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The tech-focused Nasdaq and the broad-market S&P 500 were also up 1.2% and 1.5%, respectively, in the afternoon hours of the session. Crypto-related stocks also climbed higher from the early week lows. Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) was up 3.5%, while the largest corporate bitcoin holder Strategy gained nearly 10%.
Trade tensions and geopolitical risk have taken center stage lately, weighing on investor sentiment, pressuring risk assets like U.S. stocks and digital assets lower.
Similar risk off episodes have usually led investors to flee to the U.S. dollar, translating to downside pressure on crypto assets, said Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX Group. However, this time the U.S. dollar index (DXY) cratered to its weakest level since early November and is down more than 5% lower from its mid-January peak.
"With Fed rate expectations shifting back to pricing more rate cuts than less in 2025 and with bitcoin capable of shining as a store of value asset, we believe there are plenty of reasons to expect bitcoin to be well supported on dips," Kruger said.
Crypto analytics firm Swissblock noted that despite the wild price swings over the past few days, the firm's Bitcoin Fundamental Index, which measures the overall health of the network, held up relatively well.
Swissblock's Bitcoin Fundamental Index (Swissblock)
"Bitcoin's fundamentals are on the verge of shifting into the bullish quadrant, with sustained improvements in liquidity and network growth," Swissblock analysts said in a Telegram broadcast. "This strength suggests that $BTC is unlikely to be driven into a bear market."
coindesk.com
