Blockchain-exposed stocks have on average underperformed the S&P 500 by 8% year to date, falling 13% versus a 5% decline for the index, Goldman Sachs (GS) said in a note on Wednesday.
Despite the underperformance, median blockchain-exposed stocks are expected to increase sales at 16% annually through to 2024, compared with a 9% sales growth for median U.S. stocks, strategists led by David Kostin wrote.
An equal-weight portfolio of these stocks returned 3% during the 19% rally in bitcoin BTC$66,560.23 since the end of January, versus a flat return for the S&P 500, the report said. These stocks exhibited a 67% correlation with bitcoin in the last six months, according to the report.
The bank notes that while these stocks are correlated with bitcoin, the cryptocurrency itself has become more correlated with equity index returns in recent months.
Goldman screened 26 U.S. stocks with blockchain and cryptocurrency exposure, and with market caps greater than $1 billion.
Crypto's role in payments for AI, regulatory changes and the digital asset market dominated conversations on the ground.
What to know:
Speakers at CoinDesk's Consensus Hong Kong conference said crypto and stablecoins are likely to become the default payment tools for autonomous AI agents in an emerging "machine economy."
Market participants warned that bitcoin, which has already dropped nearly $30,000 in a month, may fall further, with $50,000 seen as the level to watch.
Hong Kong regulators are pressing ahead with crypto rules even as others wait to see how U.S. legislation develops.