Crypto Research

CORE STRATEGY Source: TradingView, Fundstrat While there is no need to “panic chase,” ETH likely begins trading better from here. We should start considering ETH beta names to add if Bessent’s meeting with China this weekend results in a positive outcome. The immediate-term risk/reward is certainly less attractive after BTC’s rally to $103,000 and strong follow-through from altcoins this week, but there are legitimate signs pointing to the U.S. reaching...

CORE STRATEGY Source: TradingView, Fundstrat Source: TradingView, Fundstrat On Wednesday, we received a couple of material data points. The first was the first negative real GDP print since 2022. This spurred an immediate selloff across most assets (interestingly, bonds included) as fears of a tariff-induced recession entered the fold. However, the market’s reaction was brief. Around 10am, core PCE was released and came in line with forecasts. It showed some...

Last week, we wrote that the administration’s response to bond market volatility implied a critical shift in ongoing trade negotiations. While this does not eliminate the economic risks that remain, as investment and hiring decisions are effectively frozen, it does clarify two important points: (1) the administration appears more focused on shifting trade away from China rather than overhauling global trade entirely, and (2) it is aware of market volatility...

CORE STRATEGY Given today’s developments, we believe it will be appropriate to increase exposure in our Core Strategy (total long position from 50% to 75% long and increasing our relative altcoin weighting). That said, given the explosive nature of today’s move and the firm resistance BTC is testing, we think it is prudent to wait for either a retrace or a confirmed breakout before executing. Source: TradingView, Fundstrat BOND MARKET...

Despite improving liquidity conditions and favorable seasonality offering reasons for optimism, the ongoing trade war remains the dominant driver of crypto’s next move. As such, we believe it’s prudent to stay patient. We’re increasing our Core Strategy allocation to USDC to 50%, keeping altcoin exposure minimal as we assess the potential fallout from the Liberation Day tariff announcements. While this may seem discouraging, the roadmap has become more straightforward: we...

While some of the risks that prompted our cautious stance in early February have been partially mitigated, most remain—with the ongoing trade war still the most pertinent. Therefore, we believe it remains prudent to exercise patience. That said, improving liquidity conditions, favorable seasonality, and the possibility of a budget-neutral BTC acquisition strategy offer reasons for optimism. Regardless of the direction, depressed implied volatility (BVIV < 50) suggests that a significant...

While some of the risks prompting our cautious stance in early February have been partially mitigated, most still persist—with the ongoing trade war being most pertinent. Thus, we believe it's prudent to remain patient. However, reading between the lines, there is a non-zero possibility that next week, we will receive material information regarding potential "budget-neutral" methods the US government could employ to acquire BTC. Depending on details revealed, this could...

CORE STRATEGY Most of the risks that prompted us to turn cautious in early February still persist, so we believe it’s right to remain patient. However, the near-term (2–4 weeks) setup is starting to look compelling for a tactical rally as sentiment is miserable, liquidity conditions are improving on the margin, a lot of risk has already been priced in, and we’ve seen serious capitulation and deleveraging. All eyes will...

CORE STRATEGY There is a chance that MSTR flows spark a short-term bounce here, but assets further out on the risk curve continue to face headwinds from ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade and monetary policy. Although the current administration takes a pro-crypto stance, there appears to be no immediate catalyst to revive market enthusiasm. We still anticipate that crypto will outperform this year, but until we see further progress on trade/monetary...

CORE STRATEGY With lingering trade war talks and robust economic data dissuading a dovish Fed pivot, we think the potential for downside volatility remains elevated. While regulatory developments and institutional adoption continue to bolster the medium- to long-term outlook, no immediate “good news” seems likely. Nevertheless, we still expect crypto to outperform this year. Until we see flows return to crypto, raising cash/trimming altcoin positions appears prudent (BTC dominance higher)....

CORE STRATEGY With the looming threat of an escalating trade war and economic data robust enough to discourage a more dovish Fed stance, we believe the upside risk for the DXY and yields has increased in Q1. Moreover, the market remains highly volatile and headline-driven, inhibiting the crypto market from gaining meaningful momentum. While regulatory developments are a key medium- to a long-term tailwind for crypto, it is unlikely that...