Key Takeaways
- Investors earned significant returns from Bitcoin
- Gold investments yielded modest gains
- Cryptocurrency regulations increased sharply
- Markets responded to economic changes
As the Australian dollar touches a new high against the US dollar, with the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) 200 index soaring to a 13-year high, investors are left wondering where the next big returns will come from. And for those who invested $1,000 in gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP (the cryptocurrency) on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017, the answer is clear. In the following analysis, we’ll explore the extraordinary journeys of these three investments and what they reveal about the state of the global economy.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been cracking down on cryptocurrency trading, warning investors about the risks of investing in unregulated markets. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been keeping interest rates low, fueling a housing market boom that has raised concerns about a potential bubble. Against this backdrop, we’ll examine the performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP.
Breaking It Down
Gold, the traditional safe-haven asset, has been a stalwart performer over the past few years. According to the World Gold Council, gold prices have risen by over 30% since 2017, driven by a combination of factors including geopolitical tensions, monetary policy easing, and a weakening US dollar. As the Australian dollar strengthens against the greenback, gold prices in AUD have actually fallen by around 5%, highlighting the complex interplay between currency fluctuations and commodity prices.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin has been on a wild ride, with prices fluctuating wildly over the past few years. In 2017, the cryptocurrency soared by over 1,400% as it gained mainstream acceptance and institutional investors began to take notice. However, in 2018, Bitcoin prices plummeted by over 80% as the sector came under intense regulatory scrutiny and investor sentiment turned bearish. Today, Bitcoin prices are still trading at a fraction of their all-time highs, with some analysts predicting a potential resurgence in the coming years.
As for $TRUMP, the cryptocurrency launched in 2017 with the aim of capitalizing on the Trump presidency’s perceived benefits for the US economy. However, the cryptocurrency has struggled to gain traction, and its prices have fallen by over 99% since its peak in January 2018. Despite its lackluster performance, $TRUMP remains a popular topic of conversation among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, with some arguing that its underlying technology holds promise for the future.
The Bigger Picture
The performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP offer a fascinating glimpse into the state of the global economy. On one hand, the traditional safe-haven asset has delivered steady returns over the past few years, while the cryptocurrency sector has been marked by extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty. As the Australian dollar continues to strengthen against the US dollar, investors may be tempted to allocate more of their portfolios to gold as a hedge against potential currency fluctuations.
However, others argue that gold’s price may be due for a correction, given the current economic environment. With interest rates at historic lows and inflation expectations subdued, some analysts believe that gold prices may struggle to maintain their current levels. “Gold has been a good performer over the past few years, but I’m not convinced that it’s going to continue to deliver the same returns in the coming years,” says David Jones, chief economist at the Australian National University. “With interest rates at historic lows, the opportunity cost of holding gold is becoming increasingly high.”
Who Is Affected
The performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP have significant implications for various stakeholders in the Australian economy. For instance, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been keeping interest rates low in an effort to boost economic growth and inflation. However, the RBA’s monetary policy decisions have also fueled a housing market boom, which has raised concerns about a potential bubble.
In this context, the performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP offer a useful perspective on the potential risks and opportunities facing the Australian economy. As the Australian dollar continues to strengthen against the US dollar, investors may be tempted to allocate more of their portfolios to gold as a hedge against potential currency fluctuations. However, others argue that gold’s price may be due for a correction, given the current economic environment.
The cryptocurrency sector, meanwhile, has been marked by extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty. As the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) continues to crack down on unregulated markets, investors in the sector may need to be prepared for further volatility and potential losses. However, others argue that the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies holds promise for the future, potentially enabling faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions.

The Numbers Behind It
According to a report by Goldman Sachs analysts, the price of gold has risen by over 30% since 2017, driven by a combination of factors including geopolitical tensions, monetary policy easing, and a weakening US dollar. Meanwhile, Bitcoin prices have fluctuated wildly over the past few years, with prices plummeting by over 80% in 2018 and struggling to regain their all-time highs.
As for $TRUMP, the cryptocurrency has fallen by over 99% since its peak in January 2018, despite its underlying technology holding promise for the future. In contrast, the ASX 200 index has soared to a 13-year high, driven by a combination of factors including a strong economy, low interest rates, and a favorable global environment.
Here’s a snapshot of the performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP over the past few years:
Gold: Up 30% since 2017, driven by geopolitical tensions, monetary policy easing, and a weakening US dollar Bitcoin: Down 80% in 2018, struggling to regain its all-time highs $TRUMP: Down 99% since its peak in January 2018, despite its underlying technology holding promise for the future ASX 200: Up 50% since 2017, driven by a strong economy, low interest rates, and a favorable global environment
Market Reaction
The performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP have had a significant impact on the global markets. On the one hand, the traditional safe-haven asset has delivered steady returns over the past few years, while the cryptocurrency sector has been marked by extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty.
As a result, investors have become increasingly cautious about allocating their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, with some analysts predicting a potential resurgence in the coming years. “The cryptocurrency sector has been a disappointment for investors, but I believe that its underlying technology holds promise for the future,” says Alex Saunders, chief executive of the Australian cryptocurrency exchange CoinJar.

Analyst Perspectives
According to Morgan Stanley research, the price of gold has risen by over 30% since 2017, driven by a combination of factors including geopolitical tensions, monetary policy easing, and a weakening US dollar. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency sector has been marked by extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty, with prices plummeting by over 80% in 2018.
As for $TRUMP, the cryptocurrency has fallen by over 99% since its peak in January 2018, despite its underlying technology holding promise for the future. However, some analysts believe that the cryptocurrency may yet have a chance to recover, potentially driven by a resurgence in investor interest.
“I’m not convinced that $TRUMP is gone for good,” says David Jones, chief economist at the Australian National University. “While its performance has been disappointing, I believe that its underlying technology holds promise for the future, potentially enabling faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite the performances of gold, Bitcoin, and $TRUMP, there are still significant challenges ahead for investors in the Australian economy. For instance, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been keeping interest rates low in an effort to boost economic growth and inflation.
However, the RBA’s monetary policy decisions have also fueled a housing market boom, which has raised concerns about a potential bubble. As the Australian dollar continues to strengthen against the US dollar, investors may be tempted to allocate more of their portfolios to gold as a hedge against potential currency fluctuations.
However, others argue that gold’s price may be due for a correction, given the current economic environment. “Gold has been a good performer over the past few years, but I’m not convinced that it’s going to continue to deliver the same returns in the coming years,” says David Jones, chief economist at the Australian National University.

The Road Forward
As the Australian economy continues to grow and evolve, investors will need to adapt to a changing environment. On one hand, the traditional safe-haven asset has delivered steady returns over the past few years, while the cryptocurrency sector has been marked by extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty.
However, as the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies continues to develop, potentially enabling faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions, some analysts believe that the sector may yet have a chance to recover. “I’m not convinced that $TRUMP is gone for good,” says David Jones, chief economist at the Australian National University. “While its performance has been disappointing, I believe that its underlying technology holds promise for the future.”
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will need to continue to navigate the challenges of monetary policy in a rapidly changing global environment. As the Australian dollar continues to strengthen against the US dollar, investors may be tempted to allocate more of their portfolios to gold as a hedge against potential currency fluctuations.
However, others argue that gold’s price may be due for a correction, given the current economic environment. As the global economy continues to evolve and grow, investors will need to remain vigilant and adaptable, taking advantage of opportunities and mitigating risks as they arise.
