A new study by Mercado Bitcoin concludes that bitcoin tends to outperform traditional safe-haven assets in the two months following major global crises. The research examined 60-day windows after significant economic or geopolitical shocks. In each period analyzed, bitcoin delivered stronger returns than both gold and the S&P 500.
The study’s author, Rony Szuster, notes that despite its well-documented volatility, bitcoin has consistently recovered after periods of crisis. Szuster also highlights that bitcoin has been the best-performing asset of the past decade. These findings position bitcoin as a potentially resilient holding during times of global uncertainty, even as its price swings remain a concern for many investors.
Gold has long been regarded as the default safe-haven asset during periods of economic or geopolitical stress, with investors traditionally turning to it when markets become unstable. The Mercado Bitcoin research challenges that convention by showing bitcoin’s post-crisis recovery has repeatedly surpassed gold’s performance over the same timeframes. The S&P 500, representing broader equity markets, also lagged behind bitcoin in each of the periods studied.
The methodology focused specifically on the 60-day period following each identified shock, offering a structured comparison across different types of crises. By standardizing the window of analysis, the study aims to provide a consistent basis for comparing asset performance under stress. This approach allows for a direct measure of how quickly and strongly each asset rebounds after a disruptive event.
The findings add to a growing body of discussion around bitcoin’s role in investment portfolios, particularly as a hedge or recovery asset during turbulent periods. While volatility remains a defining characteristic of bitcoin, the study suggests that this volatility has not prevented it from generating superior returns in the aftermath of major shocks. Investors and analysts continue to debate whether bitcoin’s performance reflects a structural shift in how markets treat the asset during crises.
Originally reported by CoinDesk.
