Bitcoin surges past $11,000 while stocks plunge on trade war fears

Bitcoin climbed above the $11,000 level for the first time since mid-July and led gains among the biggest cryptocurrencies, as risk assets across Asia, Europe and North America tumbled on escalating trade-war tensions.

The largest cryptocurrency surged as much as 14 per cent from Friday’s close and traded at $11,809 at 10:35 a.m. in New York, according to consolidated Bloomberg pricing. The Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index tracking a basket of cryptocurrencies jumped 8.6 per cent, as rival digital coins including Ether and Litecoin also rallied.

“With the turmoil in markets and the streets, suddenly digital gold doesn’t seem like such a bad idea,” Jehan Chu, managing partner at blockchain investment and advisory firm Kenetic Capital, said from Hong Kong, where massive public protests continue. “Bitcoin is increasingly seen not only as a bet on the future, but as a shelter for the present.”

While Bitcoin historically has had relatively low correlation with most asset classes, it has lately moved inversely to Asian stocks.

Equities were roiled on Monday after China’s yuan fell past 7 per dollar, a key psychological level for traders. The risk-off shift intensified on reports China had asked state buyers to halt imports of American agriculture imports, further escalating trade tensions after US President Donald Trump last week proposed adding 10 per cent tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese imports starting Sept. 1.

“A lot of this might have to do with some capital flight out of China” after Trump’s tariff announcement, said Tom Maxon, head of US operations at electronic-payment products company CoolBitX Ltd. He noted that it’s hard to tell for sure, and said the current Bitcoin bull market has produced a lot of positive dynamics that could be fueling the move as well.

An increasing premium in the futures’ trading prices “is indicative of growing buy-and-hold interest,” said Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone, in a note published Monday.

Bitcoin’s rally this month comes after a July sell-off as lawmakers including Trump questioned Facebook Inc.’s plan to create its own cryptocurrency Libra. The digital currency has more than tripled this year, recovering much of its plunge during 2018.

“Bitcoin should test $12,000 soon,” said Charles Yang, head trader at Hong Kong-based over-the-counter digital-asset trading firm Genesis Block. “This is, of course, assuming we believe macro issues actually drive Bitcoin.”