At the Consensus 2026 conference, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes emphasized that Bitcoin's price is primarily driven by liquidity rather than regulatory developments. Hayes argued that the cryptocurrency industry does not need regulation, as it is largely irrelevant to Bitcoin's value proposition. He highlighted that technological reliability and fiat liquidity are the core factors influencing Bitcoin's price, with liquidity being the true driver. Hayes pointed to historical instances of monetary expansion, such as quantitative easing during Obama's presidency and the $2.5 trillion in reverse repurchase funds under Treasury Secretary Yellen, as key periods when Bitcoin experienced significant rallies. Despite regulatory efforts during the Trump administration, Bitcoin's price has declined by about 25% over the past 18 months, underscoring that liquidity, not regulation, is the fundamental factor affecting its value.