Bitcoin Declines

Bitcoin fell toward $62,000 in mid-July, giving back part of its earlier-month rebound as escalating tensions between the US and Iran dampened risk sentiment. The US and Iran exchanged strikes over the weekend, pushing Brent crude above $79 per barrel and raising fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting inflation concerns. At the same time, investors remained cautious ahead of this week's US consumer inflation report and testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, as a stronger-than-expected CPI reading could reinforce expectations of further Fed tightening. Still, the decline was partly offset by institutional buying, with US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recording net inflows of $197.4 million last week, ending a nine-week streak of outflows.

Bitcoin dropped to as low as $57,700 in early July, hitting its lowest level since September 2024, leaving it down more than 50% from the record high reached last October. The cryptocurrency remained under pressure as hawkish signals from Federal Reserve officials reinforced expectations of higher US interest rates, boosting the dollar and reducing the appeal of non-yielding assets such as Bitcoin. Investor sentiment also weakened after US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded more than $4 billion in net outflows in June, the largest monthly withdrawal since their launch. Additional pressure came from renewed concerns over Strategy Inc.'s financing overhaul, which raised the possibility that one of Bitcoin's biggest corporate holders could prioritize balance-sheet management over continued accumulation. Bitcoin also slipped below its 200-week moving average for the first time in three years, a technical signal often associated with prolonged bear markets.

Bitcoin continued its descent to around $58,000 in late June, hitting its lowest level since September 2024 and extending its decline to roughly 50% from last year's record high. The cryptocurrency remained under pressure amid weakening institutional demand and persistent macroeconomic headwinds. US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded net outflows of about $2.92 billion so far this month, while concerns over persistent inflation and growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this year further dampened risk appetite. Meanwhile, markets awaited the expiry of about $10 billion in Bitcoin options on Friday on Deribit, with most of the contracts representing bullish bets that have lost value as Bitcoin declined, potentially prompting traders to adopt a more defensive stance and adding to expectations of heightened volatility.