Volatility Spikes, Bitcoin Follows We have covered the relationship between equity market volatility and bitcoin price action extensively since the start of the new year, as the inverse correlation between the price of bitcoin and the VIX (S&P 500 Volatility Index) remains extremely strong. Volatility spiked yet again today as markets reacted to Putin’s speech from yesterday, recognizing the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.