TLDR:

Bitcoin fell 2.84% over seven days to $91,177 as DOJ opened criminal probe into Fed Chair Powell
Trading volume surged to $44.35 billion as markets price in uncertainty over Federal Reserve autonomy
Powell admitted legal threats could influence Fed decisions, raising concerns about policy independence
Dollar weakness and gold surge create mixed signals for Bitcoin amid unprecedented central bank scrutiny 

 

Bitcoin has plummeted to $91,177.62 amid revelations that US Federal Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. 

The cryptocurrency dropped 2.84% over seven days as markets react to unprecedented legal scrutiny of America’s central bank leadership. 

Trading volume surged to $44.35 billion in 24 hours as uncertainty about Federal Reserve independence triggers widespread investor repositioning across digital and traditional assets.

Bitcoin Tumbles as Fed Independence Concerns Mount

The cryptocurrency market experienced sharp volatility following news of the Department of Justice probe into Powell. 

As of this writing, Bitcoin recorded a 1.03% decline in the past 24 hours as traders digest the potential ramifications for monetary policy. 

Financial analyst BitBull reported that prosecutors can now demand documents, emails, and testimony from the Fed chair regarding the central bank’s headquarters renovation project.

Market participants view this development as more than an administrative inquiry. Powell himself admitted that legal threats could affect Federal Reserve decision-making processes, according to reports circulating among crypto traders. 

This acknowledgment has triggered concerns that interest rate policies may no longer be determined solely by economic data. 

Bitcoin, often seen as a hedge against institutional uncertainty, initially failed to capitalize on the dollar’s weakness.

The investigation introduces unprecedented political risk into monetary policy calculations. Traders must now assess whether rate decisions reflect inflation data and employment figures or external pressures from prosecutors. 

This ambiguity creates challenging conditions for risk assets including cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin’s decline suggests investors are moving to sidelines rather than rushing into alternative assets during this initial uncertainty phase.

Crypto Markets Face Crossroads as Dollar Weakens

The dollar weakened against major currencies while gold surged to record highs, creating a mixed picture for Bitcoin. 

Historically, dollar weakness has supported cryptocurrency prices as investors seek alternatives to fiat currency. However, the current environment presents unique complications that challenge traditional market relationships. 

The threat to Fed independence represents systemic risk that transcends typical currency fluctuations.

Bitcoin’s performance in coming weeks will likely depend on how markets interpret the investigation’s progression. 

If traders conclude that Federal Reserve autonomy is genuinely compromised, capital could flow toward decentralized assets like cryptocurrencies. 

Conversely, heightened regulatory uncertainty might push investors toward perceived safe havens including gold and government bonds. 

The $44.35 billion trading volume indicates active positioning as market participants evaluate these competing scenarios.

Long-term implications for Bitcoin remain uncertain but potentially significant. A Federal Reserve operating under legal or political constraints could accelerate currency debasement concerns that originally drove cryptocurrency adoption. 

Yet the investigation also highlights regulatory risks facing all financial institutions, including crypto exchanges and protocols. 

The market must determine whether this crisis strengthens Bitcoin’s narrative as sound money or exposes all assets to unpredictable government intervention.

The post DOJ Investigation into Fed Chair Powell Sends Bitcoin Tumbling: What’s Next? appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ January 13, 2026 3:03 am