Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were edging higher early Wednesday but lacked any real momentum as investors braced for an eventful day ahead.

The Federal Reserve will make its latest interest-rate decision later in the day and is expected to hold rates. It's also likely to be Chair Jerome Powell's final press conference in charge.

Then four of the biggest U.S. tech companies will report earnings after the close -- Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Meta Platforms.

Big tech earnings and Fed commentary both have the potential to lift cryptocurrencies out of their recent limbo. Bitcoin has failed to break above the $80,000 level on several occasions in recent weeks, despite getting very close.

Bitcoin was trading at $77,049 early in the day, up 0.2% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk data. Ethereum, the second-largest crypto, climbed 1.6%, while popular altcoin XRP fell 0.1%.

"Markets are navigating elevated volatility amid heightened geopolitical risk, with the Federal Reserve's rate outlook remaining a primary driver for risk assets, including digital assets," DeFi Technologies president Andrew Forson said. A stable or easing rate environment typically supports risk appetite and cryptos, he added.

As cryptocurrencies have closely followed tech stocks of late, earnings after the bell could provide a real boost to digital assets -- if the tech giants deliver on cloud growth in particular.