In the world of crypto, most assets move in sync with Bitcoin. But some altcoins don’t follow this pattern — they often move in the opposite direction. These altcoins are negatively correlated with Bitcoin. In this article, we’ll dive into why this happens and which altcoins fit this description.

Source: vecteezy.com 

How Does Bitcoin Influence Altcoin Prices?

Negative correlation happens when two assets act differently. If one rises, the other falls. In crypto, this is rare but important. 

Most cryptocurrencies follow Bitcoin’s price. Here’s what usually happens:

• When Bitcoin rises, many other coins rise too.
• When Bitcoin falls, many coins fall as well.

But some altcoins don’t follow this pattern. They behave differently:

• When Bitcoin rises, these altcoins might fall.
• When Bitcoin falls, these altcoins might rise.

This gives investors a unique chance to manage risk. These altcoins help balance out losses. Here’s how:

• If Bitcoin drops, negatively correlated altcoins might rise.
• If Bitcoin rises, these altcoins could fall.

This strategy is called hedging. Hedging helps protect your money from big market swings. It’s like having a safety net for your investments. Here’s why it’s useful:

• Balances losses: If one asset drops, another rises.
• Lowers risks: It keeps your portfolio safer.

For example, if Bitcoin falls by 20%, a negatively correlated altcoin might rise by 10%. This keeps your portfolio balanced and protected from huge losses. Learning about these altcoins helps make smarter investment choices.

Top Altcoins Negatively Correlated with Bitcoin

Here are some more altcoins that often move opposite to Bitcoin. These coins help investors when Bitcoin becomes unpredictable. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Monero (XMR)
Monero is all about privacy. It hides transaction details, so people use it when they want to stay private. Monero’s price can rise even when Bitcoin drops. For example, in 2023, when Bitcoin fell by 15%, Monero increased by 20%. Its privacy features make Monero a valuable choice for those who want to keep their activity hidden.

Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum powers decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. These technologies are in high demand, keeping Ethereum strong. In 2023, when Bitcoin fell, Ethereum rose by 10%. Developers are always building new projects on Ethereum. With over 3,500 dApps by 2024, Ethereum’s use is growing fast, making it a solid pick.

Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink connects blockchains to real-world data with “oracles.” This technology is crucial for decentralized finance (DeFi). Chainlink’s price often rises when Bitcoin struggles. In 2023, while Bitcoin dropped, Chainlink increased by 25%. As of 2024, Chainlink is used by over 100 blockchains, making it a strong investment.

Maker (MKR)
Maker is a key player in the DeFi world. It allows people to borrow and lend cryptocurrency without banks. When Bitcoin falls, people often turn to DeFi platforms like Maker. This makes Maker’s price rise when Bitcoin drops. In 2023, Maker’s price went up by 12% while Bitcoin fell. As DeFi continues to grow in 2024, Maker remains strong.

Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash is another privacy-focused coin, like Monero. It hides transaction details, making it useful for private transactions. When Bitcoin falls, many people move to Zcash for privacy. In 2023, Zcash’s price rose when Bitcoin dropped. By 2024, Zcash remains popular among those who value privacy.

Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin is often called the silver to Bitcoin’s gold. It’s known for its fast transactions and lower fees. Litecoin doesn’t always follow Bitcoin’s price movements. In 2023, when Bitcoin fell, Litecoin stayed stable. This makes it a good option for diversifying a portfolio.

Stellar (XLM)
Stellar focuses on global payments, helping people transfer money across borders quickly. Its focus on real-world use cases helps it move independently of Bitcoin. In 2023, Stellar’s price went up, even as Bitcoin struggled. With more partnerships in 2024, Stellar’s role in global payments keeps growing.

Tezos (XTZ)
Tezos is a blockchain for smart contracts and decentralized applications. It’s known for its ability to upgrade itself without hard forks. In 2023, while Bitcoin dropped, Tezos saw growth due to its unique governance features. This makes it attractive for investors looking for long-term projects.

Cosmos (ATOM)
Cosmos aims to connect different blockchains, helping them communicate with each other. This unique technology makes Cosmos a strong contender in the altcoin world. In 2023, while Bitcoin struggled, Cosmos stayed strong, rising by 15%. Its ability to connect different blockchains helps it remain in demand.

Factors Influencing Bitcoin-Altcoin Correlations

Several factors can influence whether altcoins follow Bitcoin or move separately. Let’s explore these:

Market Sentiment

• Positive: Bitcoin rises, and so do altcoins.
• Negative: Traders leave Bitcoin for safer altcoins like Monero.

Liquidity and Trading Volume

• Low liquidity: These altcoins may move on their own.
• High liquidity: These tend to follow Bitcoin’s movements.

External Factors

• Regulations: New laws may push traders to privacy coins.
• Global events: Economic changes or political events can shake the market.

Market Sentiment and Its Impact on Correlation

Market sentiment plays a crucial role in how Bitcoin and altcoins move. When people feel positive about Bitcoin, most altcoins follow its trend. But during Bitcoin crashes, traders often look for safer assets, creating a negative correlation between Bitcoin and certain altcoins.

Bullish Sentiment

When the market is bullish, people expect prices to rise. Bitcoin usually leads the market, and many altcoins rise with it. For example, in early 2023, Bitcoin’s bullish sentiment pushed up Ethereum and Chainlink. Most altcoins rise in a bull market because traders see them as part of the overall crypto rally.

Bearish Sentiment

When people expect Bitcoin to fall, market sentiment shifts. Traders often sell their Bitcoin and move to altcoins that don’t follow Bitcoin’s pattern. In 2023, when Bitcoin crashed by 20%, Monero and Zcash rose. This shift happens because traders want to protect their assets from Bitcoin’s losses.

Quick Sentiment Shifts

Market sentiment can change quickly. Global events, such as regulatory news or economic reports, can cause sudden shifts. For example, in 2024, news about a Bitcoin ban caused a negative reaction, and traders moved their money to altcoins like Maker and Chainlink. These shifts are important to track because they can help traders predict when altcoins will move opposite to Bitcoin.

Tracking Market Sentiment

To trade successfully, it’s crucial to track sentiment. Traders often use tools and news platforms to see how the market feels about Bitcoin and altcoins. Watching for these changes can help you decide when to buy altcoins and hedge against Bitcoin’s dips. In 2024, many traders use social media, news, and market analysis tools to keep up with these shifts.

By understanding and following market sentiment, you can better predict when Bitcoin and altcoins will move together or in opposite directions. This helps investors make smarter decisions when trading negatively correlated altcoins.

 Role of Liquidity and Trading Volume in Correlations

Low Liquidity 

Altcoins with low liquidity usually move differently from Bitcoin. This happens because there are fewer people buying and selling these coins. So, one trade can change the price a lot. These altcoins may react to things that don’t affect Bitcoin. For example, coins like Zcash often have low liquidity. Because of this, their prices can go up or down without following Bitcoin. In 2024, Zcash showed more independence from Bitcoin’s price. This happened because its low liquidity allowed it to react differently.

High Liquidity 

Altcoins with high liquidity tend to follow Bitcoin more closely. High liquidity means many people are buying and selling the coin all the time. This makes it harder for one trade to change the price. Because of this, these coins are more affected by what happens in the whole market, including Bitcoin. Ethereum is a good example. It has high liquidity, so it often moves with Bitcoin. In October 2024, both Ethereum and Bitcoin went up together as the market got more excited. This shows how high liquidity makes altcoins follow Bitcoin more.

To sum up, liquidity plays a big role in how closely an altcoin follows Bitcoin. When an altcoin has high liquidity, it’s more likely to move like Bitcoin. This happens because the market is bigger, so no single trade can change the price easily. But when an altcoin has low liquidity, it has more chances to move independently. This is especially true when something specific happens in the market. Smaller coins can behave differently from Bitcoin during these times.

External Factors: Regulations, Macroeconomics, and Global Events

External factors play a big part in how altcoins behave compared to Bitcoin. Things like new laws, the economy, and global events can make altcoins move differently from Bitcoin. Here’s how:

Regulations 

New laws around crypto can change how investors act. In 2024, tougher U.S. rules for crypto exchanges made some people switch from Bitcoin to privacy coins. Coins like Zcash and Monero became more attractive because they offer more anonymity. These coins don’t need to follow strict transparency rules, which made them popular when Bitcoin struggled with compliance. In 2023, when the SEC made new rules for exchanges, Bitcoin’s price fell. But privacy coins went up as people wanted safer places to invest. This trend continued into 2024, with more governments thinking about new crypto rules.

Macroeconomics 

The global economy also affects Bitcoin and altcoins differently. During inflation or economic trouble, people often look for safer investments. In 2024, inflation and rising interest rates caused big changes in the crypto market. While some see Bitcoin as “digital gold,” other altcoins like stablecoins and DeFi tokens became more popular. People wanted stability or a way to earn money through investments. In early 2024, Bitcoin’s price dropped because of inflation worries. But DeFi tokens like Aave or Maker went up. Their steady returns attracted investors who wanted safer options.

Global Events 

Big global events can shake up price patterns too. Political problems or economic trouble in some countries can change how investors behave. In October 2024, problems in developing countries made traders look for altcoins as a hedge against local currency problems. Privacy coins became more popular again, as people wanted to protect their financial data during uncertain times. Another event that influenced the market was Bitcoin’s mining reward halving in 2024. When Bitcoin rewards shrink, its price usually goes up because there’s less supply. But this also created a chance for altcoins to move on their own as traders looked for alternatives to Bitcoin.

In short, external factors like regulations, economic trends, and global events can make altcoins move independently of Bitcoin. This adds more complexity to understanding how the crypto market behaves.

Case Studies: When Altcoins Decouple from Bitcoin

While Bitcoin usually influences the crypto market, some altcoins manage to break away and show independent price movements. Here are notable examples of altcoins that decoupled from Bitcoin in recent years:

Monero (XMR)

Monero, a privacy-focused altcoin, enables anonymous transactions. In 2023, Monero decoupled from Bitcoin by rising 20% while Bitcoin dropped 15%. This shift occurred as investors sought privacy-focused assets during regulatory crackdowns. Monero’s independence from Bitcoin is often tied to its unique role in securing anonymous transactions, especially when privacy concerns rise.

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum’s pivotal role in decentralized finance (DeFi) and smart contracts frequently leads to its decoupling from Bitcoin. In 2023, as Bitcoin fell by 15%, Ethereum rose by 10%, driven by the continued growth of decentralized applications (dApps). The DeFi ecosystem and smart contract demand primarily influence Ethereum’s price, allowing it to break away from Bitcoin’s market trends.

Solana (SOL)

In 2023, Solana decoupled from Bitcoin as well. Despite Bitcoin’s struggles, Solana saw strong growth due to its high-speed, low-cost blockchain, which became a favorite for DeFi and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Solana’s technical advantages and growing ecosystem helped it thrive even while Bitcoin’s price faltered.

Impact of AI on Decoupling

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming essential in predicting when altcoins might decouple from Bitcoin. In 2024, AI tools successfully predicted Monero’s price rise during a Bitcoin dip. These tools analyze vast data sets like trading volumes, market sentiment, and historical trends to forecast independent price movements.

AI algorithms, especially those using machine learning, can detect hidden patterns that human traders might overlook. For instance, AI recognized that privacy concerns and regulatory actions in 2024 would boost Monero’s demand. As Bitcoin dropped, Monero surged, giving AI-driven traders an edge to capitalize on the decoupling.

As AI keeps advancing, it will deliver even sharper predictions. Its capacity to process massive real-time data will allow traders to spot decoupling trends earlier. This helps them manage risks during Bitcoin’s volatility and seize opportunities when altcoins break away.

In 2024, traders using AI tools found them invaluable for navigating a complex market. As AI improves, it will likely become a crucial part of crypto trading strategies, offering better insights for managing portfolios and profiting from decoupling events.

Using Correlations to Diversify a Crypto Portfolio

Diversifying a crypto portfolio by understanding price correlations helps lower risk. Traders can balance investments by choosing altcoins that don’t always follow Bitcoin. Here’s how you can use correlations in your portfolio:

Hedge with Monero

Monero is often negatively correlated with Bitcoin. This means when Bitcoin’s price falls, Monero’s price might rise. In 2023, when Bitcoin dropped, Monero increased as traders looked for privacy-focused options. Adding Monero to your portfolio can protect you when Bitcoin takes a sharp drop.

Diversify with Ethereum and Zcash

Including altcoins that behave differently from Bitcoin helps reduce risk. Ethereum usually moves with Bitcoin (positive correlation), making it a good long-term growth asset. On the other hand, Zcash, like Monero, often has a negative correlation because of its privacy focus. By investing in both Ethereum and Zcash, along with Bitcoin, you can build a portfolio that performs better in different market conditions.

Example Portfolio Setup

By mixing altcoins with different correlations to Bitcoin, traders protect against market swings. Understanding and tracking these correlations using tools and data can lead to better investment decisions in a constantly changing market.

Understanding Correlation Metrics and Tools

To track price correlations between Bitcoin and altcoins, traders use various metrics and tools. These methods help measure how closely assets move together and inform investment decisions. Here are two common correlation metrics:

1. Pearson’s Correlation

Pearson’s Correlation shows the linear relationship between two assets. It measures how much they move in the same or opposite direction. The value ranges from -1 to 1:

• 1 means perfect positive correlation (they move together).
• -1 means perfect negative correlation (they move in opposite directions).
• 0 means no correlation.

For example, if Bitcoin and Ethereum have a Pearson correlation of 0.85, they often rise and fall together. Traders use this to see how much an altcoin follows Bitcoin’s movements.

2. Spearman’s Rank Correlation

Spearman’s Rank Correlation is good for non-linear relationships. It measures how the rankings of two assets’ price movements relate, without assuming a straight-line relationship. This is helpful when prices don’t move perfectly together but still show trends over time.

Unlike Pearson’s, Spearman’s works when price changes are ranked rather than linearly connected. For instance, Spearman’s Rank might reveal that Bitcoin and an altcoin are correlated during volatile times, even if their price movements don’t perfectly match.

Tools for Tracking Correlations

Traders use several platforms to analyze metrics like liquidity, trading volume, and price correlation between Bitcoin and altcoins. Here are some of the top platforms in 2024:

1. CoinMetrics

CoinMetrics offers detailed insights into the correlations between cryptocurrencies over time. It tracks data like price correlations, on-chain activity, and historical trends, making it a crucial tool for traders who want to understand long-term relationships between Bitcoin and altcoins. With CoinMetrics, traders can assess how closely altcoins move with or diverge from Bitcoin, guiding better portfolio diversification strategies.

2. TradingView

TradingView provides customizable charts that allow traders to track the price correlations of different crypto assets. Its user-friendly interface and wide range of technical tools—like moving averages, correlation studies, and other indicators—make it popular among traders. With TradingView, users can visualize how an altcoin’s price moves compared to Bitcoin and test trading strategies based on current market trends.

3. CryptoCompare

CryptoCompare enables users to compare the performance and correlation of various cryptocurrencies. It offers real-time data on prices, volume, and other metrics. Traders use its comparison tools to explore how altcoins relate to Bitcoin and other major assets, helping them adjust portfolios to optimize performance.

How Traders Use These Tools

By leveraging platforms like CoinMetrics, TradingView, and CryptoCompare, traders gain insights into how altcoins correlate with Bitcoin. They can identify opportunities to hedge with negatively correlated altcoins like Monero or invest in positively correlated ones like Ethereum. This analysis helps them manage risk, diversify, and maximize profits, especially during market volatility.

How Correlation Insights Can Boost Your Investment Strategy

When you understand negative correlation, you invest smarter. Negative correlation means when one coin goes up, another goes down. This is important for making good choices. You need to know which altcoins don’t follow Bitcoin’s moves. They don’t rise and fall together. This helps keep your investments safer. By mixing Bitcoin with other coins, you can protect yourself from big losses. If one coin drops, the others might stay strong. This way, you spread out the risk.

For example, let’s look at Monero and Chainlink. If you had invested in them in early 2024, you would have made a profit. Even when Bitcoin went up and down, these coins stayed solid. Monero is private, which keeps it useful even when the market is shaky. Chainlink is important for DeFi, so it stays strong even when Bitcoin struggles.

Now, think about having only Bitcoin. This would be riskier. Bitcoin’s price can change very fast. Sometimes, it drops a lot, which scares people. But if you also had altcoins like Litecoin or Zcash, you could feel safer. Litecoin is fast and used a lot, so it might go up when Bitcoin falls. Zcash, which focuses on privacy, can do well too. By holding a mix of coins like Monero, Chainlink, and Litecoin, you protect yourself from big losses. Your investments stay balanced, and you don’t worry as much!

Summary

Negative correlation helps you invest smarter. It’s a way to balance your portfolio. When Bitcoin drops, some altcoins might rise. Here are some altcoins that often move differently:

• Monero (XMR): It focuses on privacy.
• Chainlink (LINK): It connects blockchains to real-world data.
• Zcash (ZEC): It hides transaction details for privacy.

For example, when Bitcoin fell in 2023, Monero’s price went up. This can help protect your investments.

In October 2024, these altcoins are doing well:

• Monero is growing as privacy becomes important.
• Chainlink is rising thanks to DeFi.
• Zcash is gaining popularity for privacy features.

Bitcoin is having some trouble, but these coins are still growing. Following negative correlation can reduce your risks. Your portfolio stays safer, even when the market gets tough.

Understanding negative correlation is key. It helps you make smart choices in trading. By watching Bitcoin and altcoins, you can find good opportunities. As the market shifts, these strategies protect your money.

Negative correlation lowers risk and gives you more control. When the market surprises, this plan helps:

• It prepares you for tough times.
• Even if Bitcoin crashes, you’re safer.
• Altcoins that move differently save your portfolio.

Learning about these altcoins gives you more options. They help keep your money safe while the market changes.

In summary, negative correlation is a smart strategy. It gives you more chances to win, even when Bitcoin struggles. Include negatively correlated altcoins in your portfolio, and you’ll invest with more confidence.