Bitcoin volatility is more pronounced in US trading hours

Bitcoin volatility is more pronounced in US trading hours
The cryptocurrency has gained 154% in the last 12 months.
MAR 26, 2024
By  Bloomberg

Another day, another big swing in bitcoin to enliven a relatively slow Monday on Wall Street. This time, the digital asset surged 7% to retake $70,000, the latest sign that pronounced bitcoin moves increasingly fall in US hours.

That pattern was also evident in February after the token scaled $60,000 for the first time since 2021 and in the push to a record in March. The focus of trading has shifted to the US alongside the rollout of bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which have drawn more than $11 billion in net inflows since their Jan. 11 debut.

A metric tracking the difference between the high and low prices of bitcoin each hour shows a bigger gap in the US versus Asia, research firm Kaiko said in note. Volatility has thus “been more concentrated during US opening hours,” it wrote.

The US bitcoin funds from the likes of BlackRock Inc. and Fidelity Investments rank as among the most successful ETF launches and are altering crypto market structure. The changes include improved Bitcoin market liquidity and a spike in spot volumes around the time the ETFs calculate their net asset value toward the close of the US trading day.

In contrast, Asia appeared to be the new center of gravity for digital asset markets for a time in 2023, during the height of a US crackdown on crypto. Back then, bitcoin trading activity was becoming more intense in Asian hours.

Bitcoin was little changed at $70,665 as of 8:08 a.m. Tuesday in London. The oldest cryptocurrency briefly punched past $71,000 in the US on Monday before gains cooled a little to roughly 7% for the session. The token is up 154% over the past 12 months and close to its mid-March peak of almost $73,798.

Latest News

No succession plan? No worries. Just practice in place
No succession plan? No worries. Just practice in place

While industry statistics pointing to a succession crisis can cause alarm, advisor-owners should be free to consider a middle path between staying solo and catching the surging wave of M&A.

Research highlights growing need for personalized retirement solutions as investors age
Research highlights growing need for personalized retirement solutions as investors age

New joint research by T. Rowe Price, MIT, and Stanford University finds more diverse asset allocations among older participants.

Advisor moves: RIA Farther hails Q2 recruiting record, Raymond James nabs $300M team from Edward Jones
Advisor moves: RIA Farther hails Q2 recruiting record, Raymond James nabs $300M team from Edward Jones

With its asset pipeline bursting past $13 billion, Farther is looking to build more momentum with three new managing directors.

Insured Retirement Institute urges Labor Department to retain annuity safe harbor
Insured Retirement Institute urges Labor Department to retain annuity safe harbor

A Department of Labor proposal to scrap a regulatory provision under ERISA could create uncertainty for fiduciaries, the trade association argues.

LPL Financial sticking to its guns with retaining 90% of Commonwealth's financial advisors
LPL Financial sticking to its guns with retaining 90% of Commonwealth's financial advisors

"We continue to feel confident about our ability to capture 90%," LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier told analysts during the firm's 2nd quarter earnings call.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.