Bitcoin

Analyst Michaël van de Poppe argues that the Fed’s recent rate cut is a distraction from its more significant move: restarting quantitative easing. This ‘money printing’ is expected to drive up the prices of scarce assets like Bitcoin and gold, despite short-term volatility and an underlying economic crisis.

Netflix is developing a comedy film called ‘One Attempt Remaining’ about a divorced couple racing to access a crypto wallet now worth millions, highlighting the real-world problem of lost passwords in cryptocurrency.

Vanguard, a major investment firm, still views Bitcoin as a speculative ’toy’ unsuitable for long-term wealth building. However, the company has begun allowing its clients to access Bitcoin ETFs offered by competitors like BlackRock and Fidelity on its platform.

For the first time in a decade, Bitcoin is on track to end the year lower while the S&P 500 posts significant gains, marking a historic decoupling. The divergence is attributed to a boom in AI stocks versus forced selling in crypto, though investors remain cautiously optimistic about 2026.

Michael Saylor of Strategy has proposed that nations create digital banking systems backed by Bitcoin reserves, arguing this could attract trillions in capital and offer better savings rates. However, critics point to Bitcoin’s volatility as a significant risk.

Cathie Wood of Ark Invest argues that Bitcoin’s traditional four-year cycle is broken due to institutional adoption, suggesting a major crash is unlikely and the market bottom may already be in.

Over 400,000 bitcoin have been withdrawn from exchanges in the past year, representing 2% of the total supply. This trend, driven by retail and institutional investors moving to cold storage and ETFs, signals a shift toward scarcer supply and a more mature market.

As the year ends, the Bitcoin market shows a wait-and-see attitude, with traders shifting their hopes for a rally to early 2026. Options data and seasonal factors suggest limited short-term movement, while long-term sentiment remains positive.

Several crypto analysts are pointing to what they call blatant market manipulation as the primary force behind Bitcoin’s recent price action, noting that both good and bad news seem to trigger price drops. They cite recurring patterns, such as sharp declines during the U.S. market open, as evidence of coordinated efforts by large firms.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is subtly easing financial conditions, with the key SOFR rate dropping to a three-year low. This quiet liquidity expansion is generally seen as a positive signal for risk assets like Bitcoin.