It is mostly not about crypto
Beginners assume crypto prices respond to crypto news. Most of the time they respond to the same forces moving every other risk asset on earth, and crypto just responds harder.
Interest rates, inflation expectations, the dollar, credit conditions and regulation explain a large share of what happens. Layer on the supply schedule and measurable institutional flows, and you have most of the picture.
None of this lets you predict next week. It does stop a violent Thursday morning from feeling like a mystery, and it stops you attributing a macro selloff to something someone said on social media.
Macro dominates
Rates and liquidity move every risk asset at once. Crypto is the highest beta expression of that move.
Policy gates demand
Regulation decides who can legally participate, which is a demand input independent of the technology.
Supply is scheduled
The halving is the one variable known years in advance by everyone, which is exactly why its effect is contested.
Eight forces worth understanding
FOMC and interest rates
The Federal Reserve sets the price of money, and the price of money sets the appetite for risk.
Read thisInflation and CPI
One monthly number changes what traders expect the Fed to do next, which moves everything.
Read thisElections and policy
Regulation decides who is allowed to buy, custody and build. That is a price input.
Read thisWar and geopolitics
Conflict triggers a rush out of risk assets, then an unusually fast recovery.
Read thisETF flows
Spot ETFs turned pension money into a daily, measurable bid.
Read thisBitcoin halving
Every four years the new supply of Bitcoin is cut in half, on schedule, forever.
Read thisLiquidity cycles
Crypto is the most sensitive asset class to the global supply of easy money.
Read thisStablecoin supply
Stablecoin supply is dry powder you can count, block by block.
Read thisThe majors, right now
Live from CoinGecko on page load. Figures are a snapshot, not advice.
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