When central banks prioritize public interest over political pressure in setting monetary policy, they face real consequences. The Fed's stance on interest rates based on economic data rather than administrative preferences is textbook central bank independence—yet it increasingly comes with a legal shadow. Criminal charges have become a potential outcome when policy decisions diverge from the sitting government's expectations. This tension between monetary autonomy and political accountability is reshaping how markets interpret Fed communications. For crypto traders, this backdrop matters: it affects how aggressive or dovish rate cycles play out, and whether policy stays data-driven or shifts with political winds.