Bitcoin’s long-held narrative as a safe haven and digital gold is under scrutiny, as veteran analyst Ran Neuner, among others, questions the pioneer crypto’s future.

Experts outline why Bitcoin may no longer serve the role it once claimed, and why the broader crypto ecosystem could be on the brink of a new era.

Despite a weakening US Dollar and mounting global uncertainty, Bitcoin underperformed expectations as a hedge against fiat debasement.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell roughly 9% in 2025, and another 2% year-to-date in 2026, yet Bitcoin declined 20–22% YTD, trading for $68,255 as of this writing. Gold, by contrast, surged, proving resilient in risk-off scenarios.

“When tariffs, currency tension, and fiscal…