Crypto Market Update – 17/9/2025: Bitcoin Holds, Altcoins Gain, BNB Surges on DOJ News
Bitcoin (BTC) traded around $116,236 as of 14:04 UTC on Sept. 17, up roughly 1% over 24 hours, holding key support ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement. Analysts point to BTC’s relative underperformance versus gold and the S&P 500, combined with historical seasonal trends, as reasons for optimism heading into “Uptober.”
Dean Crypto Trades noted that bitcoin is only about 7% above its post-election local peak, compared with 9% gains for the S&P 500 and 36% for gold. He suggested BTC’s price compression could set the stage for the next significant move, potentially forming a “lower high” before breaking out. Ether (ETH) could follow once it surpasses $5,000 and enters price discovery.
Lark Davis highlighted BTC’s history around September FOMC meetings, observing that every September decision since 2020—except during the 2022 bear market—has preceded a strong rally. He emphasized that seasonal dynamics, rather than the Fed’s rate choice, typically drive BTC gains in this period.
Technical Trends
CoinDesk Research shows BTC consolidating between $116,000–$116,500 after reaching an intraday high of $117,317. A breakout attempt late in the session briefly lifted BTC to $116,551 on higher volume, confirming a modest consolidation-breakout pattern. Over the past month, BTC has climbed from lows near $108,000 to recent highs above $117,000, signaling an upward trend with short-term pauses.
Altcoins are benefiting from BTC’s limited volatility. Bitcoin dominance has slipped to 57%, the lowest since January, indicating capital rotation into more speculative tokens. The average crypto RSI of 45.47 suggests several altcoins are approaching oversold territory, primed for potential upside.
BNB Rises on DOJ Compliance News
BNB outperformed the wider market, rising nearly 3% to trade near $950 and peaking at $963 after Bloomberg reported Binance is moving toward a potential DOJ deal that could end a key compliance requirement from its 2023 settlement. The compliance monitor was appointed as part of Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement over anti-money transmission violations.
If finalized, Binance would likely adopt stricter internal reporting systems. Bloomberg noted the DOJ has yet to make a final decision, and the Treasury Department’s monitor remains in place. This aligns with a broader DOJ trend, which has released other firms, including NatWest Group’s U.K. arm and shipbuilder Austin, from similar oversight after agreeing to enhanced reporting requirements.
BNB’s rally helped it outperform the broader crypto market, which has remained cautious ahead of the Fed’s rate decision. The CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index rose 0.8% in the past 24 hours.
