Bitcoin Rebounds After Trump-Driven Rout

Bitcoin surged above $80,000 on Tuesday, reaching its highest level since May and bringing its gains since mid-August to about 28%. The move was fueled renewed interest in the “debasement trade” after the US Treasury announced plans to increase purchases of longer-dated government bonds, weighing on long-term yields and the dollar. US spot Bitcoin ETFs also recorded their strongest weekly inflows in 10 months, attracting $1.92 billion, while expectations of continued support for cryptocurrency from the Trump administration added to demand. The advance triggered a major short squeeze, with about $7.2 billion in leveraged bearish crypto positions liquidated last week. Despite the rebound, Bitcoin remains well below its record high of around $126,000 reached last October, while analysts caution that the move may be driven largely by short covering rather than sustained demand.

Bitcoin surged 6% to around $77,370 on Friday, extending gains to over 20% this week, its strongest weekly gain in more than three years, boosted by a broader improvement in risk appetite. The US Treasury announced plans to at least double its purchases of longer-dated government bonds, pushing long-term yields lower and the dollar weaker. The move also triggered a major short squeeze, with billions of dollars in bearish crypto positions liquidated over recent days. Investor sentiment was further supported by President Donald Trump’s meeting with cryptocurrency industry leaders and his call for progress on a new crypto market-structure bill. US spot Bitcoin ETFs have also attracted more than $1 billion in weekly inflows, adding to demand. Despite the sharp rebound, Bitcoin remains well below its record high above $126,000 reached last October.

Bitcoin continued its bullish run toward $75,000 in August, hitting its highest level since late May and poised for a weekly gain of about 19%, its strongest since February 2024, after President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass a key regulatory bill. Trump called on lawmakers to advance a “fair version” of the Clarity Act, legislation backed by the crypto industry that aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets in the US. The rally triggered more than $1 billion in Bitcoin short-position liquidations within about an hour, while total crypto short liquidations reached a record $2.7 billion. Meanwhile, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $517 million in net inflows, their highest since May. Elsewhere, the US Treasury’s decision to substantially expand its purchases of 20-year and 30-year bonds pushed yields sharply lower, further boosting the appeal of riskier assets such as Bitcoin.