Laurens Fraussen: Bitcoin outperforms gold as a high beta tech stock, liquidity drop fuels volatility, and open interest stabilization signals potential recovery | Unchained

Bitcoin's market volatility rises as liquidity drops, challenging its status as a safe haven asset.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Mar. 23, 2026

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin is outperforming gold, reflecting its growing appeal as an investment.
• Market liquidity for Bitcoin has decreased, leading to increased price volatility.
• Stabilization of open interest in the futures market has helped reverse Bitcoin’s price trend.
• Bitcoin is currently seen more as a high beta tech stock than an inflation hedge.
• Investor confidence in Bitcoin needs rebuilding for it to be considered a safe haven asset.
• Coinbase flows significantly influence Bitcoin prices, indicating its market dependency.
• A recovery in open interest could signal a potential upward movement in the Bitcoin market.
• Significant market activity around Bitcoin options highlights critical events affecting trading strategies.
• Market sentiment is strong, with bets on Bitcoin reaching $100k or dropping to $40k-$50k.
• The crypto market is shifting towards application-centric chains for stablecoin payments and DeFi.
• Bitcoin’s current market role contrasts its perceived function as an inflation hedge.
• Understanding liquidity and volatility is crucial for grasping current market conditions.
• The relationship between open interest and market trends is vital for predicting price movements.
• Options expiry and max pain are critical events that could influence crypto trading strategies.
• The evolution towards application-centric chains marks a significant trend in the crypto industry.

Guest intro

Laurens Fraussen is a Research Analyst at Kaiko. He authors weekly Data Debriefs analyzing Bitcoin price action amid geopolitical shocks, liquidity trends, and traditional assets moving to crypto rails. His insights cover market corrections like Bitcoin’s drop from $88,000 on tariff volatility and ranging between $60k-$72k post-February sell-off.

Bitcoin’s performance compared to gold

• Bitcoin has been outperforming gold recently. “Currently, I would say that BTC has been outperforming gold purely because gold has had a rally earlier in the year whereas now it’s leveling out a bit comparatively speaking.” – Laurens Fraussen
• This performance comparison is significant for investment strategies, highlighting Bitcoin’s growing appeal.
• The market dynamics between Bitcoin and gold are shifting, with Bitcoin gaining traction.
• Bitcoin’s recent performance may attract more investors looking for alternative assets.
• The outperformance of Bitcoin suggests a changing perception of digital assets in the investment community.
• Investors may view Bitcoin as a more dynamic asset compared to traditional commodities like gold.
• Bitcoin’s volatility and potential for high returns make it an attractive option for risk-tolerant investors.
• The comparison with gold underscores Bitcoin’s potential as a store of value in the digital age.

Impact of liquidity on Bitcoin’s volatility

• Liquidity in the Bitcoin market has significantly decreased, leading to increased volatility. “We can see is that since October 10, liquidity has dropped from 25,000,000 on average at 1% from the mid-price to 15,000,000 on average.” – Laurens Fraussen
• The drop in liquidity has resulted in more volatile price movements in recent months.
• Understanding market liquidity is crucial for assessing price volatility in crypto markets.
• Reduced liquidity can lead to larger price swings, affecting trading strategies.
• Traders need to be aware of liquidity conditions to manage risk effectively.
• The relationship between liquidity and volatility highlights the importance of market depth.
• Investors should consider liquidity factors when entering or exiting positions in Bitcoin.
• Market participants must adapt to changing liquidity conditions to navigate volatility.

Role of open interest in Bitcoin’s price trend

• Stabilization of open interest in the futures market contributed to a reversal in Bitcoin’s price trend. “When we bottomed early February, we saw open interest finally stabilizing in the burps market.” – Laurens Fraussen
• The stabilization of open interest helped stop the previous bleeding in Bitcoin’s price.
• Understanding the dynamics of the futures market is key to analyzing price movements.
• Open interest trends can provide insights into market sentiment and potential price directions.
• Traders should monitor open interest levels to anticipate shifts in market trends.
• The relationship between open interest and price behavior is a critical factor for market analysis.
• A recovery in open interest could signal a potential upward movement in the Bitcoin market.
• Open interest stabilization reflects changing market conditions and investor sentiment.

Bitcoin’s current role as a tech stock

• Bitcoin is functioning more as a high beta tech stock rather than an inflation hedge. “Right now, it’s more functioning as a high beta tech stock rather than an inflation hedge.” – Laurens Fraussen
• This assessment highlights Bitcoin’s evolving role in the market as an asset class.
• Investors may be viewing Bitcoin as a growth asset rather than a defensive one.
• The perception of Bitcoin as a tech stock aligns with its volatility and growth potential.
• Bitcoin’s current market role contrasts its perceived function as an inflation hedge.
• The tech stock analogy underscores Bitcoin’s appeal to speculative investors seeking high returns.
• Understanding Bitcoin’s market role is crucial for aligning investment strategies with risk profiles.
• The shift in perception may influence how institutional investors approach Bitcoin investments.

Rebuilding investor confidence in Bitcoin

• Bitcoin needs time to rebuild investor confidence before it can be considered a safe haven asset. “That’s gonna need time to rebuild that investor confidence.” – Laurens Fraussen
• Investor confidence is crucial for Bitcoin to regain its status as a safe haven asset.
• The decline in market depth and volumes reflects the current lack of confidence in Bitcoin.
• Rebuilding confidence requires addressing market conditions and investor sentiment.
• Investors may be cautious about Bitcoin until confidence is restored.
• The process of rebuilding confidence may take time, affecting short-term market behavior.
• Understanding investor sentiment is key to predicting future market trends.
• Confidence rebuilding is essential for Bitcoin to attract long-term institutional investors.

Influence of Coinbase flows on Bitcoin prices

• The market is currently dependent on Coinbase flows, which significantly influence Bitcoin prices. “We are still very dependent on Coinbase flows.” – Laurens Fraussen
• Coinbase’s market activity plays a critical role in Bitcoin price movements.
• The Coinbase premium can indicate potential price changes in the Bitcoin market.
• Traders should monitor Coinbase flows to anticipate price fluctuations.
• Understanding the role of exchanges like Coinbase is crucial for market analysis.
• The dependency on Coinbase highlights the centralized influence of major exchanges.
• Market participants need to consider exchange activity when developing trading strategies.
• The relationship between exchange flows and price movements is a key factor for traders.

Potential market shift based on open interest trends

• A recovery in open interest could signal a potential upward movement in the market. “That also needs to recover for us to signal okay hey we’re recovering here.” – Laurens Fraussen
• Open interest trends can provide early indicators of market recovery or shifts.
• Traders should watch for changes in open interest as potential signals for price movements.
• The recovery of open interest may align with broader market trends and sentiment.
• Understanding open interest dynamics is crucial for anticipating market direction.
• A potential upward movement based on open interest trends could attract more investors.
• Monitoring open interest levels can help traders position themselves for market changes.
• Open interest recovery reflects changing market sentiment and potential for growth.

Significant market activity around Bitcoin options

• There is significant market activity around Bitcoin options, with a notable $2 billion expiry. “There’s a 2,000,000,000 options expiry tomorrow.” – Laurens Fraussen
• The options expiry is a critical event that could influence trading strategies and price movements.
• Understanding options expiry and max pain is crucial for crypto traders.
• The max pain point at $70 indicates potential price pressure around this level.
• Options trading reflects market sentiment and expectations for future price movements.
• Traders should monitor options activity to anticipate potential volatility.
• The large options expiry highlights the importance of derivatives in the crypto market.
• Market participants need to be aware of options dynamics to manage risk effectively.

Market sentiment and Bitcoin’s future price expectations

• There is a strong sentiment in the market with many betting on Bitcoin reaching $100k. “We can see a lot of people are still betting on BTC going to 100k.” – Laurens Fraussen
• Market sentiment reflects bullish expectations for Bitcoin’s future price.
• The December options expiry is an interesting event to watch for price predictions.
• Traders should consider market sentiment when developing their strategies.
• The potential for Bitcoin to reach $100k indicates high expectations for growth.
• Understanding market sentiment is crucial for predicting price movements and volatility.
• The strong sentiment highlights the speculative nature of the crypto market.
• Investors should be aware of sentiment-driven price movements and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Shift towards application-centric chains in the crypto market

• The crypto market is shifting towards building application-centric chains focused on stablecoin payments and DeFi. “They’re now more focusing on building an app-centric chain.” – Laurens Fraussen
• This shift marks a significant trend in the industry towards practical applications.
• Application-centric chains reflect the integration of blockchain technology with traditional finance.
• The focus on stablecoin payments and DeFi indicates a move towards financial innovation.
• Understanding the evolution of blockchain technology is crucial for assessing market trends.
• The shift towards application-centric chains highlights the potential for new use cases.
• Market participants should be aware of these developments to identify investment opportunities.
• The focus on practical applications may drive further adoption of blockchain technology.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.