Bitcoin, gold to benefit as Peter Schiff predicts ‘worst year ever’ for US dollar

Bitcoin (BTC) may get fresh support for a record-breaking year in 2021 thanks to the demise of a familiar foe: the U.S. dollar.

As various sources noted this week, the dollar is trading at almost three-year lows against various currencies and five-year lows against the Swiss franc.

Analyst: Long-term trend “clearly dollar weakness”

Weakness in the dollar tends to translate into strength for Bitcoin, and 2020 has been the year in which the U.S. dollar currency index (DXY) has become a reliable yardstick for price direction.

An inverse correlation has been palpable throughout 2020, and while Bitcoin’s relationship with DXY has broken down more recently, analysts remained convinced that the fresh lows were only good news for the cryptocurrency.

A combination of renewed hopes of global economic recovery and a new coronavirus stimulus package are the latest threats undermining the dollar. DXY hit 91.1 on Tuesday, its lowest since April 2018.

“When you get a report that a bipartisan stimulus deal can get done after hopes have been dashed, it’s just another reason to bid risk up and sell the dollar,” John Doyle, vice president of dealing and trading at Tempus, told Reuters.

Even Bitcoin skeptic Peter Schiff — as ever, fully enamored with gold — agreed with hodlers on the dollar’s fate.

“The U.S. dollar is now trading at its lowest level against the Swiss franc since Jan. of 2015,” he noted on Wednesday.

“This is a harbinger of things to come. The franc is leading the way, but other currencies will soon follow. 2021 may be the worst year ever for the U.S. dollar, at least until 2022.”

Grayscale gives accidental buy signal for gold

On the topic of gold, meanwhile, Schiff’s loyalty may soon be rewarded as the precious metal bounces back from its current lackluster performance.

Barry Silbert, the founder of cryptocurrency asset management giant Grayscale, confirmed that the firm had brought back its “Bitcoin-not-gold” advertisements this month, a move that signals the market believes that gold has bottomed, one analyst said.

“Huge BUY signal for gold traders,” macro investor Dan Tapiero responded to the news.

“Yes, Barry is a brilliant businessman, visionary bitcoiner and great guy, but not a mkts trader and not a portfolio manager. Last time he brought this ad out was May'19, days before a 30% gold rally kicked off. Likely selling the low again.”