Bitcoin Stuck Between ETF Demand and Fed Rate-Hike Expectations
Bitcoin is struggling to maintain its price above $80,000 after a strong institutional buying day, as investors weigh the risks of a revived 'debasement trade' against renewed Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations.
The US jobs report for August showed 162,000 new positions, which pushed market-implied odds of a September Fed hike back to around 60%. This left Bitcoin caught between two powerful forces: institutional ETF demand and a bond market still worried about inflation.
ETF Buyers Are Back in Size, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs pulling in $730.9 million on Thursday, their biggest single-day inflow since January 14th. BlackRock's IBIT accounted for roughly $454 million, while ARK 21Shares added around $138 million and Fidelity attracted $74 million.
The rally originally accelerated after the US Treasury said it would increase liquidity-support buybacks of longer-dated government debt, which helped weaken the dollar and revive demand for scarce assets such as Bitcoin and gold. BTC subsequently rallied roughly 30% from the low-$60,000s.