Bitcoin sinks with safe haven bets 'clearly favoring gold' after crypto washout

Core Insights - Bitcoin has experienced significant volatility in October, initially rising due to investor interest as a hedge against US government shutdown uncertainty, but subsequently dropping sharply following President Trump's tariff threats [1][4]. Market Performance - Bitcoin's price fell from $121,000 to as low as $104,000, marking an 8% decline in the past month, while gold reached new all-time highs above $4,200, increasing by 16% in the same period [1][2]. - As of Thursday, Bitcoin was trading around $108,000 per token, reflecting ongoing struggles to recover from recent losses [4]. Investor Behavior - Capital is currently favoring gold due to its momentum and lower volatility, with central banks acting as structural buyers, which may lead to a future rotation back into Bitcoin as it typically follows gold trends [3]. - A significant player in the market, referred to as a "whale," profited $192 million by shorting Bitcoin before the crash, indicating strategic trading behavior that may have intensified selling pressure [5]. Market Dynamics - The recent drop in Bitcoin's price was exacerbated by the crypto derivatives ecosystem, which saw over $19 billion in liquidations during the price decline, leading to automatic closures of risky trades [4]. - Analysts remain optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term prospects, with JPMorgan predicting a price target of $165,000 by year-end and Citi forecasting $133,000, potentially reaching $181,000 by the end of 2026 [6].