Tag: BTC

  • Bitcoin shrimps holdings jump to 1.31 million BTC

    Bitcoin shrimps holdings jump to 1.31 million BTC

    • Bitcoin wallets with less than 1 BTC now hold an all-time high of 1.31 million coins.
    • Shrimps have been adding an average of 26,000 BTC every month, data shows.
    • The growth of the shrimp cohort is a positive development for the Bitcoin network.

    The amount of Bitcoin held by “shrimps” – those wallet entities that currently hold less than 1 BTC) has reached a new all-time high.

    According to data from Glassnode, shrimps have increased their total holdings to 1.31 million BTC. The cohort has witnessed the gradual increase in holdings over the past several months.

    Shrimps grow holdings by +26,000 BTC every month

    Per data Glassnode shared via Twitter, the shrimp cohort has experienced a significant expansion of their holdings in 2023. This followed a similar trend last year, with the buying among this group coming despite the greater volatility that hit the market.

    Specifically, shrimps have added 26,000 or more Bitcoin every month. Since July 2020, only 202 (3.9%) trading days have recorded a larger monthly growth.

    The suggestion from this is that retail investors have been aggressive in accumulating BTC, with the dips seen during the bear market providing investors with an opportunity to buy Bitcoin at low prices.

    The chart below shows the growth in the amount of BTC held by wallet addresses with less than 1 bitcoin. As you can see, the amount held by these entities has increased significantly in June/July 2022 and again in November/December and January 2023.

    Increase in small holders is a positive for the long-term health of Bitcoin’s network as the metric suggests retail investors are confident in the cryptocurrency’s growth and long term potential.



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  • Bad news for BTC if this happens

    Bad news for BTC if this happens

    • Bitcoin price has recovered from its dip to $25,800, with price currently above $27,400.
    • BTC could continue to bounce into the $28,000-$30,000 range as broader market sentiment improves.
    • However, an analyst’s Bitcoin price prediction suggests bad news for BTC if $27,600 becomes new resistance level.

    The price of Bitcoin as of May 15, 2023 9:50 am ET is $27,405, with BTC up 2% in the past 24 hours. 911.81. While Bitcoin could yet break above a key resistance level and target old support above $28,000, a popular crypto analyst says failing to breach the said supply wall could see the digital gold retreat to a closely watched support level.

    Analyst shares Bitcoin price prediction as markets eye new bounce

    The outlook for Bitcoin is however still broadly bullish long term, particularly after the crypto sector navigated the collapse of FTX. The current US regulatory environment remains a key concern for the ecosystem though and this as well as continued correlation with the stock market could prove another wobbly trajectory for crypto prices.

    According to crypto analyst Rekt Capital, Bitcoin price could dip past the largely anticipated buffer zone at $25,000 if current levels don’t hold. 

    Although the stock market looks poised for gains as investors see a debt limit deal and inflation fears across corporate America easing, a flip in sentiment both in the equities and in crypto could send BTC below $25k.

    Rekt thinks the flagship crypto’s price could fall to the $20,000 level. He tweeted early Monday as BTC/USD bounced from lows of $25,800:

    First, #BTC failed to reclaim the $28800 level on the Weekly (orange). And then $BTC Weekly Closed below $27600, failing to hold it as support (black). Turn $27600 into resistance and this could enable further downside into the low $20,000s.”

    The analyst explained his forecast further in another tweet.

    The problem with this #BTC bounce is that it is occurring after a Weekly Close below black support. Such a 1W close is setting BTC up for more downside especially if this rebound is a relief rally. Reject at $27570 (black) would likely force more downside,” he noted.

    Below is the analyst’s chart highlighting the price levels, with potential downside wicks beyond the multi-month support line.

    Bitcoin price prediction on the weekly chart. Source: Rekt Capital on Twitter

    On the upside, the key challenge would be around $28,800. Consolidation is likely between $28k and $30k. Above that lies the supply zone near $33,000.



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  • Can BTC its price above $27k?

    Can BTC its price above $27k?

    Key takeaways

    • Bitcoin has been struggling to stay above $27,500 over the past few days.

    • The cryptocurrency slightly dipped below $27k on Wednesday but is now trading above that level once again.

    • The buying pressure in the market is currently low, and this could affect BTC’s price in the near term.

    Bitcoin price prediction: BTC struggles to maintain price above $27,500

    Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has been underperforming so far this week. Over the last seven days, BTC has lost more than 7% of its value and dropped below the $28k mark.

    The leading cryptocurrency recorded a sharp dump on Wednesday following reports that there was a transaction from the United States government’s BTC wallet. 

    Bitcoin recovered from its dump yesterday and went on to trade above the $27,700 level. However, the poor performance has resumed, and BTC has lost more than 2% of its value today.

    At press time, the price of Bitcoin stands at $27,320 and could dip lower over the next few hours.

    BTC could dip below $27k soon

    Bitcoin has been underperforming since the United States inflation figures came out earlier this week. The inflation figure in the United States remains high, indicating that the Federal Reserve could continue with its interest rate hikes.

    If that happens, BTC could drop below the $24k level in the near term as investors adjust to the new reality. 

    However, if the Federal Reserve pauses its rate hikes, assets like Bitcoin could be one of the biggest winners.

    In terms of technical analysis, it is not looking good for Bitcoin in the short term. The MACD line is below the neutral zone, indicating that there are more sellers than buyers in the market.

    Furthermore, the 14-day RSI of 38 shows that Bitcoin could enter the oversold region if the current market condition persists. 

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  • Why is the crypto market down today? BTC briefly slips below $27k

    Why is the crypto market down today? BTC briefly slips below $27k

    Key takeaways

    • The cryptocurrency market is down by roughly 1% over the past 24 hours.

    • Bitcoin briefly dropped to $26,990 earlier today before recovering to now trade above $27,500.

    • The dump came due to reports that there was a transaction with the United States government’s BTC wallet.

    Why the crypto market is down today

    The cryptocurrency market recorded a sharp spike in movement a few hours ago. Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency by market cap, was trading just above $28k earlier today.

    However, BTC fell below the $27k level for the first time in more than a week, briefly touching the $26,990 mark before retracing its movement.

    According to market experts, the sharp decline in Bitcoin’s price came as a result of a transaction from the United States government’s BTC wallet. 

    Data obtained from Blockstream showed that 9819.01814463 bitcoins were on the move from the wallet. This large transaction was reflected in the market, with Bitcoin dropping below the $27k mark for the first time in a month. 

    Bitcoin recovers to trade above $27,500

    The dump didn’t last long, as Bitcoin is now trading above the $27k level once again. At press time, the price of Bitcoin stands at $27,502, down by more than 2% in the last hour.

    Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency that recorded losses. Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, also dropped below the $1,800 mark earlier today before retracing to now trade at $18,36 per coin.



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  • BTC could retest key $28,800 zone

    BTC could retest key $28,800 zone

    • Bitcoin price has dropped below $30,000 to currently trade near $29,480.
    • Crypto analyst Rekt Capital says BTC price could retest $28,800 and establish it as a major support area.
    • BTC price bounced above $31,000 last week, having struggled to break past the anticipated buffer zone.

    Bitcoin is trading around $29,479, about 3% down in the past 24 hours and now just 4% up in the past seven days. After trading to highs above $3,100 and then retreating to current levels, the market might have to brace for a retest of $28,800.

    That’s today’s Bitcoin price prediction as shared by crypto analyst Rekt Capital.  

    Bitcoin price at key area, with possible dip to $28,800

    Following a retracement to lows of $15,500 in the aftermath of the FTX debacle market rout, Bitcoin price saw a decent flip in 2023. An upswing off the post-death cross retracement of the bear market saw BTC recover more than 80%.

    According to Rekt Capital, the rally to $30,000 area had BTC trending at an area that has previously acted as a stubborn resistance as well as support zone on the monthly chart. Bulls managed to breach the supply wall last week, but the $28,800 was equally resolute and despite a decent weekly close above the zone, a fresh dip to the level is likely.

    Such a retest might be what buyers need to solidify it as a demand reload area. Rekt says a successful retest of the level could reenergize bulls for another upward move.



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  • CME Group to expand BTC and Ether options expiries in May

    CME Group to expand BTC and Ether options expiries in May

    • CME group says demand from clients has increased amid the heightened market volatility.
    • The marketplace plans to expand expiries for its standard and micro-sized BTC and Ether options contracts.
    • Approval would see the derivatives platform make the changes on 22 May, 2023.

    Derivatives marketplace CME Group is seeking to expand its options expiries for Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to an announcement published today, 17 April 2023.

    The platform, which says the plans are subject to regulatory approval, indicates that the plan is to have its suite of crypto options for BTC and ETH contracts expiries be available every business week day – Monday to Friday.

    Currently, expiries for micro-sized options on the two crypto futures are available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The CME also offers monthly and quarterly expiries for BTC and ETH options on its futures contracts.

    If approved, the company will look to have the new expiries available beginning 22 May.

    Client demand for BTC and ETH products

    Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products said the goal is to have market participants access options contracts that offer “greater precision and versatility” for managing short-term Bitcoin and Ethereum price risk.

    Against a backdrop of heightened market volatility in the digital asset sector, we continue to see clients turn to a trusted, regulated venue like CME Group for reliable and efficient cryptocurrency risk management products,” Vicioso added.

    CME Group has seen an increase in demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum futures and options. The top two assets by market cap are also the two best cryptocurrencies for crypto derivatives trading

    The bitcoin’s numbers in Q1, 2023 for CME achieved a notional of over $3 billion, a record in terms of daily average. The marketplace also saw a record BTC options contracts of 2,357 traded on 22 March 22. Open interest rose to an all-time high of 14,700 contracts on 31 March and could soar further amid a long-term bullish Bitcoin price prediction, particularly going into the next halving.

    The all-time high for Ether options contracts was 311 on 22 February, while OI hit a record 1,800 contracts on 24 March.

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  • Bitfinex analysts say BTC is in “transition”

    Bitfinex analysts say BTC is in “transition”

    • The number of Bitcoin wallets with non-zero BTC balance recently hit a new all-time high of 45.388 million.
    • However, daily active addresses and daily confirmed transactions have fallen.
    • Bitcoin price remains bullish but analysts urge caution as on-chain metrics indicate weakness amid renewed correlation with S&P 500.

    Bitcoin price currently trends above$28,300, about 0.7% higher in the past 24 hours. The slight uptick follows the crypto market moving beyond rumours around a Red Notice warrant for Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. 

    Bitcoin’s resilience also comes after the market reacted upward on Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s move to replace the platform’s bird symbol with a Shiba Inu dog, a symbol for DOGE – the native token of the original meme crypto Dogecoin

    DOGE price shot up more than 30% to above $0.1 for the first time since early December 2022.

    Bitcoin growth outlook: non-zero balance wallets hit 45.4 million

    Bitcoin continues to see huge demand as non-zero balance wallets grow to more than 45 million, according to details shared in the latest Bitfinex Alpha report.

    But even as the benchmark cryptocurrency records a new high for small BTC holders , with this the fastest rate non-zero balance wallets have grown since early 2021, analysts commenting on Bitcoin price in the report suggest investors might have to be a bit cautious in the short term.

    According to on-chain data, non-zero addresses count hit 45.388 million last week as Bitcoin price held above$27k to end the first quarter on a bullish note.

    The jump in non-zero balance wallets marks a positive development for the network and for Bitcoin price, with this metric’s growth suggesting that more investors have recently entered the Bitcoin market. In any case, an increase in non-zero balance holders often points to new demand, particularly from small investors.

    Yet, this positive outlook aside, other on-chain metrics suggest bulls may need to be cautious in the short term. As noted in the Bitfinex Alpha report, the market is in a transition and indecisive.

    A transition state is characterised by choppy market conditions where the price consolidates in a tight range before trending in either direction. Despite an influx of new market entrants, the sustainability of this phenomena of both rapidly growing non-zero balances and tight range-trading for Bitcoin remains uncertain,” they noted.

    BTC price – key on-chain metrics suggest weakness

    Bitfinex analysts suggest that other metrics indicate Bitcoin price may continue to consolidate around $28 as both bulls and bears remain indecisive.

    Among key on-chain metrics to watch are bitcoin network statistics related to daily active addresses and daily confirmed transactions. 

    For instance, the 7-day moving average of daily active addresses recently dropped to levels last seen in late January. The number of confirmed daily transactions have also declined. 

    In the past two weeks, the Bitcoin network recorded a 7-day average of 293,058 transactions with the figures on 30 March suggesting a 13% decline from data recorded on 8 March. The Bitfinex analysts commented on the two metrics:

    While this is an inconclusive indicator in terms of bullish or bearish signals, daily activity and transactions decreasing for Bitcoin have always occurred at transitionary phases in the crypto market. They suggest indecision and an unsettling predicament for both bulls and bears.”

    Bitcoin’s correlation with S&P 500 – is it rising again?

    While bulls attempt to strengthen above $28k again, data shows BTC correlation with stocks is increasing after falling significantly in early March, with BTC price outperforming the major US indices over the month and year-to-date at the end of Q1, 2023.

    However, per the Bitfinex report and as CoinJournal analyst Dan Ashmore highlighted last week, Bitcoin is on track to restore its correlation with the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ composite as its price continues to hover between $27k and resistance above $28k. 

    Notably, the Pearson metric shows BTC/NASDAQ correlation is up to 0.61 while correlation with the S&P 500 reads 0.12. 

    Any value above zero indicates a positive correlation and these figures suggest Bitcoin could trade more in lockstep with equity indices amid macroeconomic headwinds.



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  • 10.3k wallets increased to 10+ BTC starting February 2022

    10.3k wallets increased to 10+ BTC starting February 2022

    • Bitcoin addresses holding 10 or more BTC grew 71% in just over a year.
    • According to on-chain data, 10,279 new BTC wallets joined the cohort holding 10+ bitcoin between February 2022 and March 2023.
    • Wallets with 10-100 bitcoin cumulatively hold over 4.4 million BTC, or roughly 23% of supply.

    While cryptocurrency prices fell sharply as the bear market of 2022 saw massive contagion across the industry, the number of addresses holding 10+ bitcoins kept rising. Wallets in this category grew 71% between February 2022 and March 2023.

    10.3k addresses with 10+ BTC added since February 2022

    According to the latest data from crypto analytics platform Santiment, the number of addresses with more than 10 BTC have increased by 10,279 since February 2022.

    Per the data, total bitcoin holdings within this cohort remain largely stagnant. However, a 71% increase in the amount of addresses for the past year or so sees these wallets’ overall holdings approach the all-time highs reached in 2019. 

    Currently at 155,000 addresses, the number of bitcoin wallets with 10 or more BTC are just 2,000 less than the all-time high of September 2019, Santiment tweeted on Thursday.

    Looking into bitcoin distribution data as of 30 March, about 139,864 wallets hold between 10-100 bitcoin, with total holdings of over 4.43 million coins for 23% of supply. Another 14,033 wallets currently hold 100-1000 BTC, accounting for just over 20% of supply at 3.9 million BTC.

    On-chain data also shows the largest whales, with 1k-10k bitcoin and 10k-100k BTC holdings, number 1,906 and 112 respectively. Cumulatively, these wallets hold about 6.9 million coins to account for roughly 35% of bitcoin supply.



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  • Galaxy Digital CEO says BTC and ETH are best investments

    Galaxy Digital CEO says BTC and ETH are best investments

    • Mike Novogratz is bullish on crypto, particularly the top two coins Bitcoin and Ethereum.
    • The Galaxy Digital CEO says BTC and ETH been best risk-adjusted investments over the last few years.
    • He also suggested during the company’s earnings call that the US risks losing its place as finanial and innovation leader.

    Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz says crypto is in “a good moment” highlighting the fact that Bitcoin and Ethereum have been the best risk-adjusted investments in the world over the past few years.

    The billionaire investor said this while commenting on the crypto market outlook during Galaxy Digital’s earnings call. He said:

    “I look right now and say, “What’s the good?” Bitcoin is trading over $27,000, Ethereum over $1,700. On a risk-adjusted basis, that’s volatility adjusted, Sharpe ratio adjusted, Bitcoin and Ethereum have been the two best-performing assets in the world this year. They’ve been the two best-performing assets in the world over the last two years. So, whatever Jamie Dimon wants to say, whatever the Biden administration wants to say, they’re just wrong, and the world knows that.”

    Novogratz explains what’s driving crypto

    Bitcoin has tested resistance near $29,000 in 2023, with its current price of $28,650 about 84% higher year-to-date. Ethereum has also traded above $1,800 as investors eye the $2,000 level. According to latest market data, the price of Ethereum is about 61% higher YTD.

    In Novogratz’ opinion, recent price action has the top coins poised for greater gains over the next several months. As highlighted in the earnings call transcript, the Galaxy Digital CEO believes all “the selling that needed done as crypto prices fell was done.

    Retail has also been behind much of the recent price appreciation, the billionaire investor added.

    What’s promising, and what has driven crypto broadly this year, is two things. One, all the selling that needed to get done got done, right? There was so much bad news, if you had to sell, panic selling and just the nervousness of “Oh my God! This thing could go to zero,” and people were in sheer panic, you had seller’s exhaustion. But, you’ve had Asia reopen. China has—you know, post the Xi protests around COVID Zero, China took the regulatory boot of the necks of their tech companies, and that includes crypto, so you’re seeing, with Chinese traveling, you’re seeing more activity from Asia.”

    Bitcoin could be “substantially” higher in a few months

    Novogratz also believes the current wave of adoption across the Middle-East, Hong Kong and Europe is good for the crypto industry, even as the US risks losing its place as a financial market leader. 

    According to him, the Biden administration’s attack on crypto, as evidenced by the series of enforcement actions and charges among other things, is shortsighted.

    As for his outlook for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market, the Galaxy Digital chief noted:

    The market feels strong, and when I look at it technically on charts, we’ve had big weekly closes. I’m surprised to hear myself say this, given where my mindset was in late December, but it would not surprise if we were substantially higher three months, six months, nine months from now.”



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  • MicroStrategy repays Silvergate Bank loan, buy 6,455 BTC

    MicroStrategy repays Silvergate Bank loan, buy 6,455 BTC

    • MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor announced the company had repaid the $205 million loan at a 22% discount.
    • The company also bought 6,455 bitcoins worth $150 million.
    • Saylor’s company currently holds more than 138,900 bitcoins.

    MicroStrategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has revealed it recently purchased more BTC. 

    The business intelligence company, founded by Bitcoin bull Michael Saylor, also announced on Monday that it had repaid the loan to the failed crypto-friendly bank Silvergate Bank.

    MicroStrategy repays $250 million loan, buys 6,455 BTC

    Saylor, referencing his company’s latest SEC filing, said that MicroStrategy has now fully repaid the $205 million loan it borrowed from Silvergate in March 2022. The company reportedly cleared the loan principal with a 22% discount, with Friday’s payoff seeing MicroStrategy clear the collateralized loan at $160 million.

    As a result, the company recouped its 34,619 BTC that had been pledged as collateral.

    MicroStrategy also confirmed the purchase of 6,455 BTC, acquired for a total of $150 million and at an average $23,238 a coin. Saylor’s bitcoin strategy now includes a total Bitcoin haul of 138,955 BTC since the company’s first move in 2020. 

    So far, the total BTC holdings have been acquired at a cost of $4.1 billion, with each bitcoin purchased at the average price of $29,817.

    Bitcoin currently trades around $27,809 while MicroStrategy shares closed at $256.67 on Friday and were 0.07% down at 9.10 am ET ahead of US markets opening on Monday.



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