Bitcoin rises above $80,000 as soft dollar, debasement fears boost momentum

Bitcoin surged past the $80,000 mark, reaching a three-month high on Tuesday, driven by a combination of a soft US dollar and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's efforts to stabilize the bond market. President Donald Trump had previously urged Congress to pass legislation that would provide clearer definitions for the expanding cryptocurrency sector. Since then, Bitcoin has climbed 16% and was last trading at $80,323.24 in Asian hours, having briefly reached a peak of $81,237.94, the highest level since mid-May.

In August, Bitcoin has seen a 28% increase, marking its largest monthly gain since November 2024. Cryptocurrencies experienced a significant boost following the US Treasury's announcement of plans to repurchase longer-dated bonds, which helped curb the upward trajectory of long-end yields. This move has contributed to the US dollar bearing the brunt of investor concerns.

Tim Sun, a senior researcher at HashKey Group, noted that Bessent's messaging has bolstered the market's confidence that policymakers may display less tolerance for further increases in long-end yields through the midterm elections. "That would set up a relatively supportive macro backdrop for assets such as Bitcoin and gold," Sun explained.

Gold has also risen to a three-month high, benefiting from the weakened dollar. Geoff Kendrick, the global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, commented that the Treasury's actions are precisely what Bitcoin thrives on. The move has sparked renewed interest in the so-called debasement trade, where efforts to prevent long-end yields from reaching their market-clearing levels through buybacks shift the pressure from the bond market to the currency market.

According to Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, the announcement prompted investors to pour money into both physical and digital assets, driven by fears of debasement. A sustained break above the current level could pave the way for Bitcoin to reach $95,000 and $100,000.