RBA Raises Rates to 18-Year High as AI and Energy Drive Inflation
The Reserve Bank of Australia increased its benchmark interest rate to 4.85%, the highest in 18 years, citing AI investment and energy prices as key inflation drivers.
The Reserve Bank of Australia increased its benchmark interest rate to 4.85%, the highest in 18 years, citing AI investment and energy prices as key inflation drivers. JUST (JST) is trading at ₹13.42 ($0.1414). This is an original Token Times brief synthesising 2 outlets (Blockonomi, Cointelegraph), with their figures cross-checked, plus live market data, as of Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:30:02 UTC.
This rate hike reflects the growing impact of AI-related costs and energy prices on global inflation, signaling potential monetary policy shifts in other economies facing similar pressures.
- RBA raised rates to 4.85%, the highest since 2005.
- AI investment and energy prices are key inflation drivers.
- Board vote was 6-3, with dissenters favoring a hold at 4.60%.
Both Blockonomi and Cointelegraph report that the RBA raised its benchmark rate to 4.85%, citing AI investment and higher energy prices as key factors driving inflation. They agree on the 6-3 board vote split but differ slightly in emphasis, with Blockonomi highlighting the 18-year high in rates while Cointelegraph focuses on the rising technology costs from AI investment.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.85%, marking the highest level in 18 years. This decision comes as AI-related investments and rising energy prices contribute to inflationary pressures. The RBA board voted 6-3 in favor of the hike, with three members advocating for rates to remain at 4.60%.
The decision reflects the broader economic challenges posed by technological advancements and energy market dynamics. AI investment, while promising for long-term growth, is currently contributing to cost increases across various sectors. Additionally, higher fuel prices are exacerbating inflationary pressures, prompting the RBA to take decisive action.
This rate hike is part of a global trend as central banks grapple with the dual challenges of technological disruption and energy market volatility. The RBA's move follows similar actions by other central banks seeking to balance economic growth with price stability. The decision underscores the growing influence of AI and energy prices on monetary policy decisions worldwide.
In the cryptocurrency market, the news has had a muted impact so far. The total crypto market cap stands at $2.65 trillion, with 
Bitcoin down 1.10% in the last 24 hours. The Fear & Greed Index remains in 'Fear' territory at 26, indicating a cautious market sentiment. Interestingly, 
JUST (JST) has shown resilience, gaining 1.21% in the last 24 hours and 3.07% over the past week, with a market cap of $1.13 billion.
The RBA's decision highlights the complex interplay between technological innovation, energy markets, and monetary policy. As AI continues to reshape industries, its impact on inflation and economic policy will likely grow. Investors and policymakers will be watching closely to see how other central banks respond to similar pressures in the coming months.
Since this brief published about 2 hours ago, JUST (JST) has moved from ₹13.41$0.1413 to ₹13.42$0.1414 — +0.07%.
The chart plots JST's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from Token Times's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 JST ≈ ₹14.82 (about $0.1414), up 0.9% over 24 hours. The rupee itself trades about 10.4% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Indian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
1 key figure independently matched across 2 outlets reporting this story.
Token Times extracts the figures each outlet reports and flags the ones that agree. Numbers cited by only one outlet are attributed in the brief, not shown as corroborated.
Figures and sectors in this story, checked live against on-chain aggregators · November 3, 2026.
Token Times reads these figures directly from on-chain aggregators (DeFiLlama, mempool.space) at build time — independent of what any outlet reported. Sector totals aggregate every protocol DeFiLlama tracks in that category. Values are live and will change.
RBA Raises Rates to 18-Year High as AI and Energy Drive Infl — questions & answers
Why did the RBA raise interest rates?
The RBA raised rates due to inflationary pressures from AI investment and higher energy prices.
How high are interest rates in Australia now?
The cash rate is 4.85%, the highest level since 2005.
What was the outcome of the RBA board vote?
The board voted 6-3, with three members favoring no change from 4.60%.
How much is 1 JUST worth in rupee today?
About ₹14.82 at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Indians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $0.1414. The rupee price moves with both JST's US-dollar price and the USDT/INR rate; use our JUST in rupee page for any amount.
Has JUST's price moved since this brief was published?
JST is up 0.07% since this brief first published — trading at ₹13.42 ($0.1414) now versus ₹13.41 ($0.1413) at publication. Token Times re-checks this figure against CoinGecko and Binance every 15 minutes.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original Token Times brief that synthesises reporting from Blockonomi, Cointelegraph, with the key figures cross-checked for agreement across them. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original Token Times brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.