $90,000, whilst a hawkish read exposes support near $83,400.

What Will the FOMC Minutes Reveal Today?

The minutes of the 15 to 16 September meeting are released on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 2:00 pm ET (7:00 pm London). 

They carry no new decision. They carry the argument behind the last one, and the largest people who own Bitcoin will read every line.

That decision broke the old playbook. The Committee voted 12 to 0 to raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75% to 4.00%, the first increase since July 2023. 

Chair Kevin Warsh tied the move to inflation that was not falling towards 2% quickly enough. The projections went further, with 16 of 18 officials signalling at least one more hike in 2026 and a median rate of 4.1% by December.

The data has since shifted. The September jobs report showed only 29,000 new positions, and the odds of an October hike fell from about 70% to roughly 20%. Markets still price a hike by December. Here's what traders will scan for tonight:

• How many officials saw a second hike as urgent rather than optional.
• How much weight the Committee gave to a cooling labour market.
• Whether inflation, projected at 3.7% for 2026, still dominated the debate.

The minutes predate the weak jobs print, so a hawkish tone may already be stale.

Want to be positioned before the release? Sign up on Bitrue and have your account ready ahead of 2:00 pm ET.

How Could the Minutes Move Bitcoin?

This is not a rate decision. There is still real volatility on the table. Bitcoin has spent days pinned between $85,000 and $87,000, and more than $172 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated in a single 24 hour stretch this week. 

Image Source: TradingView

A tight range plus heavy leverage rarely stays quiet. Here's how the scenarios play out:

• A dovish read, with officials divided on further hikes, could push BTC through $87,000 towards the yearly open near $87,570 and then $90,000.
• A hawkish read, with broad support for another increase, could send BTC back to $83,400 and possibly $82,500.
• A neutral read likely keeps price inside the current band until September CPI on 14 October.

Rates explain the logic. Higher yields raise the return on cash and drain appetite for risk assets, whilst softer guidance does the opposite. Spot demand is the missing ingredient, since US spot Bitcoin ETFs swung to a net outflow of about $89.8 million on 5 October. 

Traders who want exposure in either direction can use BTC futures to go long or short around the release. Keep positions small. The first reaction to Fed events often reverses.

How to Trade Bitcoin on Bitrue

Trading the minutes takes preparation, not speed. Bitrue lets you set everything up before the release in five steps.

1. Create a Bitrue account and complete KYC verification.
2. Fund the account with USDT or another supported deposit method.
3. Browse the markets and select the BTC/USDT pair.
4. Place a market order for instant execution, or a limit order at your chosen level, such as a break above $87,000.
5. Decide whether to keep your BTC on Bitrue or move it to self custody.

Bitrue is also running a BTC Exclusive Trade and Earn campaign built around Bitcoin trading. Check the campaign page for current rewards and terms before placing your first order.

Conclusion

The setup is simple. Bitcoin sits under a ceiling that has rejected every attempt this week, and the FOMC minutes are the next test. A softer tone opens $87,000 and then $90,000. A hawkish tone drags price back towards $83,400. Either way, preparation beats reaction. 

Bitrue offers spot and futures markets in one account, plus a live Bitcoin campaign for active traders. Set your levels before 2:00 pm ET, open the BTC/USDT market on Bitrue, and trade the outcome with a plan.

FAQ

When Are the FOMC Minutes Released?

The minutes are released on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 2:00 pm ET, which is 7:00 pm in London.

What Is the Current Fed Interest Rate?

The federal funds target range is 3.75% to 4.00% after the 25 basis point hike in September 2026.

Can Bitcoin Break $87K After the FOMC Minutes?

Bitcoin can break $87,000 if the minutes show officials are divided on further hikes, but a hawkish tone would likely keep the resistance in place.

What Is the Bitcoin Price Today?

Bitcoin trades around $86,000 on 7 October 2026, just below resistance at $87,000.

When Is the Next Fed Rate Decision?

The next decision is due on 28 October 2026 at 2:00 pm ET.

Disclaimer: The views expressed belong exclusively to the author and do not reflect the views of this platform. This platform and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or suitability of the information provided. It is for informational purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice.