During a Senate Banking Committee hearing today, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated his company is tracking the “volatility” of the cryptocurrency market. He stated that while Fed is not straight associated with controling cryptocurrency, it its bank supervisory and regulative function, it has input on what banks finish with crypto possessions on their balance sheets. “We’re tracking those events carefully,” Powell reacted to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) relating to the crypto market’s current crash, including that the reserve bank actually isn’t seeing “significant macroeconomic implications” so far.
Powell called crypto an “innovative new space,” however stated it requires a much better regulative structure. He stated Congress requires to develop which companies have authority over crypto and stablecoins.
“The same activity should have the same regulation no matter where it appears, and that isn’t the case right now because a lot of the digital finance products, in some ways, are quite similar to products that have existed in the banking system or the capital markets, but they’re just not regulated the same way,” he stated. “So, we need to do that.”
Powell doesn’t see economic downturn in near term
Turning to the economy, Powell remained on message throughout his statement. Responding to legislator concerns that primarily concentrated on inflation and the increasing rate of gas and food, Powell didn’t divert far from the reserve bank’s required of promoting optimum work and keeping high inflation in check.
The Fed recently made its biggest rates of interest trek in 28 years in an effort to reduce inflation. When asked if quick rate walkings might set off an economic downturn, Powell stated “it’s certainly a possibility,” however that it’s undoubtedly not the company’s “intended outcome.” He included that he does not anticipate one in the near term, highlighting that the economy stays strong and services are “in good shape.” But in spite of being asked a variety of times over the about what the Fed can do to aid with increasing costs at the grocery and the gas pump, Powell restated that food and gas costs would not be reduced by increasing rates.
Powell stated the Fed’s objective is to lower inflation and sluggish development without setting off an economic downturn or high joblessness. “It’s absolutely essential that we restore price stability … for the benefit of the labor market as much as anything else,” he stated. “There’s really not anything that we can do about oil prices,” Powell stated. “Food prices—that a bit more mixed. But for oil prices, they’re set at the global level.” He stated greater rate of interest would assist to “moderate” supply and need.”
Powell likewise kept in mind that the real estate market is starting to slow following its current pandemic rise. “You’re actually seeing demand move down significantly,” he stated, which real estate costs and need will start to flatten out. “You’re going to see a moderation in housing demand, you’re going to see declining, slower increases, at least in housing prices.”
