Economic Headwinds Thwart Bitcoin's Surge, Dampening Investor Sentiment

Bitcoin price has witnessed a drop of 0.5% at the Wall Street open due to higher-than-expected CPI figures. The Core CPI climbed 0.4% from February and rose 3.8% from last year, exceeding economists' estimates. The Federal Reserve's June rate cut is now less likely, with market analysts betting on rates staying steady in May and June, with the first possible cut in September.

Economic Headwinds Hinder Bitcoin's Ascent, Dampening Investor Sentiment

On April 10th, the release of the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) report sent shockwaves through the financial markets, triggering a downturn in Bitcoin (BTC) prices. The report indicated unexpectedly high inflation levels, casting doubt on the Federal Reserve's previously anticipated rate cut in June.

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView revealed a sharp decline in BTC prices, with a 2.5% drop from $69,115 at the Wall Street open to an intraday low of $67,463 on Coinbase. This fluctuation occurred in direct response to the CPI data.

March's CPI figures exceeded economists' forecasts, indicating a concerning rise in inflationary pressures. Month-over-month inflation climbed by 0.4%, while year-over-year inflation reached 3.5%, surpassing estimates of 0.3% and 3.4%, respectively.

Core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, also exceeded expectations, rising by 0.4% from February and 3.8% from a year ago, compared to estimates of 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively. Notably, CPI for all items increased at an annual rate of 3.2% in March.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provided detailed insights into the specific components driving the CPI increase, highlighting a surge in shelter and gasoline prices. Combined, these two factors contributed to over half of the monthly increase. The energy index rose 1.1%, while the food index saw a modest 0.1% increase.

Fed Rate Cut Prospects Dwindle

The CPI data immediately sparked debates among market participants regarding the likelihood of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates in the near future. The timeline for a potential rate cut has now shifted from June to later in the year.

According to the CME's FedWatch tool, traders now assign only a 20.6% probability to a June rate cut, significantly lower than the 45.9% odds they had placed before the CPI report. This suggests that market analysts anticipate the U.S. Federal Reserve to maintain steady rates in May and June, with the possibility of a rate cut being pushed back to September.

Bitcoin ETF Inflows Slow, Tempering Short-Term Outlook

Concurrently with the CPI-induced price decline, the tapering off of inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has dampened investor sentiment towards Bitcoin.

On April 9th, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) witnessed outflows totaling approximately $154.9 million, based on data compiled by BitMEX Research. Spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively experienced net outflows of $18.7 million, marking the second consecutive day of negative inflows.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted the highest inflow of $128.7 million. Bitwise's ETF (BITB) and Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) followed with inflows of over $3.8 million and $3 million, respectively. No other ETFs reported capital inflows on April 10th.

The slowdown in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows reflects a decline in investors' appetite for these investment products as caution grips the market. Nonetheless, anticipation remains high for a potential surge in BTC prices following the impending Bitcoin halving event, which is less than ten days away.

Vijay Pravin Maharajan, the founder and CEO of bitsCrunch, emphasizes the significance of the upcoming halving, stating that it "could not only propel BTC to new all-time highs but also positively impact various other assets." He further expresses optimism that investors can expect a rekindling of the bull market in the latter half of Q2.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risks, and readers should conduct their own due diligence before making investment decisions.