Digital Asset Markets Plummet Amid U.S. Election Drama

Bitcoin volatility underscores market jitters over the presidential race

As U.S. election day approaches, digital asset markets are experiencing sharp fluctuations. Bitcoin (BTC) closed the past week with a modest 2.0% gain, hovering around the $69,000 mark after a brief rally that saw it peak at $73,300 on October 30th. This surge hinted at a possible breakthrough to a new all-time high above $73,800, but the rally was quickly rejected, leaving investors on edge.

The latest wave of volatility seems tied to increasing uncertainty over the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election. On October 30th, during Bitcoin’s surge, betting platform Polymarket reported that odds were favoring pro-crypto Republican candidate Donald Trump with a commanding 67% likelihood of victory. Trump’s campaign has been vocal about its intent to position the U.S. as a “Bitcoin powerhouse.” Last Tuesday, he acknowledged the 16th anniversary of Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin white paper, tweeting on X, “Would like to wish our great Bitcoiners a Happy 16th Anniversary of Satoshi’s White Paper. We will end Kamala’s war on crypto, & Bitcoin will be MADE IN THE USA! VOTE TRUMP!”

Source: X

While Trump’s pro-Bitcoin stance has clear appeal to the digital asset community, his opponent, Kamala Harris, presents a less predictable alternative. Harris has publicly committed to fostering innovation in the digital asset space but emphasizes the need for investor protection and regulatory oversight. Her campaign has actively engaged with the crypto industry, leaving some to believe a Harris administration could strike a balance between crypto growth and consumer safeguards.

With only a day left before the election, Polymarket’s odds have narrowed, showing Trump’s lead slipping. Currently, his chances stand at 56% versus Harris’ 45%. As Trump’s odds dropped over the weekend, so did BTC’s price, hitting a low of $67,500 before a modest recovery to $69,100 as of early Monday morning.

“It’s crazy how correlated bitcoin price action is to Trump’s election odds,” remarked analyst Miles Deutscher on X, capturing the sentiment of a market gripped by political tension.

Source: X

Digital asset traders will likely continue to closely monitor the election’s outcome, as it promises to shape U.S. crypto policy and the broader trajectory of the crypto market for years to come.