Gold is winning bonds, stocks and maybe Bitcoin: What to invest?

Gold is winning bonds, stocks and maybe Bitcoin: What to invest?

The global financial markets are grappling with a sharp retreat in risk sentiment, driven by escalating tensions between the US administration and the Federal Reserve, alongside uncertainties surrounding trade policies and tariffs. President Donald Trump’s latest social media salvo, urging Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to slash interest rates due to “virtually no inflation,” has reignited concerns about the central bank’s independence.

Trump’s pointed criticism, accusing Powell of being “too late” except during the election period, has rattled investors, leading to a broad sell-off in US assets on Monday. The S&P 500 plummeted 2.4 per cent, with the so-called Magnificent Seven—comprising tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia—underperforming the broader index with a 3.2 per cent decline.

Meanwhile, the US Treasury yield curve steepened, with front-end yields dipping and long-end yields climbing, reflecting shifting expectations about monetary policy and economic growth. The US Dollar Index slid 0.9 per cent to 98.38, its lowest in three years, while commodities displayed mixed responses: Brent crude fell 2.5 per cent amid risk-off sentiment, and gold surged 2.9 per cent to a record high above US$3,400 per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets.

In Asia, China’s commerce ministry issued a stern warning against nations striking trade deals with the US at its expense, promising “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures, further clouding the global trade outlook. Against this backdrop, Bitcoin’s remarkable surge past US$87,700 has captured attention, fuelled by a weakening dollar, speculation around US Treasury buybacks, and growing institutional interest. As markets navigate these turbulent waters, the interplay of macroeconomic forces, geopolitical tensions, and cryptocurrency dynamics is shaping a complex landscape for investors.

The friction between the White House and the Federal Reserve is a central driver of the current market unease. Trump’s public demands for lower interest rates, coupled with his pointed attacks on Powell, have raised alarms about potential political interference in monetary policy. The Federal Reserve’s independence is a cornerstone of its credibility, allowing it to make data-driven decisions to balance inflation and growth without succumbing to short-term political pressures.

However, Trump’s rhetoric, including threats to influence or even replace Powell, has sparked fears that this independence could be eroded. Such concerns are not merely academic; they have tangible market implications. Investors rely on the Fed’s predictability and autonomy to anchor expectations about interest rates and economic stability. Any perceived threat to this framework can trigger volatility, as seen in Monday’s sharp declines across US equity markets.

The S&P 500’s 2.4 per cent drop reflects a broader reassessment of risk, with the Magnificent Seven’s steeper 3.2 per cent decline signalling particular vulnerability in high-valuation tech stocks, which have been market darlings in recent years. These companies, heavily weighted in major indices, are sensitive to shifts in interest rate expectations and economic uncertainty, both of which are now amplified by the Fed-White House clash.

The US Treasuries market provides further insight into investor sentiment. The yield curve’s steepening—characterised by a 3.6 basis point drop in the 2-year yield to 3.762 per cent and an 8.6 basis point rise in the 10-year yield to 4.410 per cent—suggests a divergence in expectations for short-term and long-term economic conditions.

The decline in front-end yields indicates that some investors anticipate the Fed may resist immediate rate cuts, possibly due to inflationary pressures from tariffs or other policy shifts. Conversely, the uptick in long-end yields reflects concerns about sustained economic growth and potential inflation, particularly if trade disruptions intensify. This steepening curve is a classic signal of market unease, as it implies that investors are demanding higher compensation for holding longer-dated debt amid uncertainty.

The US Dollar Index’s slide to a three-year low of 98.38 underscores the broader retreat from US assets, as a weaker dollar often accompanies diminished confidence in US economic leadership or policy coherence. This dynamic has also bolstered gold’s appeal, with its 2.9 per cent surge to above US$3,400 per ounce reflecting a flight to safety amid geopolitical and economic turbulence.

Commodities markets are equally telling. Brent crude’s 2.5 per cent decline to US$66.26 per barrel highlights the risk-off sentiment gripping investors, as fears of a global economic slowdown—potentially exacerbated by trade wars—dampen demand expectations for oil. China’s commerce ministry’s vow to counter any trade deals that disadvantage Beijing has heightened these concerns, signalling that the US-China trade rift could deepen.

The ministry’s statement, promising “resolute and reciprocal” measures, suggests that retaliatory tariffs or other trade barriers are on the horizon, which could further disrupt global supply chains and economic growth. Asian equity indices, which initially gained but later reversed course, reflect the region’s sensitivity to these developments, given China’s pivotal role in global trade. The interplay of these factors underscores the interconnectedness of global markets, where US policy decisions reverberate far beyond its borders.

Amid this macroeconomic turmoil, Bitcoin’s meteoric rise stands out as a counterpoint, driven by a confluence of factors that highlight its growing role as an alternative asset. The cryptocurrency briefly surpassed US$87,700, buoyed by a weakening US dollar and speculation about US Treasury buybacks. Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and CIO of Maelstrom, has framed these buybacks as a potential “bazooka” for Bitcoin’s price, arguing that they could inject significant liquidity into financial markets.

By repurchasing its own debt, the Treasury could effectively ease monetary conditions, even if the Fed maintains its current stance on interest rates. This liquidity influx could amplify demand for risk assets like Bitcoin, which thrives in environments of monetary expansion. Hayes’ prediction that this may be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin below US$100,000 reflects his bullish outlook, grounded in the belief that structural shifts in monetary policy and market dynamics are aligning in Bitcoin’s favor.

Adding to this narrative is a new analysis linking Bitcoin’s price movements to the global M2 money supply, a broad measure of money circulating in the economy. This predictive offset model suggests that Bitcoin’s trajectory closely tracks global liquidity trends, with historical patterns indicating a potential climb above US$100,000 if current conditions persist.

Such analyses resonate with investors who view Bitcoin as a hedge against currency debasement and inflationary policies, particularly in an era of unprecedented government spending and debt issuance. The weakening US dollar, down 0.9 per cent on Monday, further enhances Bitcoin’s appeal, as a depreciating currency often drives demand for assets perceived as stores of value. Gold’s concurrent surge underscores this trend, as both assets benefit from safe-haven flows amid uncertainty.

Institutional adoption is another critical driver of Bitcoin’s rally. Fidelity and Bitwise’s recent US$133 million investment in Bitcoin signals robust confidence from major players, whose involvement often lends legitimacy and liquidity to the cryptocurrency market. Similarly, BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF reported a US$41.6 million daily inflow, reflecting heightened investor interest. These inflows are significant not only for their size but also for their symbolic weight, as institutional participation tends to stabilise and amplify Bitcoin’s price movements.

The growing acceptance of Bitcoin ETFs, as evidenced by data from platforms like farside.co.uk, suggests that traditional investors are increasingly comfortable allocating capital to cryptocurrencies, viewing them as a diversification tool in volatile markets. This trend could have lasting implications, potentially smoothing Bitcoin’s historically wild price swings while attracting a broader investor base.

From my angle, the current market environment is a crucible of competing forces, where traditional assets are buffeted by policy uncertainties, and alternative assets like Bitcoin are seizing the moment. The tensions between the US administration and the Federal Reserve are a stark reminder of the delicate balance between political ambition and economic stability.

Trump’s push for lower interest rates, while politically expedient, risks undermining the Fed’s credibility and could lead to longer-term inflationary pressures, particularly if tariffs disrupt global trade. The market’s reaction—evident in the S&P 500’s decline, the dollar’s weakness, and gold’s surge—reflects a rational response to these risks, as investors recalibrate their expectations for growth and stability.

Bitcoin’s ascent, meanwhile, is both a symptom and a signal of deeper shifts. Its correlation with global liquidity trends, as highlighted by the M2 analysis, suggests that it is increasingly integrated into the broader financial system, no longer a fringe asset but a barometer of monetary conditions.

The involvement of institutions like Fidelity, Bitwise, and BlackRock reinforces this view, pointing to a future where cryptocurrencies play a central role in portfolio construction. However, Bitcoin’s volatility remains a double-edged sword; while it offers outsized returns in bullish phases, its susceptibility to sharp corrections warrants caution.

Looking ahead, the interplay of US monetary policy, trade dynamics, and cryptocurrency adoption will shape the investment landscape. Investors must navigate a world where traditional safe havens like Treasuries are under pressure, and alternative assets are gaining prominence.

The US equity markets’ implied higher open today suggests a potential rebound, but sustained recovery will hinge on clarity around Fed policy and trade negotiations. For now, the markets remain on edge, caught between the promise of innovation and the perils of uncertainty.

 

Source: https://e27.co/gold-is-winning-bonds-stocks-and-maybe-bitcoin-what-to-invest-20250422/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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3 cryptocurrencies you should invest in this August to cash in on the market rebound

3 cryptocurrencies you should invest in this August to cash in on the market rebound

Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market bounced back strongly in July after a severe correction during the second quarter. Bitcoin increased in value by 17%, its highest monthly performance since October 2021, according to a CryptoRank Platform tweet on August 1.

The July climb indicates that the market is starting the new month on a positive footing after maintaining its crucial levels to sit above the important $1 trillion market cap in the opening few days.

 

 

In light of that, investors are coming back to the market as the path of recovery continues. Below are three coins to invest in, in August, in order to cash in on the rebound.

 

1. Ethereum 

Ether, the second largest cryptocurrency based on market capitalisation has enjoyed a rally recently, thanks to the announcement of its upcoming ‘Merge’.

And now, the community is starting August on a positive note as plans are now in place for the Goerli Merge to occur on Aug 11, the final testnet merge prior to transitioning to a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain.

The Merge is expected to push Ether to new heights

The Merge is a massive step for Ethereum and the community and that is the reason to bet on it in August. It keeps showing great strength of bullish movement as the anticipated merge gets closer.

Ethereum is currently trading at $1,730 but a break of this region would send Ethereum’s price to $2,400 and even higher if the bulls and sentiments of the market stay strong ahead of the Merge.

It should definitely be on the list of your coins to invest in August.

 

2. Kava

Kava is an extremely fast layer one blockchain that combines the Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystem into a single, scalable network. The ecosystem has seen groundbreaking developments which bode a positive movement for its native token.

On August 31, Kava 11 is set to launch and it is expected to greatly increase the total value locked in the platform. The main features of the upgrade will include: KAVA liquid staking, KAVA earns – a yield aggregator, MetaMask support for all KAVA transactions and Protocol owned liquidity.

Kava 11 is set to launch on August 31

The sentiment in the KAVA community has been positive and there seems to be an air of excitement which means it should be on your list of coins to invest in.

BigONE Exchange’s chair Anndy Lian explained to Capital.com that Kava’s function to lend and borrow assets using a number of cryptocurrencies as collateral still serves as a big plus for the platform.

“The slide in the price recently is due to the overall market conditions. Some investors may see steeper plunges due to the performances of their collateralised assets. In my humble opinion, there is nothing to be worried about at this point, their codes are sound and their treasury is still holding up well.”

In the build-up to the upgrade scheduled for late in August, the native token is expected to trade around $5, over 100% of its current market price of $2.18.

Consider having it in your list of coins to invest in.

 

3. Monero

Monero is a secure and confidential blockchain that focuses on providing complete privacy for its users with $XMR as its native token.

The network will undergo a network upgrade on Aug 13 which will introduce various new features, such as an upgrade in Bulletproofs algorithm and a ring-size increase from 11 to 16.

One key reason $XMR is one of the coins with potential in August 2022 is its rapid growth rate. This will eventually boost the adoption of the Monero network, pushing the price of $XMR to new highs.

Monero network will undergo an upgrade on August 13

The token has enjoyed a decent rally in the last 30 days by moving from around $117 to its current price of $166. If it breaks out from that region which is very likely due to the hype surrounding its new features, the price would be expected to increase towards the $200 mark.

Monero($XMR) should be on your list of coins to invest in!

 

 

Are there other cryptocurrencies you believe ought to make the list? Please suggest in the comment box.

 

Original Source: https://technext.ng/2022/08/08/here-are-3-coins-to-invest-in-august/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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What Are The Best Metaverse Tokens To Invest In?

What Are The Best Metaverse Tokens To Invest In?

With Facebook changing its name to Meta and top investor Cathie Wood CEO of Ask Invest predicting that the future market value of metaverse would be in trillions of dollars, is it worth ‘getting in on the ground floor’ and investing in metaverse tokens? It’s worth having an investor approach, of course, not just being swept along by these headline announcements, but in such an innovative technology how do you decide what’s worth investing in? We’ve therefore compiled a watchlist of metaverse tokens that we believe will play a significant role in realizing the metaverse’s potential to become a trillion-dollar industry.

But just as importantly we’ve set our stall out by asking investors to consider metaverse tokens in terms of the wider thesis about what adds value from a web3 perspective. Apart from having a clear purpose or problem they are trying to solve, not just a white paper and a cute explainer video, they need to have a strong community foundation. Of course, every crypto startup talks the talk when it comes to community. But having a Discord server busy with airdrops and users waiting for the next price pump isn’t going to make it in the longer term. What is worth looking for when assessing which metaverse project to invest in is the degree to which they are actually community-owned, and how well they share the revenue and the control with their users.

 

Zilliqa (ZIL)

Flying somewhat under the radar has been Layer 1 blockchain Zilliqa, notable as the first Layer 1 to use sharding to solve the blockchain scaling problem that Ethereum has faced. What’s interesting is that with a recent change in leadership, and a new CEO with Ben Livshits who comes from the Brave browser, Zilliqa has already announced that is launching its own metaverse, ‘Metapolis’.

The obvious challenge for Metapolis will be its competitors Decentraland and Sandbox that currently have captured the majority of the blockchain metaverse users. Despite the current depressed value of the ZIL in 2022, the plans for a landmark event at the start of April, built around Zilliqa’s “position as the first layer-1 to build multiple commercial avenues of Web3” look exciting. The Q2 landmark event, which is built around Zilliqa’s “position as the first layer-1 to build multiple commercial avenues of Web3” is also a great opportunity for the Zilliqa team to organize PR and messaging – getting the consistency in messaging and confidence in its delivery should be a significant driver in the value of the ZIL token. The price of the token has been on a downward decline from a price on CMC of $0.2376 in mid-April 2021 to $0.0456 on 22 March 2022. But by the same token, this could be an ideal time to buy the dip in light of the Metapolis launch, the succession of new hires being announced, and the publicity surrounding the event itself.

It’s instructive that Ethereum’s co-founder Joseph Lubin recently criticized Zilliqa rival Solana for over-generous rewards to users validating transactions on the network. Solana Labs responded that “simply looking at protocol revenue doesn’t tell the full story of the long-term performance” of a blockchain’s economic model. That also begs the question as to whether in the longer term Zilliqa sufficiently incentivizes its mining community. After all the key to web3 isn’t merely community-engaged, but community ‘ownership’ in terms of the token structure and for governance.

 

Axie Infinity (AXS)

The growth of play-to-earn gaming, led by Axie Infinity, where engagement with a younger generation of gamers in countries like the Philippines shows how this can make a real financial difference to people’s lives. This is also why the role of DeFi in the metaverse, can be so important in providing people with a low-cost way to earn, save and send money from person to person. Back in October last year it hit a $3 billion equity valuation. Token Terminal estimates AXS is driving about $28.9 million in weekly revenue. Annualized, this equates to $1.5 billion in revenue, which is comparable to blockbuster games in the traditional gaming sector. Last month, Axie reduced production of its main in-game rewards to avoid what its blog post describes as “total and permanent economic collapse.” These changes should make a positive difference. However, as the chart from CoinMarketCap shows, the value appears to correlate heavily to the price of Bitcoin.

Tracking the price of AXS vs BTC (AXS: see green trend line; BTC orange trend line)

 

Decentraland (MANA)

Decentraland is an Ethereum-based blockchain-powered virtual-reality pioneer. Decentraland has the largest market capitalization in the metaverse space, and as one of the early adopters, the company is well-positioned to maintain its dominance in this space. Decentraland is divided into LAND parcels that are NFTs, and LAND ownership gives users complete control over what they build. In total there are 90,601 land parcels, and the LAND NFTs can be purchased using Decentraland’s native token MANA.

Users in Decentraland can use MANA tokens to buy and develop land, as well as some of the game’s tools to create spaces and works of art. Users are free to create whatever they want. Decentraland also holds various entertainment activities regularly, with users able to attend parties, play games, and visit digital art exhibitions. Decentraland recently hosted the world’s first multi-day music festival, with many well-known artists performing. Adding to the utility, as reported by Motley Fool, this month it will host Metaverse Fashion Week from March 24–27, featuring global brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, and Dolce & Gabbana.

 

The Sandbox (SAND)

Sandbox is similar to Decentraland in that users can use SAND tokens to purchase land, build houses, and share games on the purchased land. Sandbox has announced several collaborations in recent months, including top NFT marketplace OpenSea, Snoop Dogg, and The Walking Dead. At the same time, it recently completed a US$93 million round of financing led by Softbank, a leading investor in the blockchain space. There are three billion SAND tokens, and a third of its total supply is circulating at $3.06. Compared to MANA, SAND has been hit harder by the market downturn, with a drop in the last month alone from $4.20 in early Feb to $2.90 on March 7, a 30% decrease. However, recent price aside the fundamentals suggests SAND is a good bet for the future, based on a successful implementation of their project roadmap to date.

Coming back to the guiding thesis about the importance of community ownership for the longer-term viability of metaverse tokens one of the key benefits of Sandbox is that it’s decentralized both in name and in terms of its community governance. Indeed, the play-to-earn approach type revenue is shared throughout the gaming ecosystem via tokens, while Sandbox users can earn a passive income by charging other users to access their land. With both rewards and fees paid in SAND underline how this core web3 approach to community ownership supports the value of the SAND token to investors.

 

Somnium Space (CUBE)

Somnium Space is another metaverse ecosystem BigONE believes is worth investigating. Somnium space’s goal is to create an immersive metaverse. Users can buy lands, customize their avatars, and invest in real estate in Somnium, which was founded in 2017. Gemini supports the Somnium space, and the FTX exchange recently built a metaverse headquarters on the Somnium space.

In the last month, its native token $CUBE’s price movement has been very similar to SAND’s. The market capitalization of CUBE is $59 million, with 12.5 million circulating supply out of a total supply of 100 million. Somnium Space is ideal for users to build their real estate using their builder tools and create custom avatars using the Unity SDK. In addition, in 2019 they partnered with Sony to allow users to create full embodiment avatars of themselves in minutes alongside any 3D models for Somnium Store. Sony’s VR store in Somnium Space was among the world’s first.

 

Investing in the future of the metaverse

By providing more incentives and giving back to users, the metaverse will constantly flip the script and change how things will be done. BigONE anticipates a more transparent, open, and fully decentralized experience from the vibrant creative landscapes and avatars. The landscape itself will be visually stunning, a virtual place where the imagination is no longer constrained. Clearly, the development of a fully functional metaverse has the potential to fundamentally alter how people interact with the digital world. A collective virtual experience would reimagine the creative industry and open new doors for creators, gamers, and artists. BigONE Chairman Anndy Lian said: “The metaverse is here to stay, it’s clear the success already of Sandbox and Decentraland shows it has tremendous potential to bring people together. That potential in terms of GameFi we can see with Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn gaming which is making a real difference to people’s lives. However, there remain obstacles to its growth. Countries like China and South Korea have had laws about converting in-game tokens into fiat currency for nearly 15 years, for instance.

“However, I believe like any disruptive paradigm-shifting technology, which is attracting the attention of global players such as Facebook and governments keen to keep control of the internet, there are risks involved. But I’m optimistic that the decentralized community-owned development of an interoperable metaverse will deliver lasting value to both users and investors,” Lian added.

 

Any references to projects in this article are purely for information and should not be deemed financial advice, or promotional.

 

 

Original Source: https://metaverseinsider.tech/2022/04/25/what-are-the-best-metaverse-tokens-to-invest-in/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

j j j