Small Bitcoin Allocations Can Outperform Gold
Also Neutral ETF Flows Point to Bitcoin Consolidation & Inflation Is Cooling
Welcome to Ecoinometrics' Friday edition.
Each week, we analyze the three most critical market signals impacting Bitcoin and macro assets, delivering institutional-grade insights through data-driven charts and analysis.
Today we'll cover:
Small Bitcoin Allocations Can Outperform Gold
Neutral ETF Flows Point to Bitcoin Consolidation
Inflation Is Cooling
While each chart tells a different story, they all converge on a common theme: the market is entering a phase where positioning matters more than momentum. Volatility is cooling, flows are flattening, and inflation is retreating, but the long-term forces driving Bitcoin’s appeal remain in place.
In case you missed it, here are the other topics we covered this week:
Essential Decision-Making Tools
Bitcoin Market Monitor - Key Drivers in Five Charts:
Bitcoin Market Forecast - Probability Scenarios & Risk Metrics:
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Small Bitcoin Allocations Can Outperform Gold in Improving Portfolio Risk-Return
On Monday, we looked at how adding Bitcoin to a traditional stock-and-bond portfolio changes the volatility profile.
If you missed it, you can check that out for more context.
Today, I want to focus on what happens to risk-adjusted returns (specifically the Sortino ratio) when you add just a small amount of Bitcoin to a standard portfolio.
Let’s look at the past 12 months and compare four simple strategies:
A portfolio holding only U.S. equities (SPY)
A 60/40 mix of SPY and bonds
A 60/30/10 mix: SPY, bonds, and 10% gold
A 60/30/10 mix: SPY, bonds, and 10% Bitcoin
Here’s what you find:
The 60/40 portfolio actually underperforms the SPY-only portfolio on a risk-adjusted basis.
Replacing 10% of bonds with gold improves the Sortino ratio by 51%.
Replacing 10% of bonds with Bitcoin improves the Sortino ratio by 90%.
So even a small allocation to Bitcoin can make a big difference.
Skeptics often worry that Bitcoin’s volatility makes it unfit for portfolios. But the data says otherwise. At modest allocations, Bitcoin doesn’t dominate portfolio risk, it enhances return efficiency. That’s the definition of a capital-efficient diversifier.
We’re showing results over the last 12 months here, but this kind of outcome is not a one-off. Over a long enough horizon, a modest Bitcoin allocation has consistently added asymmetric upside.

Neutral ETF Flows Point to Bitcoin Consolidation
Bitcoin ETF flows have turned mixed since the start of June. Last week saw net outflows and no meaningful buying days. The trend suggests we’re slipping back into a more neutral flow regime.
That’s exactly what we flagged as the most likely scenario at the start of the month.
If this pattern holds, ETF flows are likely to stabilize between 25K and 35K BTC over a rolling 30-day window.
This matters, because ETF flows and price are tightly linked. Our ETF flows-to-price model shows that while positive flows support current prices, sustained growth requires stronger flows, historically around 60K BTC over 30 days.
Right now, we’re about halfway below that level. According to the model, this points to a price range between $98K and $116K. That’s enough to sustain current levels and allow for some upside, but more consistent with a consolidation phase.
Recent price action fits neatly within that range.
It’s important to note: flows don’t need to be negative to create headwinds. Even neutral flows can stall momentum if they sit below the breakout threshold. That’s the kind of environment we’re likely in right now, one where conviction is capped and buyers are waiting for a signal.
We update this every day with the new flow data in the Bitcoin Market Monitor to adjust our tactical view.

Inflation Is Cooling, and Tariffs Aren’t Getting in the Way Yet
U.S. inflation has been trending lower for two years now, but slowly.
It’s not a smooth path. Core and headline CPI have both shown volatility, with periods of plateau and occasional bumps. If you focus on any single stretch, the trend isn’t always clear.
But step back and look at the broader arc, and the picture sharpens: a slow but steady downtrend pointing toward the Fed’s 2% target.
At the current pace, it could still take another year to reach that goal. But the direction is intact. If nothing structural changes, the Fed can begin charting a path to end the tightening cycle for good.
That’s where tariffs come in. Those could trigger structural changes.
There’s been concern that renewed trade barriers could reignite inflation. But so far, the data doesn’t support that. There’s no measurable upward pressure from tariffs in the latest CPI prints.
That could change, but the early signs suggest the inflation impact may be more muted than feared.
Longer term, the more significant risk is fiscal.
The U.S. continues to run large deficits, and the federal debt keeps climbing. That raises the odds of dollar debasement over time, especially in a world where rate cuts eventually resume and real yields turn negative again.
This is the kind of macro setup where Bitcoin thrives: monetary policy converging toward looser conditions while structural debt issues remain unresolved. The inflation scare might be fading, but the case for hard assets isn’t.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Nick
P.S. Every week, our team conducts extensive research analyzing market data, tracking emerging trends, and creating professional-grade charts and analysis.
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