Several forces combined to push prices. Forced selling in crypto derivatives amplified downward moves: one report put liquidations at about $1.23 billion in a 24-hour span, with roughly $453 million of that tied to bitcoin and another $277 million linked to Ethereum. At the same time, worries about regional US banks and a renewed debate over interest-rate timing helped lift demand for gold.
Still, other market participants argue bitcoin has functioned as an investment vehicle for some investors this year, even if it does not always match gold in crisis moments.
Investors will be watching Federal Reserve signals and any fresh news about US banks for clues on where money goes next. If rate-cut expectations firm up, gold could keep rising. If risk appetite returns, some of the flows back into crypto might reverse.
Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
