Understanding the control of viral infections is of broad importance. Chronic HCV infection causes decreased expression of the iron hormone hepcidin, which is regulated by hepatic BMP/SMAD signaling. We found that HCV infection and the BMP/SMAD pathway are mutually antagonistic. HCV blunted induction of hepcidin expression by BMP6, likely via TNF-mediated downregulation of the BMP co-receptor HJV. In HCV-infected patients, disruption of the BMP6/hepcidin axis and genetic variation associated with the BMP/SMAD pathway predicted outcome of infection, suggesting BMP/SMAD activity influences antiviral immunity. Correspondingly, BMP6 regulated a gene repertoire reminiscent of Type I IFN signaling, including upregulating IRFs and downregulating an inhibitor of IFN signaling, USP18. Moreover, in BMP stimulated cells, SMAD1 occupied loci across the genome similar to those bound by IRF1 in IFN stimulated cells. Functionally, BMP6 enhanced the transcriptional and antiviral response to IFN, but BMP6 and related Activin proteins also potently blocked HCV replication independently of IFN. Furthermore, BMP6 and Activin A suppressed growth of HBV in cell culture, and Activin A inhibited ZIKV replication alone and in combination with IFN. The data establish an unappreciated important role for the BMPs and Activins in cellular antiviral immunity, which acts independently of, and modulates, IFN.