Bitcoin’s Correlation With Gold-Backed PAXG Token Weakens to Record Low

The case for adopting bitcoin (BTC) as an inflation hedge, an asset that holds value and preserves the purchasing power of the money invested, is weakening with each passing week.

The cryptocurrency’s 90-day correlation with PAX gold (PAXG), a token backed by physical gold and with a value pegged to the price of gold, has slipped to a record low of -0.41, according to data tracked by Coin Metrics. The 60-day correlation between bitcoin and PAXG hit a record low of -0.5 early this month.

The correlation flipped in February just as stagflation talks began doing the rounds and the Fed pledged to fight the dreaded high inflation-low growth situation with interest rate hikes. A reading of 1 indicates that the two assets or variables are moving in lockstep, while -1 implies the two are inversely correlated.

“This reflects BTC’s increasing correlation with macro stock indices as well as its recent behavior as a risk asset rather than a store-of-value, and points to price turbulence ahead as markets digest the impact of further inflation and liquidity withdrawals,” Noelle Acheson, head of market insights at CoinDesk’s sister concern Genesis Global said.

Bitcoin proponents have long hailed the cryptocurrency as an inflation hedge, thanks to its maximum supply cap of 21 million and programmed reduction in the pace of supply expansion every four years. However, bitcoin isn’t living up to its reputation as digital gold despite inflation reaching a four-decade high this year. The cryptocurrency has dropped 12% this year, while PAXG and gold have gained over 4%.

Investment demand for gold, a classic store of value asset, and products tied to gold has picked up amid the inflation scare and geopolitical tensions. According to a report by Fund Selector Asia, exchange-traded funds have purchased over 100 tons of gold since March.

PAXG’s market capitalization has nearly doubled to $613 million this year, according to Coingecko. Tether gold (XAUT), the second-largest gold-backed token, has seen its market value rise by 55% to $472 million.

Data tracked by ByteTree shows bitcoin ETFs and exchange-traded products listed across Europe and in Canada and U.S. have bled over 11,000 BTC this month, pretty much reversing the March inflows.

While bitcoin is falling behind in an inflationary environment, it may be too early to call it a failed inflation hedge. Perhaps bitcoin’s utility goes beyond prices, determined mainly by short-term traders.

“Labeling bitcoin a risk asset and a failed safe haven based on price performance is incorrect – it covers just part of what’s going on in the bitcoin market,” Acheson told CoinDesk in a Telegram chat. “While price is a key indicator of market sentiment, it is largely driven by short-term traders and does not reflect the growing awareness of BTC’s value as a seizure-resistant store of value and strong HODLing behavior we see through on-chain data.”