On New Year’s Eve, Montenegro authorities announced that Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon was extradited to the United States. The development comes after the Minister of Justice signed the order for his extradition, concluding the prolonged battle between the US and South Korea to bring the crypto entrepreneur to trial. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs See […]
As Bitcoin continues to slowly decline in price, the asset appears to be moving closer to a key psychological level. With uncertainty surrounding the continuation of Bitcoin’s current trend, speculation remains divided on whether the crypto asset is preparing for another upward breakout or entering a phase of correction. Recent on-chain data suggests that specific metrics, such as the realized price for short-term holders, are providing essential insights into the market’s behavior and potential future direction. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Key SOPR Metric Holds Steady: Are Long-Term Holders Eyeing Higher Prices? Key Support Level Identified at $81,000 In an analysis recently uploaded on the CryptoQuant QuickTake platform, an analyst known as Shayan BTC revealed that the realized price metric, particularly for the 1-3 month UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) age band, serves as a critical indicator for assessing investor sentiment among newer market participants. This metric represents the average purchase price of Bitcoin for those who acquired the asset within the last one to three months. A sustained price above this level typically signals bullish momentum, suggesting that recent buyers are confident in holding their positions despite prevailing market volatility. Conversely, if Bitcoin’s price drops below this level, it may indicate potential selling pressure as these short-term holders attempt to limit their losses. According to Shayan, the realized price for Bitcoin’s 1-3 month holder cohort currently stands at $81,000. This level is seen as a vital support zone, acting as a “psychological and technical defense” line for both short-term and long-term investors. Historically, when Bitcoin’s price remains above this threshold, it indicates a resilient market sentiment where recent buyers demonstrate confidence in the asset’s future price potential. On the flip side, a price drop below the $81,000 mark could lead to increased selling activity, primarily driven by short-term holders looking to exit their positions to minimize potential losses. Such a scenario would likely add downward pressure to the market, potentially triggering broader sell-offs. Bitcoin Market Performance Bitcoin has so far given investors a boring holiday season with its lackluster performance. Particularly ever since the past weeks towards the middle of December, Bitcoin has fallen below the $100,000 price mark and has remained below it with little to no upward movement. Over the past two weeks, Bitcoin has now dropped by 10.9%.2% as it remains below the $100,000 price mark. However, its past day performance has been quite interesting. Over this period, BTC has seen a sudden increase of 4% to a current trading price of $95,519, at the time of writing. Interestingly, despite this sudden surge, this price mark puts Bitcoin at a roughly 11.9% decrease away from its all-time high of $108,135 registered in the middle of December. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
With the new year approaching, some analysts forecasted a “very bullish” 2025 for Altcoins. The sector is expected to explode soon and kickstart the long-awaited “Altseason” after retesting a key support level. Related Reading: Ethereum Stays Within Symmetrical Pattern – Analyst Sets ETH Target Altcoins Retest Key Support Level Amid the recent market’s performance, many Altcoins have struggled to record significant gains. However, several market watchers forecasted the start of the altcoin will come as soon as January 2025. Fueled by the post-US election pump, the total crypto market capitalization, excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, broke out on a three-year downtrend in mid-November, surpassing its yearly high of $788 billion. During this month’s rally, the sector surged to $1.1 trillion, its highest market cap since 2021. Since then, Altcoins has struggled over the last two weeks, dropping nearly 26% as Bitcoin lost the $100,000 mark but remains above a key level despite the recent performance. Crypto Jelle pointed out that the sector broke out and retested its “major trendline while destroying all leverage in the process.” The analyst highlighted that funding was “completely reset,” sentiment has been at its lowest, and the chart seems promising, adding he is “Very bullish for 2025.” He also noted that Altcoins’ price action is “very similar” to Bitcoin’s first major pullback of 2021. Per the chart, the flagship crypto had a “strong rally, pullback, lower high, and chopping below the first low” before breaking out to new highs. Based on this performance, Altcoins’ pullback is seemingly over, they “should start pushing back up soon if this keeps playing out the same.” Similarly, Michaël van de Poppe stated, “The correction is almost over, and the time for up only is on the horizon for Altcoins and Bitcoin. Expecting a lot to come.” Altseason To Follow 2021’s Playbook? Titan of Crypto asserted that Altcoins are set to explode soon, suggesting that “the grand finale is around the corner.” Per the analyst’s chart, Altcoins have been in a two-year cup and handle pattern, breaking out of the pattern’s upper line during the recent market highs. According to the pattern, Altcoins, excluding ETH, could see a 200% to a market capitalization of $1.4 trillion, surpassing 2021’s high of $1.13 trillion. The analyst also pointed out that, ahead of its 2021 rally, the sector saw a similar performance. In 2020, Altcoins broke out in November and saw a significant 30% drop in early December, followed by a four-week recovery. Then, they recorded a 143% surge in January 2021, which led to other three-monthly green candles before the first major retrace. Related Reading: Top Crypto Assets For Q1 2025: Grayscale Reveals The Best Altcoins Similarly, they’ve experienced a 26% drop this December, currently being on the third week out of the expected four-week recovery period. To the analyst, “Early January could mark the start of an ‘up only’ season.” Lastly, Titan of Crypto added that, during the last two cycles, Altcoins’ initial rally lasted between 140 and 175 days, suggesting that this cycle’s rally could hit a new high around April or May. If it were to follow the past cycles’ performance, it could see a first pump around Q2 2025 before peaking in Q4. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
In a fortunate move, the Vietnamese authorities were able to successfully dismantle a large-scale cryptocurrency scam orchestrated by a company called ‘Million Smiles,’ protecting nearly 300 potential victims from financial exploitation. The scheme, built around a fictitious token called QFS (Quantum Financial System), had already swindled approximately $1.17 million (30 billion VND) from around 400 […]
Spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) registered their first red weekly performance in a month during Christmas Week, their worst performance since September. However, analysts noted that the ETF industry saw its best year yet. Related Reading: Ethereum Looks To Reclaim All-time High, Current Cycle To Outperform Past Cycles? Bitcoin ETFs Receive Charcoal For Christmas […]
Amid the broader decline in the global crypto market, Ethereum emerged as one of the major cryptocurrencies that has been impacted significantly. Despite already being underperformed in the recent bull run, Ethereum has now experienced a notable correction, dropping to as low as below the $3,500 price level in recent weeks. While this price performance from ETH might have led investors to lose interest in Ethereum for now, recent data from the CryptoQuant platform suggests a possible turnaround, with key indicators pointing towards renewed market confidence. Related Reading: Is Ethereum Ready To Break Out? Key Indicators Suggest Strong Market Confidence Funding Rates Indicate Renewed Confidence Among Traders A CryptoQuant analyst, ShayanBTC, highlighted Ethereum’s futures market developments in a recent analysis titled “Ethereum Futures Market Signals Potential Rebound After $3K Correction.” The analysis from Shayan reveals that the futures funding rates, which act as a sentiment gauge for traders, have shown signs of stabilization after the price drop, hinting at a potential recovery. According to the analyst, Ethereum funding rates have shown an increase after the recent sharp correction, indicating a higher appetite among traders for long positions. Notably, funding rates are a mechanism in perpetual futures contracts where traders holding long positions pay short sellers, or vice versa, depending on market sentiment. When funding rates rise, it typically suggests that traders are leaning towards a bullish outlook. Shayan disclosed that the spike in funding rates implies increased demand for Ethereum at its current price level, signaling that traders expect a bounce-back from the $3,000 region. The analyst further explained that such behavior often precedes significant upward price movements, particularly when combined with a period of market consolidation. In his words: The recent spike in funding rates suggests an influx of buyers, which, if sustained, could drive a substantial bullish rebound. This renewed buying pressure has the potential to push Ethereum toward the crucial $4K resistance in the short to mid-term. Ethereum Market Performance After weeks of consistent decline, Ethereum currently trades at a price of $3,310, at the time of writing down by 1.5% in the past day. This market price marks a 32.2% decrease away from its all-time high (ATH) of $4,878, recorded in November 2021. Interestingly despite the drop in ETH’s price, the asset has still managed to see a slight increase in trading volume in the past day. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Guns For A Mid-High Timeframe Reversal Against Bitcoin In Bullish Q1 2025 Particularly, as of this time yesterday, ETH’s daily trading volume stood at a valuation below $15 billion, however, at the time of writing, the asset’s daily trading volume valuation sits at $20.6 billion. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) digital currency cryptocurrency regulation’s importance in its recently published 2024 Financial Stability Report. This reiteration is particularly noteworthy given the contrasting approach of crypto between mainland China and Hong Kong. Notably, while mainland China maintains its strict ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining, Hong Kong continues to diverge by actively […]
As Bitcoin (BTC) continues to move sideways, investors wonder whether the flagship crypto will end the year positively or on a sour note. Some analysts suggest a close above recently lost levels could propel BTC’s price to new highs. Related Reading: Analyst Forecast ‘Highly Bullish’ 2025 For Ethereum: Is The Bleeding Over? Bitcoin’s Red Week, Green Year Since breaking past the long-awaited $100,000 barrier in early December, Bitcoin has seen two significant corrections to the lower zone of its one-month range. Throughout the month, the flagship crypto’s price has traded between $90,000 and $108,000, hovering between $96,000 and $102,000 for most of December. However, since reaching its latest all-time high (ATH) of $108,353 ten days ago, Bitcoin has lost the $100,000 support zone, falling to its lowest price in weeks. Over the past week, BTC has struggled to reclaim the $98,000 support zone, losing its Christmas retest above this level on Thursday. Now, the largest crypto by market capitalization moves within the mid-zone of its monthly range, displaying a candle that “doesn’t look great but also not the worst. Neutral, and still a few more days to go,” as Altcoin Sherpa stated. The analyst suggested that Bitcoin could see “some weird price action over the next few weeks with despair followed by an absolute moon mission and killer alt season.” Meanwhile, Daan Crypto Trades called BTC’s current price action the “end of the year chop.” He noted that as Bitcoin moves sideways, liquidity is “building on both sides,” with an area of interest below $94,000 and a key level above the $100,000 mark. Some investors asked the community to zoom out on BTC’s chart, highlighting that the cryptocurrency remains within a historical range despite the horizontal trajectory. If Bitcoin were to end the year at its current price, it would still record a 48.15% return in Q4 and a 122% increase in the yearly timeframe. Bitcoin Risks Fall To One-Month Lows Analyst Carl Runefelt considers that investors should watch the $92,500 support zone, as breaking below that horizontal level could send BTC’s price to $86,000. Similarly, Ali Martinez warned investors about a key level for BTC. Martinez asserted that investors “don’t want Bitcoin to dip below $92,730,” explaining that it is “essentially free fall territory” if the flagship crypto loses that level. According to the analyst, the flagship crypto could fall as low as $70,000 if it loses the key support zone based on the UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD) chart. In a previous post, he explored a bearish outlook where BTC could fall as low as $60,000, noting that several experts forecasted a correction anywhere from 23% to 36% for BTC. Martinez considers a 25% crash to the $70,000 mark possible, as the URPD chart shows minimal support below the $93,806 and $92,730 zones. “If this critical demand area doesn’t hold, we could see a sharp drop to $70,085,” he warned. Related Reading: New Solana Memecoin Leader? PENGU Flips BONK Amid Whale Accumulation He also pointed out that Bitcoin broke below one of its “most significant support zones at $97,300,” which suggests a bearish outlook while it isn’t reclaimed. However, the analyst asserted that this outlook would be invalidated if BTC has “a sustained close above $97,300 and, more critically, a daily close above $100,000.” Martinez added that reclaiming these levels could start the next leg toward the $168,000 target. As of this writing, Bitcoin is trading at $94,587, a 1.24% decrease in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
A recent report warned about a new sophisticated phishing scam targeting unsuspected crypto users. The scheme involves fake Zoom meeting links to trick investors into downloading malicious software to steal their assets. Related Reading: Russian Companies Using Bitcoin For International Payments To Evade Sanctions – Report Fake Zoom Link Steals Private Data On Friday, Blockchain […]
The TRON blockchain has been making significant strides in the cryptocurrency market, recording a notable increase in network fees and transaction activity. Particularly, over the past year, the TRON network has consistently demonstrated growth across multiple key metrics, reflecting increased adoption and participation from larger players in the digital asset market. Related Reading: Inside Trump’s […]
Recent reports revealed that Russian companies have begun using Bitcoin and other digital assets in international trade to bypass sanctions. The country’s Finance Minister also shared the government’s plan to expand its crypto use as an alternative for international payment. Related Reading: Bitcoin Preparing For Its Next Major Market Surge – Here’s How High It […]
The newly launched PENGU token has stolen the spotlight after becoming the largest Solana-based memecoin by market capitalization. The token’s rally has gathered massive interest from large-scale investors, who have heavily invested in the token over the last few days. Related Reading: ONDO Faces 30% Correction Risk If It Loses $1.46 Support – Top Analyst New Solana Token Steals The Spotlight On December 17, the Pudgy Penguins Non-Fungible Token (NFT) project launched its official token, PENGU, on the Solana Blockchain. The token has moved through the ranks, flipping other Solana-based tokens and gathering massive attention in nine days. Pudgy Penguins, one of the largest NFT collections, consists of 8,888 unique cartoons of cute penguins and has a market capitalization of 205,757 ETH. In anticipation of the token launch, the project surged as the second-largest NFT collection, only falling behind CryptoPunks. Since its launch three years ago, the project has seen its community significantly grow and “cemented itself in the hearts and minds of everyday people and culture,” according to the project’s team. Additionally, it is expected to contribute to the project’s governance despite not having a specific use case announced yet. As such, the newly launched cryptocurrency aims to “expand its community and further widen the reach” of the project by allowing old and new users “to align” themselves with the penguins. According to CoinGecko data, the Solana-based memecoin debuted with a 500% surge to a market capitalization of $3.5 billion but registered massive volatility in the following days. Just hours after launching, PENGU’s price retraced over 50% before descending to a $1.4 billion market cap on December 20. The token hovered between the $0.025-$0.037 range over a few days, stabilizing around the range’s upper zone on Christmas Eve. Whales Fill Their Bags As PENGU Flips BONK Amid the market’s momentary Christmas Day gains, the token broke above this range and climbed to the $0.042 mark on Thursday morning, hitting a $2.6 billion market cap. During this 18% rally, the token flipped dogwifhat (WIF) and BONK to become the largest Solana memecoin by market cap, currently holding its position as the sector’s leader. PENGU became the fourth largest memecoin by this metric, just behind Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and PEPE. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, the token has seen a 25% increase in market activity, with a daily trading volume of $1.92 billion. According to on-chain data analysis firm Lookonchain, Crypto whales have also noticed PENGU’s rally, with several large-scale investors filling their bags over the past week. Related Reading: Analyst Forecast ‘Highly Bullish’ 2025 For Ethereum: Is The Bleeding Over? On December 24, a whale that had received an airdrop of 116.7 million PENGU, worth $3.52 million, increased its holding with a $1 million purchase. According to the post, the wallet spent 5,250 SOL to buy an additional 34.42 million PENGU, holding a total of 151.12 million PENGU, valued at $5.08 million. Similarly, another whale exchanged 500,000 ai16z, another trending Solana-based memecoin, today for PENGU. In the past eight days, this investor has spent $2.47 million to buy 79.9 million PENGU, having unrealized profits of around $835,000. As of this writing, PENGU is trading at $0.038, a 4.8% increase in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
South Korea has announced sanctions against 15 individuals and one entity from North Korea involved in cybercrimes, including large-scale cryptocurrency heists. The move comes amid rising concerns about North Korea’s use of cyber operations to fund its weapons programs and evade international sanctions. Related Reading: South Korea Should ‘Quickly Institutionalize’ Crypto, Stock Exchange Chief Says […]
Bitcoin ongoing price movement has sparked intense analysis as it continues to hover below the $100,000 mark. Despite reaching an all-time high above $108,000 last week, the cryptocurrency has struggled to maintain upward momentum ever since. With this performance, BTC’s on-chain data has been brought to the spotlight to uncover the factors driving recent selling pressures and investor behavior. One key focus has been the Spent Output Age Bands (SOAB) indicator, which provides valuable insights into Bitcoin holders’ activity based on their holding periods. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Forming A Symmetrical Triangle – Can BTC Reclaim $100K? Who Cashed Out Their Bitcoin Gains? According to a CryptoQuant analyst known as Yonsei Dent, data reveals that Bitcoin investors who bought their holdings between six to twelve months ago were the most active sellers during the recent price surge. This group largely entered the market during the initial excitement surrounding the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) earlier in the year. While this selling activity exerted downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price, the asset has managed to stabilize within the $90,000–$100,000 range. Interestingly, long-term holders, defined as those holding Bitcoin for over a year, have shown minimal selling activity. Historical trends suggest that these seasoned investors are likely anticipating elevated price levels before considering substantial profit-taking. Meanwhile, Dent pointed to the Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) metric showing a noticeable decline in older Bitcoin being moved in December compared to November. Historically, reduced activity from long-term holders during price corrections often signals market resilience and potential for future upward momentum. The analyst wrote: The ‘Binary CDD’ indicator at the bottom of the chart shows a decline in the selling of older Bitcoin in December compared to November. This suggests that many long-term holders may anticipate even higher prices before selling. Binance Reserves Signal Market Confidence Speaking of higher prices, another crucial metric suggesting a significant move brewing for Bitcoin comes from Binance’s Bitcoin reserves, which have been steadily declining since August. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost highlighted that Binance’s reserves recently hit their lowest level since January. This trend is significant because a similar decline earlier in the year preceded a 90% surge in Bitcoin’s price. The reduction in exchange reserves typically indicates that investors are moving their Bitcoin holdings away from centralized exchanges and into private wallets. Such behavior suggests reduced selling pressure and a preference for long-term holding strategies. Historically, declining reserves on exchanges have often aligned with periods of strong market optimism and price rallies. Notably, as BTC currently still trades at a price of $95,567 down by 2.7% in the past day, the confluence of these factors—long-term holder confidence, reduced activity from older wallets, and declining exchange reserves—presents a cautiously optimistic picture for Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sentiment Still Close To Extreme Greed: More Cooldown Needed For Bottom? However, it is cautioned that sustained buying activity will be required to break through psychological resistance levels and maintain upward momentum. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
South Korea's crypto user base surged to 15.6 million in November, surpassing 30% of the population.
Toncoin (TON) appears to have now entered a notable phase in its market cycle, presenting potential opportunities for investors. A recent analysis by CryptoQuant analyst Joao Wedson highlights that TON has moved into a favorable risk zone for accumulation, as indicated by the Normalized Risk Metric (NMR). This metric evaluates an asset’s price risk relative to historical data, providing a clearer picture of whether the current price levels are suitable for investment or if caution is warranted. Related Reading: Toncoin Consolidates: Could A Breakout Push TON Higher? Toncoin Current Market Outlook The NMR uses moving averages such as the 50-day and 374-day simple moving averages (SMA) along with logarithmic differences in price data to determine risk exposure. A normalized score ranging between 0 and 1 indicates the level of risk, with values closer to zero suggesting a lower chance of price decline. According to Wedson, TON’s current placement in the green zone signals reduced risk, making it an appealing opportunity for investors seeking long-term exposure to the asset. The analysis further suggests that while the medium and long-term risk profiles appear favorable, there remains a possibility for TON’s price to revisit historically significant support zones, often referred to as the “blue zone” on price heatmaps. Historically, these levels have served as price floors and accumulation points for investors expecting future price appreciation. Open Interest Decline and Market Volatility Trends Another CryptoQuant analyst, Maartunn, has added further context to Toncoin’s current market stance. According to his observations, TON’s Open Interest (OI) in the futures market has decreased to $141 million, marking the lowest level observed in the past nine months. Open Interest refers to the total value of outstanding futures contracts and is a key indicator of market sentiment and participation. A decline in Open Interest generally signals reduced market activity and lower volatility. While this trend is specific to TON, it reflects a broader pattern across the cryptocurrency market as the year comes to a close. Historically, periods of low Open Interest are often followed by significant price movements, either upward or downward, once liquidity returns to the market. Related Reading: Toncoin’s 90-Day Returns Turn Positive: Is A Massive Rally On The Horizon? Lower Open Interest combined with Toncoin’s favorable risk metrics may suggest a period of price stability and reduced volatility. Risk-Adjusted Returns and Drawdowns: A Look at Unrealized Profits in TON “The Open Interest and Funding Rates chart complements this narrative by highlighting steady open interest levels, which demonstrate sustained participation in the TON ecosystem.” – By @ShivenMoodley More… pic.twitter.com/DIpNabROij — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) December 24, 2024 Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
Ethereum (ETH) has started to climb some levels after it fell to the $3,100 support zone last week. The second-largest cryptocurrency is attempting to break from its downtrend, with some market watchers suggesting it is poised for a massive run in 2025. Related Reading: Is Altcoin Season Here Already? VanEck Answers As Bitcoin Price Struggles Below $100,000 Ethereum Key Levels To Reclaim With only a week left in 2024, several market watchers have started forecasting the crypto market’s potential performance for next year. Despite the recent pullbacks, several analysts have predicted a remarkable performance for Ethereum in 2025. The King of Altcoins has struggled to turn the $4,000 level into support. After breaking past this level earlier this month, ETH has been rejected from this price range three times. Its latest attempt occurred a week ago when Ethereum soared to $4,100 before retracing 7.3%. As Bitcoin (BTC) fell to $92,000, the second-largest crypto continued its freefall to the $3,100 support zone, reaching its lowest price in a month. Since then, Ethereum has hovered between $3,200 and $3,550 but failed to break past the price range’s higher zone for the past four days. However, the cryptocurrency has broken out of its downtrend line and is attempting to reclaim the $3,500 support. A crypto analyst noted that ETH appears to have broken and retested its one-week downtrend after reclaiming the $3,400 support. According to the post, a “clean breakout” of this downtrend could lead the cryptocurrency to a retest of higher levels. Ali Martinez highlighted that ETH’s next big support zone was between the $3,032 and $3,132 price range, with 4.85 million ETH bought by 3.69 million addresses. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s next big resistance wall is between $3,640 and $3,740, where over 2 million addresses bought around 4.3 million ETH. To Martinez, “a sustained close outside this no-trade zone will determine the direction of ETH’s trend.” Will ETH Follow 2021’s Performance? Analyst Ted Pillows pointed out that “the first four months after U.S. elections are often highly bullish for ETH.” Per the chart, Ethereum registered massive gains in the first third of the year after the 2016 and 2020 US elections. In 2017, Ethereum started the year with a 31.92% increase in the first month, while it recorded a 78.51% surge in January 2021. In both years, ETH hit its peak monthly performances between March and April, seeing 214% and 44% returns in 2017 and 2021, respectively. If Ethereum repeats this historical performance, its price could surge above its all-time high (ATH) of $4,878 in January and continue to climb during the rest of Q1. Crypto trader Immortal noted that Ethereum’s recent performance resembles its 2020-2021 price action. According to the chart, ETH saw a significant rise in early 2021 before consolidating in its new range. This was followed by a breakout and a massive drop to retest consolidation zone. Related Reading: Solana Recovery Momentum Set The Stage For $194 Resistance Breakout However, when ETH reclaimed its breakout levels in 2021, the cryptocurrency continued rallying toward its previous ATH of $4,300, eventually hitting its current ATH at the end of the year. The trader notes that ETH is retesting the consolidation range after last week’s dip, which signals that the cryptocurrency could soar in the coming weeks if it follows a similar path. As of this writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,501, a 6.3% increase in the last 24 hours. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
A recent Bloomberg report has revealed that in 2024, Singapore was able to solidify its position as a leading digital asset hub in Asia, surpassing Hong Kong in “regulatory efficiency and appeal” to crypto firms. Particularly, the city-state issued 13 crypto licenses this year, more than double the number granted in 2023. Prominent global players […]
According to local reports, the Russian government will ban crypto mining activities in ten key regions following the recent enactment of the new industry-related laws. It will also implement seasonal bans on other territories and potentially add more areas to the list amid the ongoing electrical crisis in the country. Related Reading: Cardano Leader Charles […]
Bitcoin has continued to see declining performance in recent days with on-chain metrics offering valuable insights into market behavior. Among these metrics, the Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR) for long-term holders has particularly emerged as a critical tool for assessing investor sentiment and market resilience. Long-term holders, defined as investors holding Bitcoin for over 155 days, are often viewed as a stabilizing force in the market. Their selling patterns can significantly influence price trends, making SOPR an indicator worth watching. Related Reading: Bitcoin Market Leverage and Coinbase Premium: What Recent Data Reveals Long-Term Holder Trends And Market Sentiment Recent analysis from a CryptoQuant analyst known as Cryptoavails highlights that Bitcoin’s long-term holder SOPR metric continues to exhibit notable patterns as Bitcoin’s price trends upward. Historically, SOPR values above 1 indicate that long-term holders are selling at a profit, while values below 1 suggest they are offloading their holdings at a loss. This behavior reflects broader market confidence or capitulation during periods of price decline. Currently, the SOPR metric remains consistently above 1, signaling that long-term holders are selling profitably without adding significant downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price. The analysis from Cryptoavails tracks key phases in the Bitcoin market over the past two years, highlighting significant shifts in SOPR values. For instance, in early 2022, the SOPR metric showed high volatility with frequent spikes, suggesting intense profit-taking activity by long-term holders. Amid these sales, Bitcoin’s price experienced a downward trend, reflecting persistent selling pressure during that period. This trend gradually shifted in late 2022 and early 2023 when the SOPR metric mostly remained below 1, indicating that long-term holders were selling at a loss as the market sought to find stability. By mid-2023, the SOPR began trending upwards, signaling renewed confidence among long-term investors. The metric consistently moved closer to or above the critical level of 1, suggesting that long-term holders were once again selling at a profit while market confidence began to recover. This upward trend has remained intact into 2024, supported by Bitcoin’s rising price levels. Importantly, there have been no significant sell-offs by long-term holders, reinforcing the broader market’s stability, according to the crypto analyst. SOPR As A Forward Indicator For Market Growth Overall, Cryptoavails mentioned that the current state of Bitcoin’s SOPR suggests a healthy market dynamic, with long-term holders contributing to a stable price structure. Despite periodic corrections, the sustained presence of SOPR above 1 indicates that selling pressure remains controlled. Related Reading: What’s The Worst Case Scenario For Bitcoin Right Now? Analyst Explains The analyst also pointed out that this behavior reflects market maturity, where long-term investors are not rushing to offload their holdings despite Bitcoin’s price appreciation. Regardless, Bitcoin has continued to consistently decrease in price since its sharp drop below $100,000 last week. At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades at a price of $93,991 down by 1.6% in the past 24 hours. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
The latest report from CoinShares, a leading digital asset investment firm, reveals that last week’s performance for crypto asset investment products was mixed. According to the report, the market experienced inflows totaling $308 million, marking a continuation of positive trends. However, there was also a series of outflows that amounted to roughly $1 billion. Related […]
This year, crypto hacks increased in the total value stolen and the number of attacks compared to last year. According to a recent report, the industry lost over $2 billion in the past 12 months, with over half of the funds allegedly being stolen by North Korean hackers. Related Reading: Morocco’s New Crypto Framework ‘To […]
As Bitcoin currently faces a downturn and now seeing a recovery suggesting a preparation for its next bull run, market participants appears to be analyzing trends in exchange leverage and liquidity. Particularly, CryptoQuant has pointed out that leverage ratios on centralized exchanges have become a focal point, offering insights into the potential risks and opportunities shaping the crypto market. The platform’s recent data highlights the importance of assessing these ratios to gauge the financial stability of exchanges and the impact on trading dynamics. Related Reading: As Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000, Warning Signs Emerge from Long-Term Investors Leverage Trends And Exchange Stability A detailed analysis revealed that Binance maintains strong reserves relative to its open interest, signaling a strong ability to manage market volatility. In contrast, smaller exchanges like Gate.io and Bybit exhibit higher leverage ratios, raising questions about their capacity to withstand liquidity crunches. According to CryptoQuant, monitoring these metrics has become even more “critical” in light of past events, such as the collapse of FTX in November 2024, which was triggered by insufficient reserves against high open interest. CryptoQuant’s latest findings further highlight the varying leverage strategies employed by major cryptocurrency exchanges. Binance emerged as a leader in maintaining a stable leverage ratio while expanding its Bitcoin open interest from $4.45 billion in December 2023 to $11.64 billion in December 2024. Despite this growth, Binance’s Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT reserves have consistently exceeded its open interest, ensuring liquidity and stability even during volatile market conditions. The exchange’s leverage ratio, which rose modestly from 12.8 to 13.5 over the past year, remains the lowest among its peers. Conversely, exchanges like Gate.io, Bybit, and Deribit exhibit significantly higher leverage ratios of 106, 86, and 32, respectively. CryptoQuant wrote: These figures show their Bitcoin open interest exceeds or approaches their reserves, with similar patterns observed for Ethereum. Coinbase Premium: A Key Indicator For Bitcoin Traders Beyond leverage ratios, another crucial metric shaping Bitcoin market sentiment is the Coinbase Premium. This indicator, which tracks the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and other exchanges, is a barometer for institutional demand and market trends. A CryptoQuant analyst named BQYoutube suggested that traders adopt a cautious approach based on Coinbase Premium signals: When the premium is negative, it may be wise to stay on the sidelines. Related Reading: Bitcoin Rally Loses Momentum: Could A Drop To $75,000 Signal The Final Correction? However, a positive premium often signals the return of strong demand, offering a strategic entry point for traders looking to ride major market trends. According to the latest data, this metric currently sits on the negative side, suggesting to stay on the sidelines. BQYoutube added: You might miss few small trends with this approach but at least you can ride all the big trends and avoid losses in dips or downtrends. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingVie
Tether appears to have now been affected by regulatory adjustment in Europe. Particularly, with the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations scheduled to fully take effect in its member states by the end of the year, the crypto landscape is being reshaped. Intended to increase oversight as well as eliminate illegal practices, MiCA requires […]
Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has recently experienced a significant and sudden price correction, sparking debate among investors. Concerns have surfaced about whether this downturn signals the conclusion of the current bull cycle or merely represents a temporary setback. While short-term holders face losses, long-term metrics provide a broader perspective on Bitcoin’s trajectory, as analyzed by CryptoQuant’s Avocado Onchain in a recent report. Related Reading: As Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000, Warning Signs Emerge from Long-Term Investors Opportunity Or End of The Bull Cycle? According to Avocado Onchain, the realized price for investors who entered the market during Bitcoin’s recent peak at $98,000 places them in a loss-making position. However, for those who invested between one to three months ago, the realized price is significantly lower at $71,000, offering a cushion against the current correction. Avocado pointed out that historical patterns from Bitcoin’s 2021 bull cycle reveal similar alternations between record highs and sharp corrections, suggesting that these dips may not necessarily indicate the end of the cycle. Instead, they have historically been “opportunities” for market rebalancing and subsequent growth. A key indicator analyzed is the 30-day moving average of the short-term SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio). This metric tracks whether recent market participants are selling at a profit or a loss. The current SOPR data reveals that recent short-term inflows into Bitcoin have yet to result in substantial profit-taking. Unlike previous cycle peaks characterized by aggressive selling, the ongoing correction appears subdued, indicating that the market may still have room for upward movement. Bitcoin Short-Term Dips vs. Long-Term Trends Additionally, Avocado Onchain highlights the importance of distinguishing between short-term corrections and broader cycle trends. Bitcoin’s tendency to rebound after corrections in past bull cycles reinforces the notion that the current downturn might not mark the cycle’s end. These insights align with the behaviour of long-term holders, who often use corrections to consolidate their positions, strengthening market resilience. Related Reading: Is The Bitcoin Top In For This Cycle? On-Chain Signals You Need To Know Avocado concluded the analysis, noting: For investors who have yet to enter the market, this may be an excellent opportunity to buy Bitcoin at a discount. Instead of succumbing to panic selling during short-term downturns, adopting a long-term perspective and a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy could be a more effective approach. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is seeing a gradual rebound in its price surging by 1.3% in the past 1 hour. Regardless, the asset still appears to be overshadowed by the bears as BTC remains down by 3.5% in the past day and 10.5% from its peak of $108,135 recorded last week. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
Bitcoin (BTC) tries the $100,000 support zone after falling to $98,000 during the recent market shakeout. According to some market watchers, the flagship crypto’s recent performance resembles its December 2023 trajectory, suggesting that BTC might see a massive breakout soon. Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Peak Between $160,000 And $290,000 If These Historical Patterns Repeat – Report Bitcoin Price Mirrors December 2023’s Performance On Wednesday, Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market saw a massive correction after the US Federal Reserve (Fed) announced a 25-basis-point rate cut and signaled fewer cuts than expected in 2025. The flagship cryptocurrency dropped 9.2% from its $108,135 all-time high (ATH), briefly falling below the $99,000 on support before recovering. BTC quickly climbed back to $100,000, surging 2% on Thursday morning to the $102,000 resistance. After the dump, crypto trader Follis suggested that this month’s price action mirrored BTC’s 2023 trajectory. The trader stated that Bitcoin was “repeating the December playbook from last year,” forecasting that a pump to a new high is coming soon. Per the chart, BTC moved within the $40,000-$45,000 price range before breaking out in January 2024. The breakout was followed by a significant 20% correction to the previous consolidation zone, briefly dipping below this range. However, Bitcoin reclaimed the breakout levels in the following weeks and surged another 47% to its March ATH of $73,000. If the largest crypto by market cap continues to follow this “playbook,” then its price could see a correction below $88,000 by year-end before resuming its bullish run to new highs. Similarly, Daan Crypto Trades pointed out that BTC’s performance in Q4 resembles its Q4 2023 price action. The analyst stated that Bitcoin will likely continue the “slow hoppy grind up before the actual breakout” happens. He recommended “zooming out” as the short-term chart “doesn’t look pretty” but noted that BTC’s price is still “trending up slowly.” Analyst Warns Of BTC’s Daily Close Other analysts suggested that the coming hours will be decisive for BTC’s short-term performance. Rekt Capital asserted that holding the $100,000 support was crucial, as failing to maintain this level could send Bitcoin below the previous key resistance of $98,000. Moreover, a daily close above the $101,000 mark would be necessary to prevent this range from turning into resistance again. The analyst emphasized that “doing so could kickstart a chain of events where BTC starts to lose support level by level.” Related Reading: Sentiment For Ethereum Hits 1-year Low, Analyst Says A Massive Run Is Coming He added that a close above this level would invalidate the short-term bearish outlook. Previously, the analyst explained that Bitcoin is amid the first “Price Discovery Correction,” which tends to happen between the 6thand 8th week of BTC’s post-halving “Parabolic Upside Phase”: As a result, over the next 3 weeks or so, I am going to be increasingly cautious about retest attempts, and given BTC’s history at this point in the cycle, I wouldn’t be surprised to see key levels get invalidated. However, he emphasized that the “Second Price Discovery Uptrend” will follow the big correction. As of this writing, Bitcoin has dipped below the $100,000 support level, registering a 5.1% 24-hour drop to the $98,900 mark. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
Cathie Wood predicts a surge in M&A activity under Trump’s administration, driven by deregulation and reduced FTC barriers.
Before yesterday’s plunge, Bitcoin recent rally was able to propel the asset to a new all-time high of $108,000, marking another significant milestone in its upward trajectory. However, according to latest analysis, this notable price surge is accompanied by signs of potential market volatility, as long-term holders begin to exhibit selling activity. Attention has been turned to the Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) metric, a critical tool for assessing the behavior of long-term Bitcoin holders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breaks ATH Pushing Back Into Price Discovery – BTC To $130K? What Do Long-Term Holders Currently Signal? The Binary CDD metric tracks the activity of long-term holders by measuring the number of “coin days” destroyed relative to the total supply. When this metric spikes, it often indicates increased selling pressure from long-term investors. According to a CryptoQuant analyst, ShayanBTC, the Binary CDD metric has recently recorded a sharp increase, coinciding with Bitcoin’s new price high. Historically, such spikes in this metric have been precursors to market corrections, suggesting that these holders are taking advantage of current price levels to reduce their exposure. Shayan added that the long-term holders actions often serve as a barometer for broader market sentiment. The recent surge in the Binary CDD metric suggests that these holders might view the peak above $108,000 as a strategic exit point. If this selling pressure intensifies, it could lead to heightened market volatility and potentially trigger a price correction. Bitcoin Market Outlook Bitcoin has recorded a rollercoaster move in the past day. Particularly, following the FOMC news outcome yesterday along with the speech from Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States, Bitcoin saw a significant plunge in its price dropping to as low as the $98,000 level. However, the latest price action has been quite interesting as BTC is showing a rebound. In the early hours of Thursday, Bitcoin saw a recovery in price after reclaiming the $100,000 to trade as high as above $105,000. Currently, Bitcoin has seen a retrace back to a price of $100,718, at the time of writing, marking a 3.5% decrease in the past day and roughly 6.6% reduction away from its all-time high (ATH). Meanwhile, adding to Shayan’s narrative, another CryptoQuant analyst, Onatt, highlighted additional market indicators that hint at potential turbulence. The Coinbase Premium Index, which tracks the price difference between Coinbase and other exchanges, is currently in negative territory, indicating increased selling pressure. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Still Mirroring Bullish Move From 2023, What To Expect After Hitting $108,000 ATH Furthermore, the adjusted Spent Output Profit Ratio (aSOPR), a metric used to gauge profit-taking behavior, has shown sudden spikes. According to Onatt, these signals collectively highlights the need for sustained institutional demand, particularly through Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to stabilize market conditions. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
Sentiment for Ethereum (ETH) has reached its lowest levels in a year as the second-largest crypto by market capitalization struggles to reclaim the $4,000 mark. Despite investors’ sentiment, some analysts suggest that the King of altcoins is about to kickstart its bullish run to new highs. Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Peak Between $160,000 And $290,000 If These Historical Patterns Repeat – Report Ethereum Sentiment Drops To Yearly Low According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, Ethereum social sentiment has hit a one-year low amid its struggle to turn the $4,000 resistance into support. Per the post, this metric reached its most negative levels since December 18, 2023, when ETH was trading around $2,100-$2,200. The analyst pointed out that this is a “classic bullish indicator,” noting that when sentiment hit “rock bottom” a year ago, ETH’s price rallied around 30% in the following weeks. The cryptocurrency climbed to the $2,700 mark by January 12, a key level in ETH’s rally to the March high of $4,093. If Ethereum followed the same pattern, the cryptocurrency could see a jump to the $4,900-$5,000 price range in the next month, potentially turning the next big resistance level into support in the following two weeks. Martinez explained that the crypto’s rally will resume once ETH clears the $4,100 resistance, a level not seen since December 2021. Once this level is recovered, “$6,000 will become a magnet.” After breaking past the $4,000 mark this month, the second-largest crypto has struggled to turn this level into support. Its latest breakout attempt occurred at the start of the week when Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed its previous ATH. While BTC traded above the $107,000 range, Ethereum surged to $4,100 but quickly retraced to $3,900 before seeing a correction to the $3,800 level. Despite the pullback, ETH still registers gains in the weekly and monthly timeframes, recording a 2.3% and 22.6% increase, respectively. Will ETH Break Past $4,000 This Month? Altcoin Sherpa highlighted that ETH is “roughly at the same spot that BTC was at around 70K,” adding that it hasn’t “materially broken this level for years.” In the last three years, ETH has been rejected from the $4,000 level several times but ran to its all-time high (ATH) when it was held in 2021. If it were to mirror Bitcoin’s performance, the cryptocurrency could see a run to its $4,800 ATH before aiming for its first price discovery target of around $5,000. The analyst also noted that December and January are the “best times” for the Altcoin market’s performance. Similarly, Benjamin Cowen previously highlighted that ETH’s pair against BTC is “still following a familiar pattern” where Ethereum historically finds “renewed strength” between December and January. Related Reading: PNUT Memecoin Drops 10% Following Peanut’s Owner Legal Warning To Binance Nonetheless, Sherpa forecasted that the ETH/BTC pair would likely see one “final shakeout” before going “up for a few weeks/months.” To achieve this, the token must break past its recent 0.041 high. Trader and analyst Skew warned that breaking past the $4,000 resistance will take “even more buying pressure” as this price has “some massive seller continuously topping up supply.” Lastly, he stated that holding the $3,800 level was key to continuing the rally. As of this writing, ETH is trading at $3,874, a 2% decline in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
According to the latest reports, the United States has made efforts to disrupt illicit crypto-related networks that support North Korea’s government, announcing sanctions against two individuals and one entity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US Treasury Department particularly said the parties acted as front companies for the North Korean regime that performed operations to […]