FOMC meeting schedule 2025: next Fed meeting date and time

What is the FOMC and why do FOMC meetings matter?

The FOMC is the rate-setting arm of the US Federal Reserve. It includes 12 voting members; seven members of the Fed’s Board of Governors and five presidents from regional Reserve Banks. These officials gather every six to eight weeks to evaluate the economy and decide on the direction of monetary policy.

Learn about monetary policy fundamentals

The FOMC’s main tool is the federal funds rate, i.e., the interest rate banks charge each other to borrow overnight. Adjusting this rate helps the Fed manage inflation and employment, which make up its dual mandate: price stability (low, stable inflation) and maximum employment.

FOMC meetings matter because even a small rate change, or a hint of one coming, can shift the value of everything from mortgages to crypto tokens. Markets react not only to what the Fed decides, but how they frame it. Language in the policy statement or press conference can move billions of dollars in minutes.

Cryptocurrency markets, in particular, are sensitive to Fed policy. Tighter monetary conditions often reduce investor appetite for risk, including crypto. On the other hand, rate cuts or dovish guidance can boost liquidity and fuel rallies across digital assets.

Find out how inflation affects cryptocurrency

When is the next FOMC meeting scheduled?

The next FOMC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 September and Wednesday, 17 September 2025. These meetings always take place over two days, with the second day reserved for the key announcements and media briefing.

The timeline for the day is as follows:

• 14:00 ET (19:00 UTC): The Fed publishes its official policy statement, outlining any changes to interest rates or balance sheet policy.
• 14:30 ET (19:30 UTC): Fed Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference, streamed live on the Federal Reserve’s website and YouTube channel

You can watch the press conference live on the Federal Reserve’s YouTube channel or via the Fed’s official website. Most financial news platforms also stream it and offer real-time commentary.

This September meeting is one of four during the year that includes the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), a quarterly document showing forecasts for GDP, inflation, unemployment, and interest rates. It also features the ‘dot plot’, which visualizes where individual FOMC members see the federal funds rate heading over the next few years.

Because this meeting provides both a policy update and detailed economic forecasts, it’s often one of the most market-moving events of the year. Financial media, analysts, and traders typically offer live commentary, so it’s worth following trusted sources in real time to see how expectations shift as the day unfolds.

Complete 2025 FOMC meeting schedule

Meetings with projections are more likely to shift market expectations as they provide insight into the Fed’s long-term thinking.

As of now, no emergency or unscheduled FOMC meetings have occurred in 2025. However, the Fed has the authority to call additional meetings in response to urgent economic developments, such as financial instability or geopolitical shocks. These are typically announced with little notice and are closely monitored for any immediate policy action.

Current economic context ahead of the Fed meeting

Heading into the September 2025 FOMC meeting, the Fed continues to walk a fine line – weighing slowing inflation against cooling job growth and muted consumer demand.

Key data points:

• CPI and PCE inflation are trending toward the Fed’s 2% target but remain elevated in sticky categories like housing and services.
• Unemployment has edged up from post-pandemic lows, now hovering around 4.2%, with job openings and wage growth showing signs of moderation.
• GDP growth slowed to 1.5% in Q2, pointing to a deceleration in consumer activity and business investment.
• Energy prices have been volatile, driven by geopolitical tensions, adding upside risk to headline inflation.
• Market sentiment has shifted from expecting further rate hikes to pricing in a longer hold, with some forecasting the first cut in early 2026.

Fed officials have remained cautious. Governor Lisa Cook noted “encouraging progress” on inflation, while Chair Powell recently stated the Fed is “not eager to overtighten” and remains “data dependent”.

This meeting may serve as a key inflection point, offering clarity on whether the Fed is preparing to pivot, or committed to holding policy steady into next year. Markets will be watching closely for any shift in tone, projections, or forward guidance.

What to expect from the upcoming FOMC meeting

The September 2025 FOMC meeting is expected to be a pivotal moment in the Fed’s policy path. While a rate hike is unlikely, markets will be watching closely for any signal of a shift toward easing.

Key areas analysts are watching:

• Rate decision: Most forecasts suggest the Fed will hold the target range steady at 4.25% to 4.50%, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a change.
• Dot plot revisions: The new Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) may lower 2026 and longer-run rate estimates – a key signal for policy trajectory.
• Forward guidance: Powell could use the press conference to hint at a pivot, stating whether rate cuts are on the table for Q1 or Q2 2026.
• Policy language: Phrases like “data dependent”, “sufficiently restrictive”, or “monitoring conditions” will be scrutinized – even subtle changes can move markets.

Market scenarios to consider:

• Fed holds, signals cuts ahead: Stocks, bonds, and crypto may rally on easing expectations.
• Fed holds, maintains hawkish tone: Risk assets could dip as hopes for early cuts fade.
• Fed hikes again (unlikely): A surprise increase could spark broad risk-off selling.

Investors should also expect elevated volatility before and after the statement and press conference. Even if the rate remains unchanged, how Powell frames the outlook could significantly shift sentiment.

How Fed decisions impact cryptocurrency markets

While cryptocurrency has matured over the past few years, it still trades like a high-risk asset, and that makes it highly sensitive to monetary policy. When the Fed changes direction, crypto often reacts faster, and more sharply, than traditional markets.

Here’s how rate changes typically affect crypto:

• Higher rates = tighter liquidity = reduced appetite for risk assets like crypto
• Lower rates = looser conditions = more capital flows into speculative assets

Historically, Bitcoin has underperformed during periods of aggressive tightening and gained momentum when the Fed signals a pause or pivot. That said, not all coins react the same way. Altcoins and DeFi tokens tend to experience amplified moves (both positive and negative) around FOMC announcements.

Trade crypto during market volatility

Fed guidance also affects stablecoin demand, borrowing costs in decentralized finance (DeFi), and institutional flows into digital assets. Even the tone of Powell’s press conference can sway short-term sentiment in crypto markets.

Fed-driven volatility creates both risk and opportunity. You can prepare by using tools like price alerts for FOMC announcements and reviewing in-depth market analysis to understand how macro shifts may influence the crypto landscape.

Preparing your investment strategy around FOMC announcements

FOMC meetings often trigger short-term volatility, but the effects can last much longer depending on the guidance offered. Here are practical steps you can take:

• Set price alerts in your crypto or stock trading app before and after the meeting.
• Diversify your portfolio to reduce exposure to sudden shifts in one asset class.
• Use dollar-cost averaging (DCA) if you’re building a position through uncertain periods.
• Avoid emotional trades. Wait for post-announcement clarity before making big moves.

If you're active in markets, you can use Crypto.com Exchange to manage trades during periods of volatility.

US-based users can also take part in FOMC prediction events on the Crypto.com App. These events allow you to forecast rate decisions and earn rewards for accurate predictions.

Important: Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange. Trading on CDNA involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on CDNA is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk.

Historical context: recent Fed policy decisions

Looking back at the Fed’s recent moves helps provide context for what could come next:

• July 2025: The Fed held rates steady at 4.25% to 4.50 %, marking the fifth consecutive pause. Internal divisions surfaced as Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman dissented – a rare occurrence in over 30 years. Despite growing political pressure, including from former President Trump calling for immediate cuts, the Fed maintained its cautious stance amid rising inflation concerns from tariffs and ongoing global volatility.
• June 2025: The Fed held rates steady, describing current policy as “sufficiently restrictive” and signaling patience amid mixed economic signals.
• March 2025: Rates were held again. The Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) showed no anticipated cuts in 2025 but a slightly lower path for 2026.
• December 2024: The Fed officially paused its hiking cycle, citing cooling inflation and slower wage growth, entering what Powell called a “wait and see” period.

These decisions reflect a broader shift that began in late 2022 – from aggressive rate hikes aimed at curbing inflation to a more cautious, data-driven stance.

Markets have at times misread the Fed’s pivot timing, which has contributed to volatility across asset classes. As a result, investors now place greater weight not just on the rate decision, but on the language, projections, and tone used in Fed communications.

Heading into the September 2025 meeting, this history offers a helpful lens: the Fed remains deliberate, and it tends to adjust course gradually, but once a pivot begins, markets move quickly to reprice expectations.

Key economic indicators the Fed is watching

The Fed’s dual mandate means it must balance inflation and employment. Here’s what matters most:

• PCE inflation: The Fed’s preferred inflation measure, published monthly.
• Non-farm payrolls: A key gauge of job creation, released on the first Friday each month.
• Unemployment rate: Used to assess labor market slack.
• GDP growth: Indicates overall economic strength or weakness.
• Consumer spending and confidence: Provide insight into demand-side pressures.

Global events, such as oil price shocks or geopolitical tensions, can also influence Fed decisions, particularly if they affect supply chains or inflation expectations.

FAQs about the FOMC meeting

What is the FOMC?
The FOMC is the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets US interest rates and directs monetary policy.

When is the next Fed meeting?
The next FOMC meeting is on 16 and 17 September 2025, with the statement at 14:00 ET on 17 September. View the full 2025 calendar above. 

How does the Fed affect crypto?
Rate decisions influence liquidity and investor sentiment, both of which affect crypto prices.

Important information: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile and carry risk. Please consult a financial adviser before making investment decisions.

Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange. Trading on CDNA involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on CDNA is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk.