Bitcoin Gains Ground as Stocks and Bonds Decline, Gold Reaches Record High

Global markets are experiencing significant turbulence, challenging traditional investment portfolios. The classic 60/40 stock-bond allocation is under pressure due to rising Treasury yields and falling bond prices, with the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) down approximately 50% from its 2020 highs. U.S. equities are also struggling, influenced by geopolitical tensions and inflation.

Alternative assets are gaining traction:

  • Gold has reached $3,500 per ounce, adding $6 trillion in market cap this year.
  • Bitcoin is showing resilience, increasing its dominance in the crypto market and diverging from U.S. tech stocks.

This week, $6.7 billion in bitcoin options are set to expire, creating potential volatility ahead.

What to Watch

  • Crypto Events:
    • April 22: Lyora upgrade on Injective mainnet.
    • April 25: SEC Crypto Task Force Roundtable on custody considerations.
    • April 28: Enjin Relaychain to increase active validator slots.
    • April 30: XRP ETF expected to begin trading on NYSE Arca.
  • Macro Data Releases:
    • April 22: Canada’s producer price inflation data.
    • April 23: Mexico’s retail sales data.
    • April 23: U.S. purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data.
  • Earnings Reports:
    • April 22: Tesla.
    • April 30: Robinhood Markets.
    • May 1: Block.

Market Movements

  • BTC is up 1.45% at $88,539.04.
  • ETH is up 3.43% at $1,628.60.
  • CoinDesk 20 index is up 1.49% at 2,544.64.

Bitcoin Stats

  • BTC Dominance: 64.39%
  • Hashrate: 840 EH/s
  • Total Fees: 6.56 BTC / $572,645

Derivatives Positioning

  • BTC open interest increased to 695K BTC, highest since March 25.
  • Perpetual funding rates for major tokens remain positive.

Recent events include a surge in trading volume for LUCE, a memecoin related to the Vatican, following Pope Francis' death. Additionally, bearish sentiment towards the dollar is evident as investors shift capital to alternatives like bitcoin and gold amidst macroeconomic uncertainties.