As a seasoned researcher with over two decades of experience in the financial sector, I find Powell’s stance on Bitcoin intriguing yet unsurprising. Having closely observed the evolution and maturation of various financial instruments throughout my career, I can attest that change rarely happens overnight, especially when it comes to global currencies and reserve systems.
The chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, has ruled out the possibility of Bitcoin taking the place of the U.S. dollar. Instead, he views Bitcoin more as a speculative investment similar to gold, rather than a reliable medium for storing value.
Powell shared these views during his appearance at The New York Times DealBook Summit in Manhattan.
Powell’s Argument
When questioned if the widespread use of Bitcoin implies a loss of confidence in the U.S. dollar or the Federal Reserve, Powell responded by saying, “I don’t believe people view it that way.” He further explained that Bitcoin is more commonly perceived as an unstable investment for speculation rather than a reliable form of value storage.
Powell stated that it’s similar to gold but exists virtually. He described it as highly unpredictable and noted that it doesn’t challenge the U.S. dollar; instead, it competes with gold as an alternative investment option.
As a researcher, I find myself amidst an intriguing period where Bitcoin’s influence within the global financial landscape is under intense scrutiny. In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed a substantial surge in its value, propelling its market capitalization beyond the monumental figure of $2 trillion.
Based on information from CompaniesMarketCap.com, the cryptocurrency currently holds the seventh largest global asset position. Bitcoins are overshadowed by gold, which is estimated to be worth approximately $18 trillion in market value, as well as five significant American corporations such as Nvidia, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and Meta (Facebook’s parent company).
Powell’s viewpoint on Bitcoin and other digital currencies aligns with his past comments. Back in 2021, he expressed concerns about Bitcoin’s instability, suggesting that it doesn’t effectively function as a stable form of money or means of transaction due to its volatility.
In that moment, he described cryptocurrencies as potential investment opportunities with a speculative nature, stating they wouldn’t displace the dollar but might challenge gold as a viable alternative asset.
After the 71-year-old was reappointed as the Federal Reserve Chair in 2021, Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, voiced worries that his leadership might stifle market expansion.
“People are getting pretty bearish on crypto,” Novogratz said at the time.
Concerns Under Powell’s Leadership
During President Biden’s tenure, the Federal Reserve has faced criticism for seemingly taking a significant part in “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” a supposed initiative aimed at hindering the expansion of the American cryptocurrency sector by limiting crypto companies’ ability to use conventional banking services.
In August of 2024, the Fed’s instructions to Customers Bank, a bank known for cryptocurrency support, to strengthen its risk management and compliance protocols rekindled these claims. This action led Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, to affirm that Operation Chokepoint 2.0 is still active.
The regulatory challenges for cryptocurrencies have been ongoing for several years, but grew more severe following the fall of FTX. This event led to increased scrutiny and tighter rules being imposed on blockchain-based firms.
These directives by the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve pushed banks away from working with cryptocurrency companies. Consequently, numerous banking institutions that were friendly towards crypto, such as Silvergate Bank, Signature Bank, and Silicon Valley Bank, have had to shut down due to this pressure.
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2024-12-05 21:44