Market Wrap: Bitcoin Price Jump Fades After US Inflation Spike

Buyers failed to sustain a brief recovery in BTC, while altcoins underperformed.

AccessTimeIconFeb 10, 2022 at 9:27 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 3:55 p.m. UTC
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Bitcoin (BTC) recovered from a nearly 5% drop on Thursday after the January U.S. inflation report showed a 7.5% increase in prices, a four-decade high.

The increase in inflation was the fastest since February 1982 and exceeded economists' predictions of a 7.3% rise. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates next month, which could ease inflation over time. Tighter monetary policy could also weigh on speculative markets such as equities and cryptocurrencies.

Stocks also fell on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down as much as 2% over the past 24 hours, while Treasury yields rose above 2%.

In crypto markets, bitcoin outperformed most alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins). Typically, during down markets, investors overweight bitcoin because of its lower risk profile relative to altcoins. BTC was roughly flat over the past 24 hours, versus a 4% drop in ETH and a 6% drop in SOL.

Latest prices

Bitcoin (BTC): $44122, −1.25%

Ether (ETH): $3114, −4.36%

S&P 500 daily close: $4504, −1.81%

Gold: $1828 per troy ounce, −0.40%

Ten-year Treasury yield daily close: 2.03%


Bitcoin, ether and gold prices are taken at approximately 4pm New York time. Bitcoin is the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX); Ether is the CoinDesk Ether Price Index (ETX); Gold is the COMEX spot price. Information about CoinDesk Indices can be found at coindesk.com/indices.

Some analysts expect selling pressure to eventually wane, while others expect slowing economic growth and tighter monetary policy will keep buyers on the sidelines.

"The simple explanation from our end is that there is major trading volume around economic data releases," Sean Farrell, head of digital asset strategy at Fundstrat Global Advisors, wrote in a Thursday brief. "It’s possible that the carnage we witnessed the past several weeks already priced in a 50 basis point rate hike."

Fundstrat remains bullish on crypto, and it has advised clients to buy on dips through the first half of this year despite choppy price action and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Meanwhile, MRB Partners, an investment strategy firm, wrote in a note this week that stocks and bonds "will struggle to digest the less accommodative shift in global monetary policy over the next six to 12 months."

"There is further upside for government bond yields in the next year, although a pause likely looms in the near term," MRB wrote.

U.S. CPI chart (CoinDesk, TradingEconomics)
U.S. CPI chart (CoinDesk, TradingEconomics)

Altcoin roundup

  • Cartesi to expand its blockchain game ecosystem with Aetheras: Cartesi, which is trying to develop a layer 2 Linux infrastructure, is teaming up with Aetheras in the hope that future blockchain games can be created with its blockchain operating system. According to Cartesi, Aetheras' software will enable gamers to enjoy more flexibility to explore different games at the same time without the worry of losing their in-game assets. Read more here.
  • Streamr Network approaches a key milestone of decentralization: Streamr, a real-time data network, will become the open, permissionless and decentralized Brubeck Network on Feb. 24. Developers can now build on the Brubeck Network, or migrate their existing apps forward in anticipation of the official launch. Read more here.
  • FLOW tokens surge on mobile game Beijing 2022: The price of Flow’s FLOW token has risen 12% since Tuesday as nWayPlayNFT, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based game software company and venture capital firm Animoca Brands, launched an officially licensed play-to-earn mobile game called Beijing 2022. Read more here.

Relevant news

Other markets

Digital assets in the CoinDesk 20 ended the day lower.

Largest gainers:

Asset Ticker Returns Sector
Ethereum Classic ETC +0.7% Smart Contract Platform
Bitcoin Cash BCH +0.4% Currency

Largest losers:

Asset Ticker Returns Sector
Algorand ALGO −6.0% Smart Contract Platform
Polkadot DOT −5.8% Smart Contract Platform
XRP XRP −5.8% Currency


Sector classifications are provided via the Digital Asset Classification Standard (DACS), developed by CoinDesk Indices to provide a reliable, comprehensive, and standardized classification system for digital assets. The CoinDesk 20 is a ranking of the largest digital assets by volume on trusted exchanges.

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CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Damanick Dantes

Damanick was a crypto market analyst at CoinDesk where he wrote the daily Market Wrap and provided technical analysis. He is a Chartered Market Technician designation holder and member of the CMT Association. Damanick is also a portfolio strategist and does not invest in digital assets.

Angelique Chen

Angelique is a market contributor at CoinDesk.


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