#美股芯片股全线大涨 Behind the US stock market’s consecutive surge from August 3-5: What is Wall Street betting on? Why has Bitcoin “fallen behind”?
A suddenly launched rally: Why has the US stock market started celebrating again?
From August 3 to 5, the US stock market saw a strong rebound. The Nasdaq continued to rise, technology stocks once again became the market’s focus, and investor sentiment quickly shifted from cautious defense to a renewed appetite for risk. Many people saw this as: “US stocks are rising again.” But the real question worth focusing on is: Why did funds choose to buy again at this time?
This rally was not simply an emotional rebound, but the result of multiple factors converging: rising expectations of interest-rate cuts, strengthened AI profitability prospects, and short covering jointly drove the rally.
I. First layer of logic: The market has started trading “interest-rate-cut expectations” again.
Over the past few months, the biggest pressure on US stocks came from interest rates. High interest rates mean: higher corporate financing costs; lower discounted value of future earnings; and pressure on high-valuation technology stocks. AI-related stocks in particular had risen significantly earlier, and the market had remained concerned that valuations were too high. But the market has recently begun to change. As inflationary pressure gradually eases, investors are once again betting that the Federal Reserve may enter a more favorable policy environment in the future. Capital markets never trade today; they trade the future.
When the market believes that “the peak of interest rates may already have passed,” funds will position themselves in risk assets in advance. This is also why technology stocks often react ahead of time.
II. Second layer of logic: AI is moving from conceptual speculation into the earnings realization phase.
Over the past two years, AI has been the biggest investment theme in US stocks. But the market’s logic is changing.
Previously: Investors bought AI because they believed in the future.
Now: Investors buy AI because they see revenue and profits.
Companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google continue to increase AI capital expenditure. Data-center construction, demand for computing power, and enterprise AI applications are forming a genuine commercial loop. The market has begun to reprice AI: It is not a bubble story, but may be the industrial revolution of the next decade. In particular, during earnings season, some AI-related companies reported better-than-expected results, further strengthening investor confidence. Simply put: Phase one: speculating on AI’s imagination. Phase two: speculating on AI’s productivity. The market is now entering phase two.
III. Third layer of logic: Short covering has accelerated the rise.
Many times, a market rise is not just because buying is strong. It may also be because short sellers are beginning to retreat. Previously, due to valuation pressure and concerns about an economic recession, many institutions reduced their stock positions. But when the market found that the economy had not significantly deteriorated; corporate earnings remained strong; and policy pressure might ease, short sellers began to close their positions. This created the sequence: Index rises → shorts stop losses → forced buying → further expansion of the rally. This is why short-term rallies often see consecutive gains.
IV. Why have US stocks surged while the crypto market has not risen in sync?
This is the biggest question for many investors recently.
Over the past few years: When technology stocks rose, Bitcoin usually rose as well. But this time, the two have diverged. Why?
Reason one: Funds favor “assets with greater certainty”
The market currently does not lack risk appetite. It is choosing a direction. Institutional funds face two choices:
US technology stocks: Have earnings
Have cash flow
Have earnings growth
Crypto assets:
Have long-term narratives
Lack new short-term catalysts
Therefore, funds are prioritizing assets with greater certainty. The market likes rising prices, but it prefers “rises with a reason.”
Reason two: The crypto market lacks a new funding narrative
In the past, Bitcoin’s rises were often accompanied by strong stimuli: ETF approval; large-scale institutional allocations; the release of dollar liquidity; and expectations surrounding the halving cycle. But the market currently lacks a new breakout point. Without a strong catalyst, it is difficult to attract large-scale funds to enter quickly.
Reason three: Bitcoin depends more on global liquidity
Bitcoin is essentially still a liquidity asset.
When: the dollar weakens; interest rates decline; and global funds are abundant, Bitcoin often performs well. But the market is currently trading more on a “soft landing for the US economy” than on a “global liquidity explosion.” Therefore, the stock market rises first, while the crypto market waits for confirmation.
V. Three key variables to watch in the next phase
The market’s future direction will depend primarily on three indicators:
1. The speed of the Federal Reserve’s policy shift
If the rate-cut cycle officially begins, risk assets may receive a stronger liquidity boost.
2. Whether AI earnings continue to materialize
If AI companies’ revenue growth continues, technology stock valuations may still be re-rated upward.
3. Whether a new funding catalyst emerges in the crypto market
Including: ETF inflows; increased institutional allocations; and a new cycle of blockchain applications.
This US stock rally is essentially a repricing by capital. The market is shifting from “worrying about the future” to “seeking growth.”
What US stocks are currently trading on is: AI earnings + rate-cut expectations + economic resilience.
What the crypto market is trading on is: liquidity + new narratives + the return of capital. The two markets have not become disconnected; their timing is simply different. The stock market is celebrating in advance. The crypto market is still waiting for confirmation.