Listen to this articleThe outcome of US legislation is expected to drive the crypto market this year. Recent flare-ups in the Middle East, particularly tensions involving the US and Iran, have pushed gold prices sharply higher, while digital assets have come under renewed selling pressure. Despite long-standing narratives framing Bitcoin as "digital gold", price behaviour suggests otherwise in the current environment, said Thanalop Preedamanoch, fund manager at Merkle Capital. Two US bills, the Clarity Act and the Genius Act, could determine the market direction in the coming months, said Mr Thanalop. As of Jan 29, gold significantly outperformed Bitcoin, with prices soaring by 15.1% to around US$5,600 per ounce.

Source: Bangkok Post February 01, 2026 23:06 UTC