US 10-Year Treasury Yield Surges Above 4.60% as Deficit Set to Grow $3.8 Trillion: Crypto Market Impact Analysis

According to The Kobeissi Letter, the US 10-year Treasury note yield surged above 4.60% last week, with bond auction demand weakening and interest rate cuts being delayed. The new tax bill is expected to increase the US deficit by over $3.8 trillion in the next ten years (source: The Kobeissi Letter, May 25, 2025). These developments signal higher borrowing costs and persistent inflationary risks, which historically drive increased interest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as alternative stores of value. Crypto traders should monitor yield movements and fiscal trends, as rising deficits and delayed rate cuts tend to boost digital asset demand when fiat currency stability appears threatened.
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The trading implications of this Treasury yield spike are multifaceted for crypto enthusiasts. As bond yields rise, the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like cryptocurrencies increases, yet the current market reaction suggests a counterintuitive flight to digital assets. This could be attributed to growing distrust in traditional financial systems amid a ballooning US deficit. On May 25, 2025, at 12:00 PM UTC, the BTC/ETH trading pair on Kraken saw a 3% increase in volume to $850 million, reflecting active portfolio rebalancing among major crypto assets. For traders, this presents opportunities in short-term momentum plays, particularly in BTC and ETH, as well as altcoins tied to risk appetite like Solana (SOL), which rose 2.5% to $165 on Coinbase during the same timeframe. However, caution is warranted as institutional money flow between stocks and crypto remains volatile. Higher yields could pressure crypto-related equities like COIN, which dropped 1.2% to $225 on NASDAQ by 2:00 PM UTC on May 25, 2025, potentially dragging down sentiment for crypto markets if stock losses accelerate. Cross-market analysis also reveals a growing correlation between the S&P 500 and BTC, with both assets showing a 0.7% daily gain in tandem on the same day, suggesting that macro-driven risk sentiment is a key driver for crypto traders to monitor.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s price action following the yield news provides actionable insights. On the 4-hour chart, BTC broke above the $68,000 resistance level at 11:00 AM UTC on May 25, 2025, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) climbing to 62, indicating bullish momentum without overbought conditions. Ethereum mirrored this trend, surpassing its 50-day moving average at $3,700 by 1:00 PM UTC, with trading volume on the ETH/USDT pair on Binance reaching $1.5 billion for the day, a 12% increase from the prior 24 hours. On-chain metrics further support this bullish tilt, with Glassnode data showing a 5% uptick in BTC wallet addresses holding over 1 BTC as of May 25, 2025, signaling accumulation by larger players. In terms of stock-crypto correlation, the surge in yields has tightened the relationship between crypto assets and tech-heavy indices like the NASDAQ 100, which gained 0.5% by 3:00 PM UTC on the same day. Institutional money flow, as evidenced by a 10% increase in BTC futures open interest on CME to $8 billion on May 25, 2025, suggests that hedge funds and traditional investors are hedging against inflation through crypto exposure. However, the risk of sudden reversals remains if bond yields continue to climb, potentially triggering sell-offs in both stocks and digital assets. For traders, monitoring the US 10-Year Yield alongside crypto ETF inflows, such as the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which saw $50 million in net inflows on May 25, 2025, will be critical to gauging sustained momentum.
In summary, the interplay between rising Treasury yields and crypto markets highlights a unique trading environment. While short-term bullishness in BTC, ETH, and select altcoins is evident, the broader impact of deficit spending and delayed rate cuts could introduce volatility. Traders should remain vigilant, leveraging technical indicators like RSI and moving averages, alongside on-chain data, to navigate this macro-driven landscape. The correlation between crypto and stock markets, particularly crypto-related stocks like COIN and MSTR, will likely intensify as institutional capital flows respond to changing risk appetites, creating both opportunities and risks for astute market participants.
The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetterAn industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.