Bitcoin traded near the $77,000 level and Zcash recorded a sharper decline as traders reportedly assessed the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate hike during the September 11, 2026 selloff. Those reports remain unconfirmed. Verified information available for this article presents a more mixed picture: a research-time Bitcoin reading slightly above $77,000, a pronounced decline in Zcash, and official Federal Reserve documents showing that rates remained unchanged at the latest meeting.

Bitcoin remains close to the $77,000 threshold

Unconfirmed reports said Bitcoin traded below $77,000 on September 11, 2026. The original account could not be independently verified for this article, so $77,000 is best treated as a reported price threshold rather than a confirmed support or resistance level.

The closest verified reading was a CoinGecko snapshot retrieved on September 12, 2026, at 21:30:18 UTC. It showed Bitcoin at $77,186, down approximately 0.20% over 24 hours. That reading places the asset just above $77,000 and reflects the time of retrieval, not necessarily the market level on September 11.

Bitcoin price at research retrieval: $77,186

Market sentiment did not clearly mirror the modest price decline. The Crypto Fear \u0026 Greed Index stood at 63, in “Greed” territory, on September 12, 2026, even though both Bitcoin and Zcash had negative 24-hour changes. Earlier coverage had also linked ETF outflows with pressure on Bitcoin near the $77,000 area, although that dynamic does not independently confirm the reported September 11 move.

Zcash declines more sharply in the verified comparison

Unconfirmed reports described Zcash (ZEC) as the leading loser in the selloff. However, those reports did not identify a comparison universe, timeframe, or market-wide ranking. Without contemporaneous data covering the broader market, it is not possible to substantiate a claim that Zcash led all losses.

The verified two-asset comparison provides a narrower finding. A CoinGecko snapshot for Zcash, taken at the same time on September 12, showed ZEC at $1,122.26, down roughly 4.84% over 24 hours. Within the Bitcoin-and-Zcash comparison, Zcash’s decline was therefore substantially steeper than Bitcoin’s 0.20% loss.

Zcash 24-hour change at research retrieval: −4.84%

That underperformance is an observation, not an explanation. The available evidence did not confirm a Zcash-specific catalyst, network problem, or broader privacy-coin selloff. No such cause should be inferred from the price move alone.

Rate-hike bets remain separate from Fed policy

Traders were reportedly increasing their bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike as cryptocurrency prices weakened. The reports did not identify the pricing source, the implied probability, or the meeting horizon associated with those bets. Market-implied expectations do not constitute an announced policy decision.

The most recent verified policy action pointed in the opposite direction. In its July 29, 2026 statement, the Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds target range at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent in a 9–3 vote. Beth M. Hammack, Neel Kashkari, and Lorie K. Logan dissented in favor of a 1/4-percentage-point increase. The statement said inflation remained elevated relative to the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent goal, partly because of supply shocks that included energy.

The July meeting minutes also recorded a divergence between market pricing and forecaster expectations. At that time, market pricing fully incorporated a 25 basis point rate increase by September and another increase by the first quarter of the following year. By contrast, the median Desk survey respondent expected no rate change through 2027 and a cut in early 2028. That July pricing is historical context and does not verify the probability of a rate increase on September 11.

A Federal Reserve that holds rates steady can reduce the prospect of additional near-term tightening, while the Fear \u0026 Greed reading of 63 indicates that risk appetite had not collapsed. At the same time, persistent inflation and the three officials who favored a hike left open the possibility of tighter policy. In conditional terms, higher rates can weigh on demand for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. The contrast between those policy possibilities and Bitcoin’s price volatility remained central to the market discussion.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always conduct your own research before making decisions.