'Bitcoin ETF Performance Pales Next to Gold': Mike McGlone

Cover image via youtu.be Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available. Mike McGlone, a Senior Community Strategist at Bloomberg, recently shared his opinion on the performance of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), compared to gold. He questioned the narrative that spot ETFs would fuel unlimited upside for Bitcoin. Advertisement Bitcoin ETFs vs. Gold In an X post , McGlone argued that the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs is not a long-term bullish catalyst. He claimed that the ETFs appear to have capped to the upside for Bitcoin (BTC), rather than fueling endless price appreciation. He compared the performance of the Bitcoin ETFs to gold, which has outperformed as a traditional safe-haven asset. McGlone pointed out that Bitcoin has gained about 50% since the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) started trading in January 2024. This gain roughly matched the S&P 500 over the same period. In contrast, gold surged approximately 135% over the same time frame. McGlone emphasized that the Bitcoin returns have been relatively muted despite the hype around institutional adoption through the spot ETFs. Bitcoin ETF Performance Pales Next to Gold The launch of US Bitcoin ETFs may have been the harbinger for the end of broad crypto price appreciation, favoring gold. Since the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) started trading in January 2024, Bitcoin has gained about 50% to April… pic.twitter.com/1yeIbAqcPp — Mike McGlone (@mikemcglone11) April 9, 2026 Inflows into Bitcoin ETFs provided short-term price support by bringing in new institutional and retail money. However, McGlone sees this as potentially marking the top of a crypto cycle. The funds from ETF-driven buying may have been the climax of broad appreciation, after which enthusiasm waned, and capital has rotated elsewhere. As a classic nonyielding asset, gold has benefited more from macroeconomic factors. While Bitcoin has behaved more like a risk-on asset, gold has shone as a hedge during uncertainty. Is Bitcoin rally over? Amid this Bitcoin versus gold performance discussion, the BTC price is consolidating around $71,251. BTC is down approximately 45% from its 2025 peak of above $120,000. However, recent broader market optimism briefly pushed the top coin above $72,000. You Might Also Like Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:41 Binance Wallet Integrates Prediction Markets With In-App Access to On-Chain Trading By Dan Burgin On April 7, Bitcoin briefly soared to $72,767 , the highest level since March 18. BTC experienced more than 5% gains this month after recording its first green month in five consecutive months of bleeding. Following the surge, bulls predicted a rebound to the $80,000 level. Specifically, analyst Fred Krueger believes BTC could reclaim the $80,000 level as soon as this week. Shortly after this prediction, BTC failed to hold above $72,000, falling to around $71,251, as of this writing. The daily trading volume also plunged by 29.6% to $35.6 billion, indicating reduced investor interest. For now, Bitcoin is consolidating and awaiting a big update to push it higher. #Gold #Mike McGlone