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Is crypto a poor substitute for cash in an inflationary environment?

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CryptoRuby wrote a column · May 19, 2022 02:39
Ailing stock markets continue to impact crypto prices and technical analysis suggests $Bitcoin(BTC.CC)$ is at risk of falling below its recent $25,500 low.
BTC is likely to test a lower level. Source: moomoo
BTC is likely to test a lower level. Source: moomoo
On May 17, U.S. Fed Chairman Powell told the Wall Street Journal that the 50-basis-point rate hikes would continue until inflation is under control. Powell's emphasis on a hawkish policy suggests that monetary conditions are likely to remain tight in 2022, which could limit the upside in risky assets.
Bitcoin's 50% slide in six months highlights its flaws in times of stress:
It's an energy suck at a time when power prices are surging and offers no dividend against a backdrop of rising interest rates;
It's also attracting increased regulatory scrutiny. That's on top of big scalability issues that have hindered its adoption in payments, not all of which are solved by the Lightning Network on display in El Salvador;
Its pseudonymity may be appreciated by cybercriminals, but people today prefer hard cash.
Source: Bloomberg
Source: Bloomberg
When cash is king, Bitcoin ends up looking more like a leveraged gamble than digital gold. Even $MicroStrategy(MSTR.US)$ is feeling the heat of impairment charges as Bitcoin bounces near the company's average purchase price of $30,700.
Source: Bloomberg
Source: Bloomberg
As inflation rages and touches 40-year highs, investors are looking for anything to mitigate its effects on their portfolios. In such times, investors often turn to commodities, in particular gold, which has a long history as an inflation hedge. More recently, some traders have been touting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as alternative ways to hedge inflation. Mooers, what do you think?
Source: Bloomberg, Cointelegraph
Disclaimer: Community is offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. and is for educational purposes only. Read more
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