What a US government shutdown would do to Bitcoin

Marcel Pechman explains the myth of excess cash in U.S. households and the lack of sufficient savings, and how a U.S. government shutdown could impact Bitcoin. On the latest episode of Macro Markets, analyst Marcel Pechman examines the current state of the American economy. He references a headline from Barron’s that highlights the disparity between people’s perception of the economy and the objective data.

Pechman delves into the concept of excess savings, agreeing with Barron’s that a significant portion of the United States population lacks sufficient savings for retirement, potentially necessitating longer working years. He notes that household wealth in the U.S. has reached new heights, primarily due to surges in equities and real estate assets. 

Shifting his focus, Pechman discusses rising concerns among U.S. consumers about increasing prices, particularly the cost of filling up their vehicles with gasoline. He connects this to the recent surge in U.S. crude futures, influenced by Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend output curbs. 

Persistent macro headwinds could delay Bitcoin bull market — ARK Invest

Several macroeconomic indicators suggest that bearish headwinds could strengthen during the remainder of 2023 and possibly negatively impact the crypto market. It's been a whipsaw 2023 for investor sentiment, and even though equities markets have defied expectations, a recent report from ARK Invest highlights reasons why the remainder of 2023 could present several economic challenges. 

ARK manages $13.9 billion in assets, and its CEO, Cathie Wood, is a strong advocate for cryptocurrencies. In partnership with the European asset manager 21Shares, ARK Investment first applied for a Bitcoin 

BTC

$26,595 exchange-traded fund (ETF) in June 2021. Its most recent request for a spot BTC ETF, which is currently pending review by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, was initially filed in May 2023.