The post Bitcoin Shows Strength as Traditional Markets Stumble, Says Bitwise CIO appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Bitcoin Bitcoin is proving to be more resilient than ever, according to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan. In a note to clients on Tuesday, Hougan highlighted how Bitcoin has remained nearly flat over the past 30 days despite an intense wave of macroeconomic pressure. “We’ve had absolutely massive forces buffeting the crypto market on all sides — from the U.S. establishing strategic reserve to President Trump enacting tariffs on the entire world — and we’ve gone precisely sideways,” Hougan said. He argues that this behavior shows Bitcoin is itching to move higher if macro obstacles would just get out of the way. Bitcoin’s Stability in Historical Context What stands out to Hougan is how BTC is behaving very differently from previous market corrections. Traditionally seen as a highly volatile risk asset, Bitcoin has historically dropped more sharply than stocks when markets turned sour. In 2022, the S&P 500 dropped 24.5%, while Bitcoin plunged 58.3%. During the COVID crash of 2020, the S&P lost 33.8% and BTC followed with a 38.1% drop. Even in the late 2018 U.S.–China trade war downturn, the S&P slid 19.4% while Bitcoin crashed 37.2%. By contrast, in the current correction, both the S&P and Bitcoin are down roughly 12%. That parity is unprecedented, Hougan says — and may mark the beginning of a fundamental shift. Bitcoin’s Evolving Role Hougan believes that BTC is maturing into a new asset class — one that may be starting to behave more like gold. In past cycles, Bitcoin was treated almost entirely as a high-beta speculative asset, and it typically underperformed when equities suffered. But as more corporations and even governments accumulate Bitcoin — with some now exploring BTC for strategic reserves — the asset is beginning to look more like a macro hedge than a pure speculative tool.…

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Filed under: News - @ April 16, 2025 12:25 am