The concept of “secure haven” property—historically marked by gold and authorities bonds—amid market turmoil, is being examined like by no means earlier than.
For many years, portfolio development and danger administration had been easy: 60% equities, 40% bonds and when markets panicked, capital sometimes flowed into gold and authorities bonds. These property had been gradual, regular, and predictable, making them an excellent secure haven for traders searching for safety in opposition to volatility. However in at this time’s world of 24/7 markets, geopolitical instability, and rising mistrust in sovereign techniques, have turned that logic on its head, asking the query: does the definition of a secure haven want a refresh?
Enter the brand new child within the block: bitcoin.
It’s extremely unstable, broadly misunderstood, and sometimes dismissed as a speculative asset by many corners of Wall Avenue and Major Avenue. But, it has staged a unprecedented run because the COVID-19 market lows.
It’s up over 1,000% because the COVID-19 market crash in March 2020. Throughout that very same interval, long-duration bonds—measured through iShares 20+ Yr Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)—are down 50% from their 2020 highs. Even gold, the true and tried secure haven asset—up 90% over 5 years—appears to be like much less spectacular when adjusted for financial debasement, which noticed, in 2020 alone, over 40% of the whole USD cash provide being printed.
Nonetheless, bitcoin’s secure haven credential stays contested by traders.
In a number of current risk-off occasions, it acted much less like a hedge and extra like a high-beta danger asset in opposition to the Invesco QQQ Belief, Collection 1 ETF.
- Covid-19 (March 2020): BTC fell 40% vs QQQ’s 27%
- Financial institution disaster (March 2023): BTC -14%, QQQ -7%
- Yen carry commerce unwind (Aug 2024): BTC -20%, QQQ -6%
- Tariff-led selloff (April 2025): BTC -11%, QQQ -16%
The primary three examples present bitcoin as a form of leveraged tech commerce. However the newest tariff shock broke the sample — bitcoin dropped lower than the Nasdaq, displaying relative energy in an in any other case weak macro setting spurred by President Trump’s tariffs.
Whereas these information factors could not make a pattern, this evolving habits highlights a broader phenomenon: the worldwide monetary backdrop has modified.
“Non-sovereign shops of worth, like bitcoin, ought to do nicely,” mentioned NYDIG Analysis in a observe. “Politically impartial property needs to be exempt from the worldwide machinations at play proper now.”
Bitcoin is unstable, sure, however it’s also globally liquid, decentralized, censorship-resistant, and proof against tariffs or central financial institution coverage. In an period of geopolitical rigidity and monetary repression, these attributes begin to make the asset look extra enduring than different secure havens.
In the meantime, conventional secure havens aren’t wanting so secure. Gold’s beneficial properties look much less spectacular when weighed in opposition to the size of financial enlargement. Lengthy-duration bonds aren’t faring a lot better both because the 30-year treasury yield approaches 5%, making them painful for duration-heavy portfolios.
For the reason that sell-off started final Thursday, the Nasdaq has dropped practically 10%, bitcoin is down 6%, TLT has fallen over 4%, and gold has slipped greater than 3%. In the meantime, the DXY index — which tracks the U.S. greenback in opposition to a basket of foreign exchange — stays comparatively flat, whereas the all-important U.S. 10-year Treasury yield has surged practically 8%.
On a risk-adjusted foundation, bitcoin is holding its floor—performing no worse than conventional safe-haven property like gold or TLT.
Taking a look at these 4 main disaster occasions, a sample emerges: : every sell-off in bitcoin has marked a major long-term backside. Throughout the COVID crash, BTC dropped to ~$4,000 — a degree by no means seen once more. Within the March 2023 banking disaster, it briefly fell beneath $20,000 earlier than resuming its climb. The August 2024 yen carry commerce unwind introduced it right down to $49,000 — once more, a degree that hasn’t returned. If historical past is any information, wherever this present low takes us, it could nicely set up the following long-term ground.
So, is Bitcoin a secure haven?
If the outdated framing — low volatility and draw back safety throughout a panic — nonetheless holds, then BTC falls brief.
However in a monetary world dominated by sovereign danger, inflation, and fixed coverage uncertainty, bitcoin begins to look extra like an asset that traders may want to contemplate for sturdiness, neutrality and liquidity.
On this evolving panorama, possibly bitcoin isn’t failing the secure haven take a look at. Possibly the outdated playbook of what secure haven is, wants to vary.