Overall sentiment leaned a bit negative: 31% of headlines were tagged positive, 41% came across as neutral, and 28% fell into negative territory.
That’s a tiny share compared with other reports these papers produce—especially odd for an asset that has outperformed almost everything else over the past decade.
Based on the study conducted by Perception, these outlets treated Bitcoin almost as if it were off their radar. By comparison, those same weeks saw in‑depth coverage of ECB bond yields and quarterly earnings from large retailers.
Fox News produced 32 reports with 38% negative headlines, often focused on crime and security. Barron’s—ironically part of the same group as the Journal—put out 65 Bitcoin stories, nearly split between 25% positive and 27% negative tones.
These critical takes still kept Bitcoin in the pages, but they painted it mostly as a risk zone.
By tracking headlines and sentiment as they appear—instead of waiting three months for a quarterly report—traders can spot shifts faster.
According to analysts, setting up a simple dashboard that taps multiple outlets could highlight when a bullish run is building or when warning signs are rising.
This split coverage matters. If you’re reading only the Journal and the FT, you might think Bitcoin is a niche topic. If you’re following Forbes or CNBC, you’ll see it as a major market force.
Based on these numbers, the big takeaway is simple: broaden your news sources. That way, you’re less likely to get blindsided by Bitcoin’s next big move.
As the sages would say: the more, the merrier.
Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
