A fierce return of the trade conflict between the US and China has had a major negative impact on many markets like equity indices, Australian dollar and soybean. However, there is a one huge winner: Bitcoin. It has gained 60% in May alone, taking the year-to-date return above 100%. In this analysis we take a deeper look at how Bitcoin prices skyrocketed as the conflict unfolded and analyse the digital coin's chart.
Summary:
Start investing today or test a free demo
Open account Try demo Download mobile app Download mobile app- Bitcoin suddenly attractive for Chinese investors
- Fidelity, Facebook decisions support prices too
- Bitcoin price once again in a strong upwards trend
Why Bitcoin gains as trade conflict deepens
There are three main reasons why Bitcoin has suddenly become popular with the Chinese investors:
1. High tariffs could result in yuan depreciation that would restore some competitiveness for Chinese exports, but act as a detriment to the consumer. Chinese investors may want to diversify into assets like gold, dollar, yen and indeed cryptocurrencies to avoid the watering down of their savings
2. Bitcoin has one advantage over other assets – it can be transferred anonymously, which is not trivial in a country with capital controls
3. Finally, Bloomberg reporter Ed van der Walt argues that Bitcoin will be used by smugglers who will try to avoid US tariffs
It might be hard to quantify these factors but it seems like there’s a widespread consensus that the trade conflict has fuelled the rally and the way it develops could significantly impact Bitcoin prices.
Other factors at play
In our analysis last week we mentioned two additional factors that need to be recalled. One is the fidelity offer for institutional investors and secondly, Facebook's interest in blockchain technology. Facebook followed on this accouncement with a relaxation of its advertising policies related to cryptocurrencies. Anotherr factor that plays an important role is a possible mining ban in China, which would certainly push mining costs up.
Is the market in a full-bull mode?
If May ended now, the monthly gain would be the largest since December 2017. Source: xStation5
Looking at the Bitcoin chart it’s clear that the rally compares to what we saw in the second half of 2017. This is the 8th straight week of advances and the last significant correction took place in February. Now that the $6000 barrier has been crushed, the question is: how much of the bear market can be recovered? The first key technical level to look at is $9800: 61.8% Fibo of the bear market and a local high from April 2018. This is coincidentally just a notch below the 5-digit number that we have not seen since March 2018.
This content has been created by XTB S.A. This service is provided by XTB S.A., with its registered office in Warsaw, at Prosta 67, 00-838 Warsaw, Poland, entered in the register of entrepreneurs of the National Court Register (Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy) conducted by District Court for the Capital City of Warsaw, XII Commercial Division of the National Court Register under KRS number 0000217580, REGON number 015803782 and Tax Identification Number (NIP) 527-24-43-955, with the fully paid up share capital in the amount of PLN 5.869.181,75. XTB S.A. conducts brokerage activities on the basis of the license granted by Polish Securities and Exchange Commission on 8th November 2005 No. DDM-M-4021-57-1/2005 and is supervised by Polish Supervision Authority.
