Bitcoin strength may be casting doubt on Fed hawkishness
Bitcoin is showing signs of accumulation. The weekly chart has charted a higher trough (HT) followed by a higher peak (HP) - an uptrend. This strength comes after a massive selldown following a 52.3% decline into January. The November distribution is shaded in red, and the current accumulation is green.
The cryptocurrency has traded above its black 30-week EMA, a bullish development. If the EMA turns up, it will be another sign of bullishness.
This uptrend is interesting, given that the dollar is also showing signs of strength. Moreover, the Fed has suggested a hawkish hiking cycle and aggressive quantitative tightening. One may be forgiven for thinking that this would act as a headwind for bitcoin. However, the fact that the crypto is outperforming the greenback may suggest that the market is doubting the Fed's true capacity to be this hawkish, given the potential stagflation obstructions that make monetary policy implementation more complex.
We are carefully considering the stochastic indicator. If it makes its way to its upper quintile and holds (blue arrow), we suggest that the Fed may be too optimistic in its cycle projections.
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Russell Shor
Senior Market Strategist
Russell Shor is a Senior Market Strategist at FXCM, having been promoted to the role in 2025 in recognition of his depth of insight and consistent delivery of high-impact market analysis. He originally joined FXCM in October 2017 as a Senior Market Specialist.
Russell holds an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of South Africa, is a certified FMVA®, and a full member of the Society of Technical Analysts (UK). With over 20 years of experience in financial markets, his work is renowned for its clarity, precision, and strategic value across asset classes.
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