The US Russell 2000 stock index, which measures the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap companies, reached a new all-time high, consolidating above 2,550 points.
This milestone generates attention in the digital asset market, since bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies usually show movements correlated with this indicator.
The index provides a more complete view of the U.S. economy than the S&P 500, including smaller companies that rely more on domestic growth and are sensitive to liquidity conditions and investors’ risk appetite. While the S&P 500 focuses on large corporations with global exposure, Russell 2000 acts as a barometer of sentiment towards riskier assetsincluding growth in emerging sectors.
The strength shown by the Russell 2000 indicates a broadening of risk appetite in traditional markets. This pattern has coincided in previous cycles with bullish phases in bitcoin, considered a “risk” asset.
For its part, bitcoin is currently trading around $85,800which represents a drop of more than 30% from its historical maximum of $126,000 reached in October 2025, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
According to the analysis company Bitcoin Vector, in previous similar configurations, such as at the end of 2020, the Russell 2000 consolidated new highs and bitcoin generated an increase more than 390% in the following months. The chart below presents a historical comparison between the price of bitcoin and the Russell 2000 stock index from 2020 to 2025.
“This time the structure is different, but we start from an environment that precedes the expansion of liquidity. And when liquidity changes, risk assets take the lead,” notes Bitcoin Vector.
The observed correlation does not imply direct causality, and factors such as monetary policy, institutional flows and the macroeconomic context will influence the future performance of bitcoin. However, the advance of the Russell 2000 reinforces the scenario of a more favorable environment for bitcoin.