Robert Mitchnick, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, suggested in a Yahoo Finance interview on March 19 that a U.S. recession could boost Bitcoin adoption.
He highlighted that Bitcoin’s decentralized and inflation-resistant properties may increase demand during economic downturns, especially in environments of significant fiscal stimulus and low interest rates.
“A recession would be a big catalyst for Bitcoin,” Mitchnick said ‘It’s long liquidity, meaning it benefits from increased fiscal spending, deficit accumulation, and lower interest rates—all typical features of a recessionary environment.” He added
He noted that the crypto market may have overestimated the pace of deregulation and other catalysts. Recent Bitcoin ETF outflows are primarily due to hedge funds unwinding spot-futures arbitrage trades. Institutional investors continue to show interest despite price volatility, and long-term holders remain committed.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. experienced their first net weekly outflows in six weeks, totalling $585.65 million for the week ending February 14, after a period of over $5 billion in inflows according to data from SoSoValue. This trend reflects ongoing economic instability reminiscent of past events that boosted Bitcoin’s appeal. In 2020, the U.S. Federal Reserve slashed interest rates and injected $4 trillion to combat the pandemic recession, causing Bitcoin’s price to soar from $5,000 to $29,000 within the year.
Similarly, the 2008 financial crisis led to Bitcoin’s creation, highlighting its critique of traditional banking. Anthony Scaramucci of SkyBridge Capital noted that Bitcoin’s fixed supply positions it as a “natural hedge” during recessions, supporting predictions of its potential resurgence amid economic challenges.
Notably, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently criticized Bitcoin in a CBS interview, claiming it lacks intrinsic value and is associated with illegal activities. He compared investing in Bitcoin to smoking while expressing support for digital currency and blockchain technology, like JPM Coin. Dimon also discussed the potential impacts of Trump’s election on crypto. Treasury
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