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Bitcoin's Price Rally Driven by Americans' Safe Haven Bid: Matrixport

The U.S. trading hours continue to be a major source of bullish pressure for bitcoin.

Updated Mar 22, 2023, 2:48 p.m. Published Mar 21, 2023, 7:14 a.m.
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The recent bank failures in the U.S. have exposed the fractional reserve banking system’s core limitations and strengthened the case for investing in bitcoin .

Analysis by crypto services provider Matrixport shows that American buyers are leading the safe haven bid for the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin has rallied by over 40% in the last 10 days, reaching a nine-month high above $28,000, CoinDesk data shows.

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"Since the dip on March 10, Bitcoin has rallied by +44%. +31% of the rally was driven during the U.S. trading hours and an indicator that Americans are buying bitcoins with both hands," Markus Thielen, head of research and strategy, said in a note to clients, adding that the stress in the banking sector is not over.

Bitcoin is available to trade 24/7 worldwide. However, price action varies through each 24-hour cycle depending on the news flow and macroeconomic data releases.

Of late the news flow has been dominated by banking sector issues in the U.S. and the resulting repricing of interest rate expectations lower. That explains bitcoin's positive performance during U.S. trading hours.

Most gains have happened during the U.S. trading hours. (Matrixport)
Most gains have happened during the U.S. trading hours. (Matrixport)

American hours have been a major source of bullish pressure since the beginning of the year, according to Matrixport.

"Bitcoin is up +66% year to date, and during U.S. trading hours bitcoin rallied 47% while the cryptocurrency only rallied by +16% during trading hours in Asia. Bitcoin has barely broken a sweat during European trading hours – just +3%," Thielen said.

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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
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Bitcoin stuck near $88,000 as gold's and silver's record-breaking rallies show exhaustion signs

Bitcoin (BTC) price on Jan. 26 (CoinDesk)

"Gold and silver casually adding an entire bitcoin market cap in a single day," wrote one crypto analyst.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin is off its worst levels of the weekend, but still near the year's low at $87,700.
  • Facing the same news cycle as crypto, precious metals continued to surge higher, but a quick retreat from their highs on Monday suggested a bit of exhaustion was setting in.
  • Analysts remain dour on the outlook for crypto prices given the looming government shutdown as well as delays in passage of the Clarity Act.