Fri Fire: Gold & Oil Up, Bitcoin & Crypto Dive
Paul Brody, a prominent figure in the blockchain community and the Global Blockchain Leader at Ernst & Young (EY), recently shed light on the burgeoning demand for crypto, with Bitcoin taking the limelight. Earlier today, during a CNBC interview, Brody emphasized the heightened interest, particularly from family offices.
Family Offices Lead The Charge
According to Brody, family offices, which typically manage the vast wealth of affluent families, are increasingly diversifying their portfolios with cryptocurrencies. This is not entirely surprising, given the meteoric rise of Bitcoin and its potential as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.
However, while family offices are diving headfirst into the crypto pool, institutional investors are more cautious.
Brody mentions that these larger entities, controlling over 200 trillion dollars in assets, are awaiting regulatory clarity, such as the approval of a Bitcoin ETF by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, before committing significant resources.
Bitcoin, despite comparisons, is distinctly different from traditional assets like gold. Brody highlights a unique trait of Bitcoin: its price does not result in increased issuance. Instead, the issuance of new Bitcoin reduces over time due to halving events.
This property makes its price more “rigid,” especially compared to other assets traditionally used as inflation hedges.
Moreover, the purpose behind acquiring Bitcoin varies among its buyers. Brody points out:
If you look at people who are buying Bitcoin, they are buying it as an asset. They are not buying it as a payment tool.
Brody further notes that Ethereum, another major cryptocurrency, is mostly acquired for its utility as a computing platform, particularly for business transactions and decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions.
Bitcoin To $40,000?
So far, Bitcoin has showcased a bullish trend, witnessing a near 10% increase over the past week and a 4.7% uptick in the last 24 hours. This surge has propelled Bitcoin to trade beyond the $31,000 mark, reaching $31,824 recently.
Observing the asset’s chart in the 1-day timeframe, BTC seems poised for even higher gains. As shown below, the asset has recently tapped into an order block and could continue its reversal to the upside, reaching a notable high.
Additionally, considering the strong institutional demand for BTC, as revealed by Brody, coupled with the potential approval of a spot BTC ETF, a rally to the $40,000 mark seems to be on the horizon.
Furthermore, peering into the future of the financial landscape, Brody believes that traditional fiat currencies will continue to hold their ground.
However, with the ongoing discussions around Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the growing adoption of payment stablecoins, the crypto realm may be poised for evolution.
With global political developments unfolding and pivotal elections on the horizon, Brody foresees Bitcoin and the broader crypto space experiencing accelerated growth in adoption and recognition.
Featured image from iStock, Chart from TradingView
