A Fed-driven liquidity surge could restart a Bitcoin bull run through hidden channels of monetary support. Changes in the Fed balance sheet would amplify that effect.
For the full original essay, see Arthur Hayes essay on CCN, where he calls the SRF “stealth quantitative easing.”
Arthur Hayes frames the Standing Repo Facility (SRF) as a vector for “stealth quantitative easing” that could expand liquidity without overt balance-sheet announcements.
He links large fiscal deficits to rising Treasury supply and argues the SRF lets the Federal Reserve absorb excess cash implicitly. In this context, market participants may reprice risk assets if liquidity expectations change.
Hayes cites U.S. deficits of roughly $2 trillion annually and corresponding Treasury borrowing as the pressure forcing the Fed toward balance-sheet expansion.
He argues persistent deficits and heavy issuance make repo outlets relevant to macro liquidity conditions. It should be noted that the scale of issuance drives the sensitivity of short-term funding markets.
Arthur Hayes essay published Nov. 3, 2025; claims Fed stealth QE via Standing Repo Facility (SRF) will inject liquidity and reignite Bitcoin bull run.
– Hayes: U.S. deficits ~ $2 trillion annually; Treasury borrowing will force Fed to expand balance sheet.
– Hayes: foreign central banks wary of political risk; prefer gold; RV funds are marginal buyers, using repo to finance carry trades.
– Hayes: SRF balances above zero indicate Fed cashing politicians’ checks; SRF acts as hidden QE conduit.
– Bitcoin was trading just below $102,000 on Nov. 5, 2025; ~20% below ATH; analysts warn of further declines; CCN analyst Valdrin Tahiri warned support near $106,000 and possible drop to $85,700 694,400 if break below $106,500; total crypto market cap below $3.55 trillion.
Quantifying SRF flows matters for any discussion of a delayed Fed balance sheet expansion and resulting asset implications.
If primary dealers and reverse-repo counterparties shift funding patterns, the effective supply of cash to markets could rise. As a result, risk assets including Bitcoin might see renewed demand under optimistic liquidity assumptions.
Hayes notes that relative value funds use repo to finance carry trades, making them marginal buyers in stressed markets.
If repo becomes cheaper or more predictable, these funds could raise exposures, amplifying price moves in Bitcoin and correlated assets. In this setting, funding cost and predictability are key.
Monitor weekly SRF balances and Treasury bill auction sizes to gauge the scale of any implicit accommodation. The Federal Reserve outlines SRF scope and operational terms on its site; see the Fed’s SRF overview Standing Repo Facility: Federal Reserve.
Market analysts remain cautious despite Hayes’ liquidity narrative. CCN analyst Valdrin Tahiri warned support near $106,000 and a potential drop to $85,700 694,400 if the market falls below $106,500.
Those technical levels highlight that liquidity alone may not override price mechanics or risk sentiment. Based on trade desk experience, liquidity signals often lag technical selling; a policy-driven liquidity tailwind can be overwhelmed in the near term by stop-loss cascades and margin calls.
Do warnings negate the SRF thesis? Not necessarily. Liquidity narratives and technical corrections operate on different timeframes. Hayes focuses on supply-side balance-sheet pressure, while analysts emphasize immediate price action and support levels.
How should traders balance both perspectives? Traders should weigh policy-driven liquidity upside against short-term technical risk, using stop-losses and size discipline. In this context, a liquidity tailwind does not guarantee an uninterrupted rally; it changes probabilities.
Price thresholds cited in market coverage provide objective measures of risk. As recorded, Bitcoin was trading just below $102,000 on Nov. 5, 2025, roughly 20% below its ATH, while the total crypto market cap sat below $3.55 trillion. These figures offer concrete anchors to test Hayes’ liquidity-driven thesis.
Which levels signal a failed rebound? A sustained close below the $106,500 pivot would align with analyst warnings and suggest further downside is likely.
Conversely, reclaiming and holding above that area would be required to validate a broader liquidity-driven recovery.
What market-cap context matters? Total market capitalization below $3.55 trillion shows the size of the backdrop against which any SRF-driven flows would act. Small shifts in demand can have outsized impacts when leverage and carry trades are in play.


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