The Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s upcoming monetary policy meeting, set for June 16–17, could be the next major catalyst for global risk assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, predicts a significant market “flight” if the BOJ decides to delay its current quantitative tightening (QT) plans and instead re-engage in selective quantitative easing (QE) at this meeting.
QE involves central banks pumping money into the economy, typically boosting asset prices. The BOJ had planned to cut bond purchases starting August 2024, but this June meeting is an interim review, creating a window for a policy shift.
Reports suggest officials are considering slowing the pace of these cuts.
This isn’t just speculation. Recent market behavior shows a strong link between Japan’s bond market and Bitcoin’s performance. Bitcoin hit $112,000 on May 22, just after Japanese 30-year bond yields peaked.
Experts like Bitwise’s André Dragosch suggest rising bond yields signal fiscal stress, prompting institutions to view Bitcoin as a “counterparty risk-free” hedge against sovereign default.
A more dovish BOJ stance could reinforce Bitcoin’s appeal, potentially driving it higher.
Bitcoin held firm near the $105,000 level on June 13, shaking off the worst of a steep dip triggered by renewed conflict in the Middle East.
Pakistan has found an unexpected use for the electricity it routinely leaves untapped: power thousands of Bitcoin rigs and AI servers.
Bitcoin is under renewed pressure following Friday’s Israeli airstrike on Iran, which has deepened market anxiety and driven investors toward safer assets.
Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise Asset Management, believes a powerful shift is underway—one that could reshape how companies manage their capital.