US Midterms - Market Expectations As the US Midterm elections approach on November 3, 2026, markets are adjusting their pricing strategies. Here are three key scenarios currently being discussed: 1. **Divided Congress (Base Case - 60% House Democrats, 60% Senate Republicans)** Markets anticipate gridlock, leading to reduced new spending and lower Treasury yields. This scenario is historically favorable for Gold and Equities, while Bitcoin tends to benefit from falling yields. Binance Research refers to this situation as the "uncertainty removal rally" setup. 2. **Democrats Sweep Both (Polymarket ~70% earlier)** A Democratic sweep could increase oversight on the Trump administration, slowing the implementation of the CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act. This might pose short-term challenges for crypto regulation, but if concerns over the deficit diminish, the Dollar may appreciate, potentially placing downward pressure on Bitcoin. Glassnode has noted that the inverse correlation between Bitcoin and the Dollar Index is at an all-time high. 3. **Republicans Maintain Control of Both (Surprise 6% odds)** If Republicans retain control, it might facilitate faster crypto-friendly regulation, which could initially benefit Financials and Industrials. However, rising yields could negatively impact the Tech and Crypto sectors in the longer term. **Importance of Historical Trends:** Data from Binance Research indicates: - The average S&P 500 has risen by 19% in the 12 months following midterms. - Bitcoin has averaged a 54% increase in years after midterms. - Historically, Bitcoin has found its bottom between 13 to 71 days after the last three midterms, suggesting a potential bottoming period in late 2026 or early 2027. Current sentiment is reported to be weak, according to Santiment. Bitcoin is hovering around the $76.5K to $77.5K range, where extreme fear often signals local bottoms. The suggestion is to avoid trading solely on headlines and instead focus on market reactions. Current options data indicates a volatility premium of only 7%, suggesting that markets are not anticipating a crash. Regardless of whether the outcome results in a divided Congress or a Democratic sweep, liquidity and the Federal Reserve's actions are likely to have a more significant impact than political developments. Are you considering buying during the midterm dip or waiting to see how the situation unfolds? This is not financial advice. Conduct your own research.