Blow to Bitcoin as Key US Yield Hits Feb 2020 High Ahead of FOMC Meeting

Key Bitcoin Takeaways

• Bitcoin sell-off accelerated ahead of the US session as US 10-year Treasury yields hit a fresh 13-month peak.
• The cryptocurrency’s latest decline appeared ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s two-day policy meeting conclusion.
• Economists believe that the Fed Chairman Jerome Powell would maintain easy-money policies while ignoring intervention in the rising long-dated Treasury yields.

Bitcoin extended its weekly decline on Wednesday as traders’ focus shifted to rising long-dated US government debt yields.

The benchmark cryptocurrency dropped 3.52 percent into the session, hitting 54,992 around London noon. Traders flocked out of the Bitcoin market as Cardano, one of its crypto rivals, offered better intraday prospects. Their sell-off also accelerated as the yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose to its highest level since February 2020, gaining 0.04 percentage points to 1.67 percent in early Wall Street trading.

Fed Meet

At the core of rising bond yields were expectations that the Federal Reserve would avoid extending its ongoing asset purchasing program below to Bitcoin as Key US Yield Hits Feb 2020 High Ahead of FOMC Meeting to longer-dated government debts. The US central bank officials will conclude its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, after which its chairman Jerome Powell will take questions at a post-meeting news conference.

Global mkts retreat as investors await Fed w/US 10y ylds hovering ~1.63% & 10y US break evens at near 13y highs. Fed will likely note an improving econ outlook, while also stressing that it is too early to change their plans for rates & bond purchases. Gold $1735. #Bitcoin $55.8k pic.twitter.com/De5R0kph9X

— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) March 17, 2021

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) would hold its overnight rates near zero until the US economy secures maximum employment and sustained inflation above 2 percent.

It is less likely for the conditions to reach the Fed’s desired goals this year. Therefore, the central bank will have to continue its policy, including a $120 billion monthly purchase of government debts and mortgaged-backed securities.

Meanwhile, private economists believe that the US will recover jobs this year on the prospects of advancing COVID-19 acceleration and Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package. A survey conducted by the WSJ shows that economists expect the US GDP to grow by 6 percent this year. Should that happen, the Fed would likely taper its easing policies.

Risks Clouding Over Bitcoin Market

Higher interest rates have dealt a blow to Bitcoin lately. The cryptocurrency declines by more than 21 percent in the week ending February 28 after the 10-year note yield rallied. While the Fed will likely ignore intervention, the confusing communication could lead to higher volatility in bonds, stocks, and even cryptocurrency markets.

“They have not stated exactly the extent of the overshoot they are comfortable with or for how long,” Silvia Dall’Angelo, senior economist at Federated Hermes, told FT. “From a market perspective, this brings uncertainty and volatility.”

A continued sell-off in the US bond market would keep the Bitcoin market prone to wild fluctuations, especially as it has already rallied by almost 1,500 percent since March 2020 and risks undergoing vast bearish corrections. Meanwhile, its growth among corporates as an anti-inflation asset keeps offsetting its downside bias.

Technically, Bitcoin holds its short-term support at the 20-day moving average (the green wave). A breakdown led by rising yields risks putting it en route to the 50-day moving average below. It sits near $47,500 at this press time.