What Happened in Crypto Today: What’s Going on With Bitcoin?
07/25/2024 21:49From Bitcoin dipping below $64K to Ethereum ETF failing to create enough buzz, here is a 2-minute breakdown of everything important that happened in crypto today.
After every bullish week, there's a bear lurking in the shadows.
But you've seen it before, right? The charts were green, your portfolio was soaring, and life was good. Then suddenly, the crypto took a nosedive.
But hey, that's just how the crypto works. One minute you're on top of the world, the next you're wondering if you should've stuck to your day job.
So, what's causing this latest dip? Is it just another blip on the radar, or should we be battening down the hatches?
Let's get a clearer picture:
Why Are the Prices Dipping?
Crypto's clearly taking a breather after making some wild moves during the past 10 days.
Bitcoin and Ethereum just dipped, triggering $250 million in liquidations.
According to data on CoinMarketCap, there has been a decrease in the number of wallet addresses holding over $100K worth of Bitcoin.
However, whale holdings (typically defined as addresses holding over 1% of circulating supply) remained stable. This suggests that while some mid-tier investors may be selling or redistributing their holdings, the largest Bitcoin holders are maintaining their positions, indicating confidence in the long-term prospects of the cryptocurrency (you can track this data and other on-chain metrics under CoinMarketCap’s analytics section to incorporate it into your broader analysis for making informed investment decisions).
Now if you are still panicking and confused, let's zoom out a bit.
This pullback isn't happening in isolation. The broader U.S. market took a hit too, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping 3.65% - its sharpest decline since October 2022.
So what's going on?
Well, it seems the tech sector's getting a reality check. Google's parent company Alphabet and other tech giants reported higher-than-expected expenses, spooking investors.
Now, you might be wondering why crypto prices are taking a hit alongside stocks.
It's simple: crypto and traditional markets are interconnected in this case. When big investors get nervous about tech stocks, that anxiety often spills over into crypto.
Many institutional players view Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of their broader tech portfolio. So when they decide to reduce risk, crypto often gets trimmed along with other high-growth assets.
But here's where it gets interesting for crypto. Despite the short-term turbulence, some analysts are still bullish on Ethereum. They're drawing parallels to Bitcoin's post-ETF launch performance earlier this year.
ETH Could Hit Its All-Time High Soon If It Follows BTC’s Foot Steps
Remember when Bitcoin hit its all-time high just two months after spot ETFs launched? Some think Ethereum might follow a similar trajectory.
Speaking of ETFs, the newly launched spot Ethereum ETFs are already making waves. While they saw some outflows on day two, it's worth noting that seven out of eight ETFs still posted net inflows.
The wild card here is Grayscale's converted Ethereum Trust. It's been bleeding assets, which isn't surprising given its previous six-month lock-up period.
So What Can We Learn From History?
Well, when spot Bitcoin ETFs launched, we saw a similar pattern of initial volatility followed by substantial gains.
The key takeaway? Short-term pain doesn't necessarily mean long-term doom. In fact, some traders are eyeing this dip as a potential buying opportunity (NFA).
What You Can Do in This Market
First, closely monitor on-chain metrics like wallet address distributions and whale holdings. You can do so here.
Pay attention to the interconnection between crypto and traditional markets, particularly tech stocks, as this relationship can influence price movements.
Lastly, consider the historical pattern of volatility followed by gains after significant events like ETF launches.
While this information shouldn't be treated as financial advice, it can help you form a more comprehensive view of the current market dynamics.
Now that you understand why the charts look red, let's take a break and catch up on today's top crypto news.
Here's your TLDR of today's headlines:
Ethereum ETFs debut with $100M, but only 10-20% of Bitcoin ETFs' first-day performance. What exactly prevented this ETF’s success? 🤔
Franklin Templeton hints at Solana ETF, praising its adoption and architecture. Have they already filed applications for Solana ETF? Or is it just talks? 🌞
Bernstein analysts spotlight 12 Bitcoin mining stocks with potential for significant upside. But can miners really close the 90% valuation gap with data centers? ⛏️
Base deploys fault proofs on Sepolia testnet, aiming for "Stage 1" decentralization. Could this upgrade possibly make Base a hub of upcoming projects? 🌊
Ether ETFs' Debut: Solid Start, But Not Anywhere Near Bitcoin
Ethereum ETFs have hit the ground running, but they're not exactly breaking the sound barrier.
These new ETFs pulled in over $100 million on day one.
But let's put that in perspective - it's only 10% to 20% of what Bitcoin ETFs managed on their debut back in January.
But why?
Adrian Fritz from 21Shares has the answer. Bitcoin's got that "digital gold" story that's easy to sell. Ethereum? It's like trying to cover quantum physics in 12 minutes. There's a lot more educating to do.
So there is no hope for ETH ETFs? Or are we missing something? Read the full story!
Franklin Templeton's Now Eyeing Solana ETF
Franklin Templeton dropped a hint on X about "significant developments" beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
And guess who's the star of the show? Solana.
They are praising its adoption, maturity, and high-throughput architecture.
Have they already filed applications for Solana ETF? Or is it just talks? Read the full story!
12 Bitcoin Mining Stocks in the Spotlight
Bernstein's analysts just released a research note on Bitcoin mining.
They've put 12 Bitcoin mining companies under the microscope.
The big takeaway? These miners could slash their 90% valuation discount compared to regular data centers. All they need to do is get smarter about power usage and efficiency.
The analysts think there's "significant upside" in upgrading to the latest mining chips.
Wondering which mining stocks are gold according to these analysts? Read the full story!
Base Is Making Moves Too!
Coinbase's Layer 2 darling, Base, is taking a big step.
It just deployed fault proofs on the Sepolia testnet.
Right now, Base is still in what Vitalik Buterin calls "Stage 0" decentralization - only Base's centralized proposer can submit the network's state to Ethereum for validation.
But this new move? It's aiming for "Stage 1" decentralization. That means anyone could propose or challenge Base's state.
Base is pretty excited about this. They're calling it a "major step" and a "crucial launch."
Could this upgrade possibly make Base a hub of upcoming projects? Read the full story!