- U.S greenback index has surged to 109, marking its highest degree since November 2022
- A powerful greenback may weaken the demand for threat belongings resembling Bitcoin, which may restrict the crypto’s uptrend
Bitcoin (BTC) fell beneath $100,000 in mid-December. Since then, the king coin has struggled to regain its momentum on the charts. At press time, BTC was buying and selling at $96,789 following positive factors of 1.5% in 24 hours, with the crypto nonetheless simply over 10% shy of its ATH.
Whereas Bitcoin may stage a restoration later this month because of Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S President, two key elements may proceed to weigh on the worth.
U.S greenback index soars to two-year highs
The U.S greenback index (DXY), which measures the efficiency of the U.S greenback towards main currencies, has surged to 109 – its highest degree since November 2022. What this hike signifies is that the U.S greenback has been gaining energy currently.
(Supply: MarketWatch)
The DXY is inversely correlated with Bitcoin’s worth, that means {that a} hike limits the coin’s upside potential. Moreover, a stronger greenback tends to weaken the demand for threat belongings resembling cryptocurrencies.
In truth, the autumn in demand is already evident within the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market. On the primary day of buying and selling in 2025, the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Belief (IBIT) ETF recorded $332M in outflows, marking its highest outflows in historical past. The entire outflows from all 11 Bitcoin ETFs hit $242M, as per SoSoValue.
If these outflows persist, it may gasoline a surge in sell-side stress. It will, in flip, gasoline a downtrend for BTC on the charts.
Rising stablecoin provide ratio
The weakened demand appeared not solely evident amongst institutional buyers, but additionally within the retail market. As an illustration – Based on CryptoQuant, Bitcoin’s Stablecoin Provide Ratio (SSR) surged to 17 – Its highest degree in seven days.
(Supply: CryptoQuant)
The next ratio implies that the availability of stablecoins is low, in comparison with BTC’s market cap. This ends in low shopping for stress that might exert downward stress on the worth.
Bitcoin’s worry and greed index continues to be bullish
Regardless of market elements pointing to decreasing demand and shopping for stress, the Fear and Greed Index, which measures the market sentiment, revealed that merchants are nonetheless bullish.
This index had a worth of 74 at press time, suggesting that almost all merchants are optimistic about BTC’s worth motion. Because the index climbed from 65 earlier this week, it may very well be excellent news for BTC if merchants begin shopping for.
Nonetheless, if the buy-side stress isn’t sufficient to soak up the bought cash, it may restrict the positive factors on the charts.
