Bitcoin Dominance Surges to 4-Year High Ahead of FOMC Meeting, Analysts Expect Volatility Surge

Bitcoin (BTC) dominance has surged to its highest level in four years, as the market braces for potential volatility following the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

Bitcoin’s dominance of the cryptocurrency market has climbed sharply, reaching a four-year peak as traders await crucial developments from the FOMC meeting on May 7. The price of Bitcoin has remained stable within the $94,000-$95,000 range, showing a slight 0.4% increase in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, altcoins have seen a decline. The CoinDesk 20 Index dropped by 0.7%, driven by notable losses in cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH), Aptos (APT), and Sui (SUI). As a result, a growing share of market capital is flowing into Bitcoin, which is increasingly viewed as a safe haven in a period of financial uncertainty.

The broader financial markets also exhibited weakness, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both falling by 0.7%-0.8%, underlining the appeal of Bitcoin as an alternative asset. The ongoing strength of Bitcoin, despite broader market pressures, has driven its dominance to over 65%, its highest since January 2021.

Joel Kruger, a strategist at LMAX Group, emphasized that the cryptocurrency market is in a state of waiting. “The market is largely stagnant as investors position themselves ahead of the FOMC meeting,” he said. “While Bitcoin has been resilient, it remains vulnerable to the shifts in market sentiment that will follow the Fed’s decision.”

Volatility Expected as FOMC Meeting Approaches

Vetle Lunde, Head of Research at K33, noted that Bitcoin’s recent period of low volatility is likely to end with a sharp price move. “The 7-day volatility of Bitcoin is at its lowest in over a year,” he explained. “This lull typically precedes significant price movements as market conditions change.”

Lunde believes that the current period of low volatility is setting the stage for heightened market action, which may come after the FOMC meeting. However, while the price could see volatility in either direction, Lunde suggested that the conditions also present a good opportunity for long-term investors to build spot positions in anticipation of future price increases.