Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Crypto prices sliding this morning ahead of Fed meeting

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) opened at $78,181.33 on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 1.8% higher than Monday's opening price. Yet, as of 7:24 a.m. ET this morning, the price of bitcoin slid to $76,931.56.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) opened at $2,515.17 on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, up 1.6% from Monday's opening price. The price of ethereum slid lower this morning to $2,480.37 as of 7:24 a.m. ET.

Crypto prices were rallying as AI fears swept across markets, but they are sliding in early trading this morning ahead of the start of the Fed's two-day rate-setting meeting.

Sustaining the price rally has also been a challenge for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, especially as the war with Iran continues to drive energy prices higher and expectations for a rate increase tomorrow have risen along with them.

According to the CME Group's FedWatch tool, there's now a 92.5% chance the Fed will raise rates after tomorrow's two-day meeting. Yesterday, the Fed had an 86.5% chance of raising rates. On Friday, the percentage was 69.4%.

Learn more: Bitcoin's late summer rally set to face off against the Fed, Congress

Current price of bitcoin and ethereum

Bitcoin

The price of bitcoin this morning, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was 1.8% higher than Monday's opening price. Here's a look at how the opening bitcoin price has changed versus last week, month, and year: