- Main event, leadership changes, market impact, financial shifts, or expert insights.
- U.S. Treasury’s Bitcoin stance influences market outlook.
- Higher inflation rates hinder expected crypto performance.
Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have dropped significantly after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Fox Business that the government plans no new Bitcoin purchases.
The lack of new U.S. government Bitcoin purchases, coupled with higher inflation data, intensified market fears, leading to declining prices and shifting investor confidence.
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, highlighted in a Fox Business interview that the government will not buy additional Bitcoin. The Treasury will only utilize confiscated assets, opting not to sell them.
The country won’t be buying Bitcoin…. We have no plans to sell the Bitcoin we currently hold… Instead of buying, the U.S. government plans to use only confiscated assets and opt against selling them. – Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary
This decision has significant effects on the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced declines of over 3% and 2% respectively, reflecting the overall market’s risk-off sentiment. Additionally, recent inflation data has come in higher than anticipated, which dampens expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut, affecting investors’ views on crypto risk assets. Crypto enthusiasts and traders are adjusting to this changing economic landscape. Market participants are shifting from Bitcoin dominance towards Ethereum and select altcoins. Such market conditions could lead to an altcoin rally as traders reposition their assets. Historically, periods of rotation away from Bitcoin dominance have been accompanied by speculative growth in altcoins.