Bitcoin has shifted to an independent mode: separation from traditional assets gains momentum

Recent data confirm a significant change in Bitcoin’s behavior in the market. The flagship asset of the cryptocurrency world is no longer trading in parallel with tech stocks and gold. Instead of moving synchronously with Nasdaq and traditional inflation hedges, BTC is forming its own price dynamics driven by internal market factors.

New Correlation Signals: What They Mean

Analytical studies show that Bitcoin demonstrates almost zero correlation with the Nasdaq index and a negative correlation with gold. This is a radical departure from previous market cycles when Bitcoin moved in sync with these assets. The current decoupling signals a fundamental transformation of the cryptocurrency’s status in the financial market.

Correlation measures the degree of synchronization of price movements between assets. When the coefficient is close to zero, assets move independently of each other. In the case of Bitcoin and Nasdaq, this means that growth in the tech sector no longer automatically drags BTC upward. The negative correlation with gold indicates that Bitcoin has moved away from its traditional role as an inflation hedge and has become a separate asset class.

What Factors Influence Bitcoin’s Price

Instead, Bitcoin now moves under the influence of specific factors. The main drivers of its price dynamics include:

• ETF Flows: Inflows into Bitcoin ETFs and their outflows significantly impact supply and demand • Miner Behavior: Decisions to accumulate or sell mined BTC affect the network’s supply • On-chain Metrics: Coin distribution, address activity, and large holder movements (whales) determine capital distribution • Liquidity Conditions: Overall market conditions and the availability of borrowed funds • Geopolitical Factors: Regulatory decisions and macroeconomic situation

This set of factors creates a unique market regime where Bitcoin acts as an independent asset rather than a derivative of traditional financial instruments.

Price and Current Market Status

As of January 12, 2026, Bitcoin is trading at $90.67K with variable dynamics. The trading volume was $763.33M over the last 24 hours, indicating active trading activity in the market. Price fluctuations suggest the market is in a consolidation phase ahead of a potential breakout.

Previous attempts by the asset to rise above defined support levels faced resistance, which may be related to cautious investor sentiment. However, Bitcoin’s decoupling from traditional assets lays the foundation for forming an independent bullish cycle.

What Decoupling Means for the Future

Market experts interpret this process as a sign of the cryptocurrency market maturing. When an asset shows a negative correlation with major financial indices, it often signals proximity to a price bottom and the potential approach of the next bullish phase.

Bitcoin’s separation from Nasdaq and gold indicates that the market recognizes the uniqueness of this asset. BTC is no longer viewed as a risky component of a tech portfolio or as an alternative to traditional inflation protections. Instead, it occupies a separate niche in the investment world.

Market observers suggest that 2026 could become a turning point for Bitcoin if this trend of independence continues. The final verification of this hypothesis will depend on how sustainable this decoupling proves to be and whether the asset can maintain its unique development trajectory.