- Dan Tapiero predicts that Bitcoin will thrive in the United States, contrasting its growing potential with China’s surge in gold trading driven by economic uncertainty and regulatory restrictions on cryptocurrency.
- While gold remains the primary store of value in China, Tapiero believes Bitcoin is still in its early stages globally, with the U.S. poised to lead the way in its adoption and growth.
The emergence of Gold posed a big threat to traditional financial systems including Gold. With the two assets co-habiting this vast financial world, Bitcoin and gold have long been considered safe-haven assets in times of economic uncertainty.
However, the dynamics surrounding these two assets are shifting, as evidenced by a significant surge in gold trading activity in China, coupled with a bullish outlook on Bitcoin in the United States.
Renowned investor and founder of Gold Bullion International, Dan Tapiero, recently shared his insights on these trends, highlighting the unique position of Bitcoin in the U.S. and the growing gold demand in China.
Tapiero’s analysis is supported by a chart from a leading news outlet, which reveals a sharp increase in gold trading volumes in Mainland China. At the start of 2024, trading volumes reached an impressive 20 million ounces, a stark contrast to the modest 10 million ounces traded in 2016 and the years that followed.
This surge represents a dramatic shift in the gold market, reflecting not only rising prices but also changing investment preferences in the region.
The World Gold Council’s recent report further underscores this trend, noting a boom in retail investment demand for gold in China, despite a 36% year-over-year decline in overall demand for the precious metal.
This has been particularly true in the first quarter of 2024, where the demand for gold in China was estimated at 336 tons. While jewelry demand weakened, strong inflows into Chinese gold ETFs played a key role in boosting overall gold trading activity.
A significant factor driving this surge in demand is the economic uncertainty stemming from geopolitical tensions, especially between China and the U.S. In early 2025, the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs, including a 145% tariff on Chinese products.
As a result, both the U.S. and China have seen heightened economic instability, which has driven investors towards traditional safe-haven assets like gold. By early April 2025, the price of gold had surged to an all-time high of $3,500 per ounce.
However, Tapiero draws an important distinction between gold and Bitcoin in his commentary. He argues that Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold,” has yet to reach its full potential, particularly in countries like China, where the cryptocurrency has been banned since 2021.
Tapiero points out that, due to the ban, Chinese investors have been left with gold as the only viable alternative for storing value. This presents a unique opportunity for Bitcoin in the long run, as the global cryptocurrency market remains in its early stages, particularly in regions like China and Europe, where the regulatory environment is still hostile to BTC.
In contrast, Tapiero sees the United States as a “beacon of freedom” for Bitcoin. The U.S. has become the “crypto capital of the world,” offering a favorable regulatory environment that has allowed the Bitcoin market to thrive. Recent developments, such as the launch of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, have further cemented the U.S.’s role in shaping the future of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments.
BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF attracted nearly $1 billion worth of inflows in just one day, a testament to the growing interest in Bitcoin in the U.S.
Meanwhile, BTC is swapping hands with $94,902.26 after a 0.13% surge in the past 24 hours.