In a surprising twist of events, while stocks are taking a dip, Bitcoin is skyrocketing, leaving investors wondering if this time, the world of digital currency will disrupt traditional markets once and for all.
Bitcoin has continued its upward trajectory, surpassing $35,000 as the excitement around a potential spot Bitcoin ETF grows. Analysts believe that the mounting hype surrounding a Bitcoin ETF approval is the driving force behind the cryptocurrency’s surge. In contrast, Wall Street stocks appear relatively lackluster, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.5% and the Nasdaq Composite slipping 3.3% over the past week.
A spot ETF is an investment vehicle that tracks the price of an underlying asset, and its approval could lead to increased institutional and retail inflows into Bitcoin. While Bitcoin’s correlation to equities has decreased over the past year, it has moved in tandem with stocks for most of 2022. However, the correlation has softened significantly in recent times.
Bitcoin’s correlation to the Nasdaq and S&P 500 has dropped from 0.79 and 0.82 in May to 0.20 and 0.16, respectively. This decline suggests that Bitcoin and stocks are moving in different directions. The Federal Reserve’s decision to raise borrowing costs in order to combat inflation has put pressure on both stocks and crypto. However, James Butterfill, head of research for CoinShares, believes that there is now a stronger correlation developing between stocks and bonds.
As a relatively uncorrelated asset, Bitcoin is attracting interest from some investors as a diversification tool. If the Federal Reserve signals a readiness to cut interest rates soon, the divergence between Bitcoin and equities is likely to intensify. The equities market would respond poorly to rate cuts as it would indicate a potential recession. Conversely, a Fed admission of a mistake would be positive for Bitcoin.
Overall, the growing hype around a Bitcoin ETF approval and the changing correlation between Bitcoin and equities are key factors driving the cryptocurrency’s recent surge. As the market continues to react to these developments, Bitcoin’s price is expected to remain volatile.
