The widening chasm between traditional equities and the cryptocurrency market has become increasingly difficult for global traders to ignore.
Over a multi-week stretch, the S&P 500 climbed an additional 4%, while Bitcoin tumbled 13% and gold dropped 5%.
AI mania driving tech
The upward momentum in the stock market culminated in a blockbuster session on Monday. The S&P 500 Index surged to a fresh all-time intraday high of 7,617.66.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite similarly scaled new heights (mostly due to AI spending).
The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF notched a 5% gain for the day, with heavyweights like Salesforce, Adobe, Workday, and ServiceNow locking in sizable moves. Software stocks tracked a staggering 14% gain over a three-day period. That's the best three-day performance run since October 2001.
The great capital rotation away from crypto
Historically, Bitcoin and gold have competed as main safe havens. However, traditional equities have recently commanded a disproportionate share of incoming investment capital.
Senior macro strategists have noted that Bitcoin is severely failing to keep pace with stocks. Meanwhile, vocal crypto critics argue that the intense risk appetite generated by AI stocks is ironically the only mechanism keeping Bitcoin trading above the $70,000 threshold.
More inflation fears
There are mounting macroeconomic threats despite the euphoria. Global energy markets experienced a sudden shock on Monday.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil spiked roughly 6% to hover near $92 a barrel, while spot Brent crude jumped 5% to approach $95 a barrel. This surging oil cost introduces a major inflationary risk.
Dan Burgin
