Jim Cramer Favors Gold as 24-hour Crypto Liquidations hit $1 billion

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience navigating the turbulent waters of global financial markets, I find myself cautiously optimistic when it comes to Jim Cramer’s recent advice regarding Bitcoin and gold. Having witnessed numerous market cycles, I can attest that his advice is grounded in a solid understanding of macroeconomic trends and market psychology.


Jim Cramer, who hosts Mad Money on CNBC, advises investors to exercise caution amidst the ongoing crypto market slump. According to him, gold might outperform Bitcoin as a more reliable inflation protector, since he predicts that Bitcoin could see a temporary surge followed by a continuation of its downward trend.

Why Is Bitcoin Crashing and Jim Cramer’s Take

Over the weekend, various financial markets, such as cryptocurrencies, experienced ongoing declines due to concerns about an impending recession in the U.S., deteriorating Japan carry trades, and massive liquidations in the crypto derivatives market surpassing $1 billion on Coinglass. In simpler terms, the weekend saw a continuous drop in multiple markets, including cryptocurrencies, fueled by worries about a potential economic downturn in the U.S., worsening investment strategies known as Japan carry trades, and an enormous sell-off in crypto derivative contracts exceeding $1 billion on Coinglass.

A carry trade allows investors to profit from price discrepancies between markets such as the US and Japan.

At first, what seemed like a simple chance to make money (arbitrage opportunity) turned into a major market turmoil, causing stocks in both the U.S. and Japan to be sold off at the same time. As fear of risk increased, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced massive selling, leading to a steep 18% drop in price, falling below $50,000.

Despite Bitcoin rebounding to trade at $51,284 on Monday, Jim Cramer expressed skepticism about a substantial recovery. He suggested that purchasing at the dip and anticipating an increase in BTC‘s value could potentially pay off.

A persistent push to sell can lead to misleading justifications for the act of selling. Reminds me of strategic selling from Japan’s market. However, if one is investing based on a rebound, it might just be temporary, as I remind my CNBC Investing Club members.

— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) August 5, 2024

In essence, while Bitcoin is often referred to as “digital gold,” Jim Cramer maintains that gold itself is a more reliable asset because it has withstood market fluctuations better than cryptocurrencies. After reaching a peak of $2,483 per ounce in July, gold experienced a sudden drop, finding stability at the $2,360 support level. This dip attracted buyers who were eager to sustain gold’s growth; however, the upward trend was interrupted at $2,374.

Gold’s value decreased by 3%, dropping from approximately $2,408 to $2,375, over the period of July 31 to August 5, due to a combination of several significant factors such as adjustments in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy on interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations between Japanese and US financial markets (known as carry trades), and heightened geopolitical conflicts.

Jim Cramer Favors Gold as 24-hour Crypto Liquidations hit $1 billion

However, an earlier Bitcoin price prediction suggested a drop of 24% for the leading cryptocurrency, trading at around $50,182 by Monday.

Despite occasional significant drops in price, events like this are not uncommon for Bitcoin and gold. For instance, following the 2020 unexpected market incident, Bitcoin plummeted by 45%, but quickly rebounded, resulting in a profitable year for investors and triggering a bull run in 2021.

Gold prices experienced a significant downturn, dipping nearly 15% to around $1,450 per ounce due to market volatility and sell-offs. However, it staged a remarkable comeback in August 2020, reaching a peak of approximately $2,075 per ounce.

Bitcoin vs Gold: Which is a Better Inflation Hedge?

History demonstrates that Bitcoin and gold can experience significant drops during black swan events, which are expected given their past behavior. However, it’s worth noting that both assets have a tendency to rebound and reach new peaks following major corrections. Traditional investors might prefer gold as a safer bet, while Bitcoin still appeals to unconventional traders due to its allure.

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2024-08-05 16:34