Is crypto still a safe haven? Or is it just Digital Wall Street 2.0?

After the recent conflict in the Middle East, the markets reacted predictably:

capital fled to the dollar,

to U.S. bonds,

to gold.

And Bitcoin?

Instead of an increase - a decrease, a sell-off, a correction. Where has the 'digital gold' narrative gone?

Once, Bitcoin was meant to be an escape from central banks, inflation, and politics.

Today - it is dependent on the Wall Street narrative, ETFs, and funds from BlackRock. Who controls the market now?

BTC ETFs are in the hands of entities like BlackRock, Fidelity, Ark Invest.

Major exchanges (Binance, Coinbase) are monitored by states and regulatory institutions.

The altcoin market is ruled by VC (venture capital) trends that pump and dump rather than build.

Is this still a free market? The geopolitical reality has changed.

After 2022, capital no longer flees to crypto with every conflict.

War, sanctions, tensions (Middle East, Asia, Ukraine) no longer drive BTC growth like they used to. Even stablecoins like USDT are becoming more controlled and frozen (Tether's cooperation with law enforcement).

Does crypto still protect capital?

Yes - if we are talking about the long term, outside the system, on your own cold wallet.

No - if you hold funds on CEX, in ETFs, or think it’s a hedge for every situation.

Crypto ceased to be "anti-systemic" when the system began investing in it.

How much of the Cypherpunk spirit remains?

What’s next? Three possible scenarios:

1. Full integration with traditional markets - BTC as digital gold, but regulated, with KYC and tax.

2. Return to the roots - increased interest in private coins (XMR, DERO, Firo), P2P, cold wallets.

3. Fragmentation - different financial zones: in BRICS, for example, only national tokens, in the West ETFs and CBDCs.

Conclusion:

Crypto no longer always protects capital. But it can, Leave a comment - do you think BTC is still an alternative, or just Digital Wall Street now?