Binance Approaches DOJ Settlement, Driving BNB Price Higher

Crypto Market Update – 17/9/2025: Bitcoin Consolidates, 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, maintaining key support ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement. Analysts point to BTC’s underperformance versus gold and the S&P 500, combined with historical seasonal trends, as bullish indicators heading into “Uptober.”

Dean Crypto Trades noted that bitcoin is only about 7% above its post-election peak, compared with 9% gains for the S&P 500 and a 36% surge for gold. He suggested BTC’s compressed price action could lead the next significant move, though a “lower high” may form before a breakout. Ether (ETH) could follow once it surpasses $5,000.

Lark Davis highlighted BTC’s historical performance around September FOMC meetings, observing that every September decision since 2020—except during the 2022 bear market—preceded a strong rally. He emphasized that seasonal trends, rather than the Fed’s rate decision itself, tend to drive gains in this period.

Technical Snapshot
CoinDesk Research shows BTC consolidating between $116,000–$116,500 after an intraday high of $117,317. A late-session breakout briefly pushed BTC to $116,551 on higher volume, confirming a modest consolidation-breakout pattern. Over the past month, BTC rose from $108,000 to above $117,000, signaling an upward trend with short-term pauses.

Altcoins are benefiting from BTC’s muted volatility. Bitcoin dominance dropped to 57%, the lowest since January, suggesting capital rotation into more speculative tokens. The average crypto RSI of 45.47 indicates several altcoins are approaching oversold territory, primed for potential gains.

BNB Rallies on DOJ Deal News
BNB surged nearly 3%, trading near $950 and peaking at $963 after Bloomberg reported Binance is nearing a potential DOJ deal that could end a compliance requirement from its 2023 $4.3 billion settlement. The agreement would likely require stricter internal reporting, though the Treasury Department’s monitor remains in place. This follows a broader DOJ trend releasing other firms from similar oversight after enhanced reporting agreements.

BNB’s gains outpaced the broader market, with the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index up 0.8% over 24 hours.