📝 Executive Summary
Bitcoin cratered 36% as its long-touted role as an inflation hedge unraveled, sending shockwaves through crypto markets. The selloff marked the latest sign that the digital token fails to act as a reliable store of value when consumer prices rise. Investors are reassessing Bitcoin's place in diversified portfolios after the drawdown. The drop reignited debate over whether Bitcoin can decouple from risk assets and deliver on its digital gold promise.