Analysts Predict Bitcoin Surge Over Gold

Cryptocurrency Attacks in France: France accounted for 11 out of 14 known physical cryptocurrency attacks globally in 2026, highlighting a significant rise in targeting digital asset holders.

Kidnapping Incident: A French magician and her mother were abducted in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, with authorities arresting six suspects, including a minor, involved in the kidnapping.

Data Breaches and Risks: Multiple data breaches have intensified risks for French cryptocurrency holders, with notable incidents including the hacking of the Waltiio platform, exposing data of around 50,000 users.

Continued Violence Against Crypto Owners: Physical violence against cryptocurrency wallet owners persists in France, with authorities noting a rise in home invasions and ransom schemes targeting individuals believed to hold digital assets.

Market Reactions: Cathie Woods highlighted that many Bitcoin investors tend to panic and sell during market drops, often prioritizing immediate action over long-term strategies.

Bitcoin vs. Gold: Woods expressed confusion over gold's recent outperformance compared to Bitcoin, despite Bitcoin's fixed supply, and noted that many investors are returning to gold for safety amid market volatility.

Long-term Outlook: Despite recent market fluctuations, Woods maintained that Bitcoin's long-term trend remains strong and that it has served as a refuge during banking crises.

Volatility as Normalcy: Woods acknowledged that market volatility is a typical part of long-term cycles, suggesting that such phases can create future investment opportunities.

Funding Purpose: Proceeds from HyperScale Data Inc. will be allocated for the acquisition of Bitcoin and the purchase of precious metals.

Investment Strategy: The company aims to leverage its financial resources to enhance its portfolio in the cryptocurrency and precious metals markets.

CPI Data Impact: Investors are awaiting U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, projected to show a 0.3% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year increase, which could influence the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rate cuts in March.

Cryptocurrency Market Trends: Bitcoin's price is fluctuating around $66,800, down 0.7% in the last 24 hours, while Ethereum struggles to regain the $2,000 mark, trading at approximately $1,961, down 0.8%.

Retail Sentiment Shifts: Retail sentiment in the cryptocurrency market has shifted from bullish to neutral, with analysts noting a bearish trend in leading altcoins, particularly Ethereum, which has seen a decline in sentiment.

Market Performance Overview: The overall cryptocurrency market dipped by about 1% over the last 24 hours, with Dogecoin being one of the few gainers, while Solana and Binance Coin experienced notable declines.

Schiff's Criticism of Saylor's Plan: Peter Schiff criticized Michael Saylor's strategy to refinance debt and continue buying Bitcoin, questioning Bitcoin's credibility if it were to trade at $8,000 in 2030, which would represent a significant decline from its previous highs.

Market Sentiment on Bitcoin: Many traders expect Bitcoin to remain below $80,000 in the near term, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropping to record lows last seen during the March 2020 crash.

Long-term Bitcoin Support Levels: Saylor suggested that Bitcoin could find initial support around $10,000, while Schiff expressed skepticism about the viability of Bitcoin if it were to fall to $8,000, indicating a potential 94% decline from its all-time high.

Retail Trader Expectations: Retail traders do not anticipate Bitcoin's price to recover above $80,000 in the next three months, with some predicting it could dip below $50,000 before any recovery occurs.

Current Bitcoin Market Trends: Bitcoin has experienced a significant downturn, with a 32% correction this year, leading to a notable drop in prices, currently around $67,274, as selling pressure continues amidst deteriorating macro conditions and uncertainty in Federal leadership.

Retail Sentiment and Predictions: Retail sentiment around Bitcoin is bearish, with expectations that prices may drop to $30,000, as traders react to ongoing market pressures and the fading optimism following Donald Trump's election.

Market Dynamics and Selling Pressure: The sustained selling pressure has prompted retail traders to sell off Bitcoin, with some predicting that miners may shut down operations if they cannot cover their costs, indicating a potential shift in the mining landscape.

Future Outlook: Analysts suggest that stabilization in Bitcoin prices is crucial for a sustainable recovery, with key indicators to monitor being the stability or decline in unstable coin dominance, which could signal a redeployment of capital into the market.