Goldman Sachs Stays on Sidelines as Bitcoin Hits Resistance

Despite the surge in Bitcoin (BTC) price and the high trading volume of US-based Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Goldman Sachs' clients remain uninterested in cryptocurrency. The bank's Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Management, Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, believes Bitcoin is not an investment asset class and criticizes the crypto industry's hypocrisy on financial democratization. Goldman Sachs' clients continue to invest in traditional assets like gold, which has recently outperformed Bitcoin.

Goldman Sachs Remains Sidelined as Bitcoin Price Faces Resistance

Despite the recent surge in interest and trading volume in Bitcoin (BTC), Goldman Sachs remains cautious about the cryptocurrency, with no plans to offer exposure to it for its clients. This stance comes amidst a backdrop of increased institutional adoption and a potential Bitcoin halving event on the horizon.

On Tuesday, the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) experienced an outflow of $88 million, exceeding the $82 million outflow reported by Grayscale's GBTC. Notably, the United States government also deposited over 30,000 Bitcoins, seized from the Silk Road marketplace, into Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN).

Despite these recent developments, Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Chief Investment Officer at the Wealth Management Unit of Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS), expressed that their clients currently lack interest in Bitcoin. She acknowledged the recent price surge following the approval of several spot BTC ETFs by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but emphasized that the bank's clients have not expressed a desire for exposure to crypto assets.

"We do not think it is an investment asset class," Mossavar-Rahmani said. "We're not believers in crypto…If you cannot assign a value, then how can you be bullish or bearish?"

She further criticized the cryptocurrency industry for its perceived hypocrisy in advocating for financial democratization while decision-making power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. As a result, Goldman Sachs' clients will continue to refrain from investing in cryptocurrencies despite the ongoing bull market.

Currently, Goldman Sachs' clients are heavily invested in traditional asset classes, such as the Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (Cboe BZX: AAAU), which boasts net assets of $649 million as of April 2, 2024. Notably, Gold has recently surpassed its previous all-time high, reaching $2,278 in the past few days.

Regarding Bitcoin's price trajectory, the cryptocurrency faces a crucial test at the $70,000 support level. If bulls can successfully reclaim this level, the uptrend could continue. Conversely, a failure to hold this support could lead to a pullback towards $60,000.

In conclusion, Goldman Sachs remains hesitant about Bitcoin, despite the growing institutional interest and market activity. The bank's clients continue to favor traditional asset classes, such as Gold, over cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin's price action is currently at a critical juncture, with $70,000 acting as a key support level. The direction of the market in the coming weeks will depend on the outcome of this battle between bulls and bears.