The Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening measures could drive Bitcoin (BTC) to a late Q1 peak, according to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes.
In his latest essay on Jan. 7, Hayes predicts that Bitcoin will hit its peak around late March, highlighting the Fed's challenges in maintaining market stability while withdrawing $180 billion through quantitative tightening from January to March.
However, a adjustment to the Reverse Repo Program rate will inject $237 billion of liquidity, according to Hayes, who adds that this money will flow into higher-yielding Treasury bills, resulting in a net liquidity addition of $57 billion in Q1.
The Treasury's General Account will also factor in the equation. “Bad Gurl Yellen” (Hayes' nickname for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen) has initiated “extraordinary measures” to fund the government while awaiting Congress to raise the debt ceiling. Until then, the Treasury can only spend from the TGA, which Hayes projects to be depleted by May or June. This spending adds liquidity to the market, but once the ceiling is raised, the Treasury will need to refill its account, pulling liquidity out.
According to Hayes, the market will respond to these liquidity shifts, and he predicts that Bitcoin and the broader market will peak “in mid to late March,” similar to March 2024, when Bitcoin peaked around $73,000. After that, the market might face headwinds from tax deadlines and TGA replenishment.
The BitMEX co-founder believes that the Fed is “exhausting all tools at its disposal,” adding that future moves could include stopping QT or even restarting quantitative easing. For now, Hayes says liquidity conditions in Q1 suggest a temporary boost for risk assets like Bitcoin.
