Bitcoin, which recently experienced a downturn, surged on Friday alongside most altcoins as investors seized the opportunity to buy the dip.
The rebound followed a report revealing a notable slump in U.S. consumer confidence, which hit its lowest level in two years.
Concerns over the American president’s proposed tariffs and their potential impact on inflation and ongoing job cuts at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have raised fears about the economy’s stability.
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Altcoins alongside bitcoin gain momentum
Altcoins followed Bitcoin’s lead, with Ripple (XRP) climbing four percent and Chainlink (LINK), Bonk (BONK), and JasmyCoin (JASMY) posting gains exceeding five percent. Analysts suggest that economic uncertainty often drives investors toward riskier assets, particularly when signs of Federal Reserve intervention emerge.
Historically, the reserve has responded to economic downturns with interest rate cuts and quantitative easing, fuelling demand for digital assets.
“With consumer confidence plunging and recession fears rising, investors are looking for opportunities in alternative markets,” noted a strategist from Janney Montgomery Scott. “Cryptocurrencies tend to benefit in such conditions, especially when speculation on monetary policy shifts increases.”
Furthermore, on Friday, U.S. stocks rallied significantly, with the Dow Jones rising by 625 points, the S&P 500 gaining 102 points, and the Nasdaq 100 climbing 400 points.
Small-cap stocks, tracked by the Russell 2000, also jumped over three percent. Notably, gold exceeded a record high of $3,000, reflecting investor caution amid economic uncertainty.
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Fear over dead cat bounce
Despite the rally, Janney warns that the recovery could be a “dead cat bounce”—a temporary rebound during a broader downtrend.
“Nearly everyone is looking for a bottom and to ‘buy the dip’ at some point, but the current condition of the markets has not implied any real improvement on a technical basis,” noted an analyst from Janney Montgomery Scott.
While the rebound offers hope, the possibility of a prolonged downturn remains, reminding investors to tread carefully in these volatile markets.