Bitcoin (BTC) faces conditions similar to the 2022 bear market bottom as US business sees “very high risk” to come.

In his latest analysis, Charles Edwards, the founder of quantitative Bitcoin and digital asset fund Capriole Investments, queried when the US would start printing money.

The founder of quantitative Bitcoin (BTC) and digital asset fund Capriole Investments has weighed in on when the US might start "printing money" again.

In his latest analysis, Charles Edwards began with US business expectations seeing “very high risk” to come, especially with President Donald Trump announcing worldwide reciprocal trade tariffs on April 2.

Bitcoin reacted noticeably worse than US stocks as a result,

Pointing out that the S&P 500 managed to close the Wall Street trading session 0.7% higher on April 1, despite this, Edwards notes that US business expectations are now displaying the type of uncertainty seen only three times since the turn of the millennium.

"Considering this as tariffs come in "higher than expected". The Philly Fed Business Outlook survey is showing expectations today comparable to 2000, 2008 and 2022," he stated to X followers.

An accompanying chart showed the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey (BOS) sliding back below 15 for the first time since the start of 2024.

Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey vs. S&P 500. Source: Charles Edwards/X

Late 2022, meanwhile, was the pit of the most recent crypto bear market when BTC/USD reversed at $15,600.

In Capriole's latest market update, released on March 31, Edwards acknowledged that BOS data can produce unreliable signals over market sentiment but argued that it should not be ignored.

"While no guarantee of the future outlook (this metric does have false signals) this is a data reading we have had before at very high risk zones (year 2000, 2008 and 2022), telling us to keep a very open mind," he wrote.

For Bitcoin, a key level to watch in the tariff aftermath is $91,000, with Capriole suggesting that US macroeconomic moves would "decide the ultimate technical trend from here."

"All else equal, a daily close above $91K would be a strong bullish reclaim signal," the update explained alongside the weekly BTC/USD chart.

BTC/USD 1-day chart (screenshot). Source: Capriole Investments

BTC price focus on US liquidity trend

As Cointelegraph reported, a silver lining for crypto and risk assets could come in the form of increasing global liquidity.

In the US, the Fed has already begun to loosen tight financial policy, with bets on a return to so-called quantitative easing (QE) varying.

"How long until the Powell printer starts humming?" Edwards queried.

M2 money supply, meanwhile, is due for an "influx" - something which has historically spawned major BTC price upside.

"The BIG take-away (the most important observation) is that a big M2 influx is coming. The exact date is less important," popular analyst Colin Talks Crypto predicted in an X thread this week.

A comparative chart hinted at a potential BTC price rebound by the start of May.

US M2 money supply vs BTC/USD chart. Source: Colin Talks Crypto/X