Executive Summary
- Bitcoin’s price saw an uptick coinciding with the return of McDonald’s McRib sandwich, a trend informally observed and highlighted by McDonald’s marketing.
- Historical instances in 2017, 2020, and 2021, and a December 2024 all-time high for Bitcoin (partially attributed to President Trump’s reelection), have been linked to the McRib’s return.
- Despite anecdotal enthusiasm, the correlation is inconsistent, with McRib returns in 2018 and 2022 preceding Bitcoin price declines, suggesting other economic factors are more influential.
The Story So Far
- Bitcoin’s recent price uptick is occurring amidst an informal, internet-driven correlation within the crypto community linking the return of McDonald’s McRib sandwich to positive market performance, a trend amplified by social media and even acknowledged by McDonald’s marketing. While this correlation is historically inconsistent, other significant economic and political events, such as a potential end to a government shutdown and President Trump’s reelection, have also been cited as drivers for Bitcoin surges, sometimes coinciding with the McRib’s return, suggesting broader market influences are at play.
Why This Matters
- The return of McDonald’s McRib sandwich has solidified its status as a quirky, informal market indicator within the crypto community, influencing sentiment despite a mixed historical record of correlation with Bitcoin’s price. While its reappearance has coincided with some market upticks, the true drivers of cryptocurrency performance are more likely to be significant economic and political events, such as a government shutdown ending or President Trump’s reelection, rather than the seasonal menu item itself.
Who Thinks What?
- The trading and crypto community, popularized by figures like Internbrah, perceives an informal correlation where Bitcoin and the S&P 500 tend to perform well after the McRib makes a comeback, citing specific historical instances.
- McDonald’s Senior Marketing Director Guillaume Huin acknowledges and highlights this internet trend, noting that the McRib has “found new meaning on the internet within the trading and crypto community.”
- Analysts and an informal 2011 study suggest that the correlation between the McRib’s reintroduction and Bitcoin gains is inconsistent, having preceded significant declines in some years, and any potential link might be due to fluctuations in bulk pork prices rather than a direct market indicator.
Bitcoin’s price experienced an uptick on Monday, coinciding with the anticipated return of McDonald’s popular McRib sandwich to U.S. stores on Tuesday. This informal, yet widely observed, correlation between the limited-time menu item’s availability and cryptocurrency market performance gained further attention after McDonald’s Senior Marketing Director Guillaume Huin highlighted the trend on X, formerly Twitter.
Historical Market Coincidences
Huin noted on X that the barbecue-flavored sandwich “has recently found new meaning on the internet within the trading and crypto community.” He specifically pointed out that “some claim Bitcoin and S&P 500 tend to perform well after the McRib makes a comeback, particularly in 2017, 2020, and 2021.”
The McDonald’s executive also referenced that Bitcoin hit a new all-time high in December 2024 when the McRib returned. That surge was notably attributed to President Trump’s reelection, which analysts suggested unleashed “animal spirits” in the crypto market, pushing Bitcoin above the $100,000 mark for the first time.
This year, the sandwich’s return aligns with a potential end to a 40-day government shutdown, a development that had already contributed to a rise in Bitcoin and other major digital assets on Sunday. The McRib, a seasonal offering since its 1981 debut, is expected to be available for a limited period.
A Speckled Correlation
Despite the anecdotal enthusiasm, the correlation between the McRib’s reintroduction and Bitcoin gains is not consistently strong. In 2018 and 2022, the sandwich’s return actually preceded significant declines in Bitcoin’s price, falling to $3,250 and $15,500, respectively.
An informal 2011 study titled “A Conspiracy of Hogs” suggested that any real correlation might be linked to fluctuations in bulk pork prices, rather than a direct market indicator. Within the cryptosphere, the meme-like significance of the McRib’s return has been popularized by pseudonymous X user Internbrah, a member of the Monad blockchain team.
Current Market Snapshot
Bitcoin was trading around $105,600 on Monday, marking a 1% increase over the past day. This price point reflects a 6% climb from $98,800, which was the approximate value when the unofficial “McRib SZN” officially began. Reports of McRib sightings across the U.S. had already surfaced prior to its official Tuesday return.
Key Takeaways
The return of McDonald’s McRib sandwich continues to be an informal, yet widely discussed, indicator within the crypto community, influencing sentiment despite a mixed historical record. While some market upticks have coincided with its availability, the underlying economic factors likely play a more significant role than the sandwich itself.
