#Bitcoin Trading at Strong Correlation with Gold as Traditional Investors Step In
The influx of money from traditional investors has led the cryptocurrency to behave more like a traditional asset
A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published today, Dec. 28, suggests that Bitcoin (BTC)’s correlation with traditional assets markets has been high in recent days.
Citing data from research firm Excalibur Pro Inc., the WSJ states that the top cryptocurrency has traded at a 0.84 correlation to gold over the past five days, where -1 indicates complete inversion and +1 perfect correlation. Moreover, Bitcoin has traded at a 0.77 correlation to the Chicago Board of Options Exchange’s Volatility index (VIX), a benchmark index for the United States equity market volatility. While the WSJ frames the strong correlation between traditional markets and what the article dubs as the rebellious first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, as something of an unexpected twist of fate, the article also offers several explanations as to why the pattern may have formed. The first is the reported influx of institutional money into the crypto space, with the WSJ citing the growth of Grayscale Investments’ over-the-counter exchange-traded fund (ETF), the Bitcoin Investment Trust, as a prime example. As per the article, the trust saw $51 million in assets under management (AUM) during its first year (2013). By the end of 2017, in the midst of the crypto market bull run, AUM had surged to around $3.5 billion. As of recently — due to the so-called “crypto winter” — the trust reportedly retains about $900 million AUM.
Bitcoin (BTC) is down 1.89% over the past 24 hours and is currently trading at $3,796.47 on Coinbase. BTC dominance is at 51.9% and the total cryptocurrency market cap is currently at $127.7 Billion.
