- Bitcoin demand has turned negative for the first time since September 2024, with CryptoQuant’s metric showing a -142 reading on March 13, 2025.
- Macroeconomic uncertainty, including trade war fears and inflation concerns, has driven investors away from crypto into safe haven assets.
- Crypto ETFs have seen four consecutive weeks of outflows totaling $4.75 billion, with Bitcoin dropping 22% from its high of $109,000.
Bitcoin demand has plummeted to negative territory for the first time in 2025, indicating a significant shift in investor sentiment amid growing macroeconomic concerns. According to CryptoQuant’s Bitcoin Apparent Demand metric, demand fell to -142 on March 13, marking the lowest level this year and a stark reversal from the positive trajectory maintained since September 2024.
The metric, which had remained positive through December 2024’s peak and into early March 2025, has experienced a steady decline as market participants exercise increasing caution toward risk assets. This downward trend coincides with escalating global economic tensions and persistent inflation concerns.
Several factors are driving investors toward safer assets like cash and government securities. A potentially extended trade war, heightened geopolitical tensions, and inflation figures that remain above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target—despite showing signs of cooling—have all contributed to the risk-averse market sentiment.
## Market Downturn Following Political Developments
The initial enthusiasm following election results has significantly waned after the White House Crypto Summit on March 7, as investors confront economic realities and the complexities of policy implementation. Even the March 12 release of lower-than-anticipated CPI inflation data failed to bolster Bitcoin prices, which instead declined following the announcement.
Institutional investment has also retreated, with crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experiencing four consecutive weeks of outflows starting in February. According to CoinShares, these outflows reached $4.75 billion over the period, with Bitcoin investment vehicles specifically seeing $756 million in month-to-date outflows.
## Broader Crypto Market Impact
The deteriorating market sentiment and recession fears have triggered widespread selling pressure across cryptocurrencies. Since January 20, the Total3 Market Cap—a measure of total cryptocurrency market capitalization excluding Ethereum and Bitcoin—has contracted by more than 27%, dropping from over $1.1 trillion to approximately $795 billion.
Bitcoin itself has not been spared, declining more than 22% from its peak above $109,000. Technical indicators show Bitcoin trading below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) since March 9, with periodic dips below this threshold observed throughout February.
The cryptocurrency’s Average True Range (ATR)—a volatility indicator—currently exceeds 5,035, signaling substantial price fluctuations as the market processes macroeconomic developments. Crypto analyst Matthew Hyland recently argued that Bitcoin needs to close at $89,000 or higher on weekly charts to avoid a potential correction to $69,000 levels.
Despite the current market challenges, this downturn follows historical patterns of cryptocurrency volatility. The apparent demand metric provides valuable insight into investor behavior during periods of uncertainty, as market participants reassess risk exposure amid broader economic concerns.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
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