After the European Central Bank (ECB) decided yesterday to start its first in five years, bitcoin prices are poised an explosive rise. With all 20 national delegates voting unanimously, rates were cut by 0.25%, therefore fundamentally changing monetary policy for the Eurozone.
Coupled with forecasts of declining inflation and sluggish economic development, this action has generated strong crypto market speculation since many analysts believe Bitcoin prices will rise noticeably.
ECB Pivots Towards Growth
The choice shows increasing worries on the economic situation of the Eurozone. Originally a main emphasis, inflation is predicted to drop to 1.9% by 2026. But the expected 0.9% GDP rise in 2024 and 1.6% in 2026 suggest slow economic activity. The ECB wants to boost borrowing and investment by cutting interest rates, hence possibly restarting the engine of Eurozone growth.
The European Central Bank announced the first rate cut in five years, 25bps. The ECB expects inflation to be 2.5% in 2024, 2.2% in 2025, and 1.9% in 2026. GDP growth is expected to be 0.9% in 2024, 1.4% in 2025, and 1.6% in 2026.
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Cryptocurrency Bonanza?
The dovish turn of the ECB has excited the bitcoin community like a shot. Usually, lower interest rates translate into a weaker Euro. This might thus make dollar-denominated assets like Bitcoin more appealing to investors looking for diversity and an inflation hedge. Analysts think this along with possible future rate cuts might drive Bitcoin to unprecedented highs.
The market is ravenous for signals, and the ECB’s action is unmistakable evidence of a worldwide movement towards more relaxed monetary policy, crypto specialists said. This is a rich ground for Bitcoin, maybe drawing investors seeking substitute low-yielding traditional assets.
A Symphony Of Central Banks
The Bank of Canada, which became the first significant central bank to lower rates this year, also moved in line with the ECB’s decision. This synchronised effort by central banks highlights a mounting worry about a possible worldwide recession.
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With the US Federal Reserve also under increasing pressure to relax policy, the stage might be set for a coordinated worldwide move towards monetary stimulation, hence generating a perfect storm for the rise of Bitcoin.
Data from Coangecko shows that Bitcoin was trading at at the time of writing, up 0.3% and 4.5% in daily and weekly timesframes.
Featured image from Business Standard, chart from TradingView