Bitcoin’s Price Weakness amid Macroeconomic Worries

The price of Bitcoin has fallen below $39,000 for the first time in over 50 days. This decline started on January 11, which coincided with the approval of the spot Bitcoin ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Over the course of 12 days leading up to January 23, there was a 17.5% correction, resulting in $385 million worth of liquidation in long (buy) futures BTC contracts. The U.S. dollar has gained strength against foreign currencies, indicating that investors still have faith in the currency despite fiscal issues. Analysts and economists are now predicting a higher chance of the U.S. Federal Reserve successfully managing inflation without causing economic contraction. The U.S. economy is expected to grow, with a 1.7% increase in gross domestic product projected for the first quarter of the year. Investors are now less likely to expect an interest rate cut in March, and there is anticipation for only five rate cuts throughout the year, rather than the previous estimate of six. The current high performance of the S&P 500 index may not have the same impact on Bitcoin, as the drivers for the stock market and cryptocurrencies differ. Bitcoin has also faced its own challenges, including a net outflow from spot exchange-traded funds and concerns over the Mt. Gox exchange. Additionally, there is negative regulatory pressure, particularly in the U.S., which could affect stablecoins and exchanges.