Recently, the bloodbath in Satoshi Street has hit all crypto assets hard, with Bitcoin dropping nearly 20% from its $70,000 high and many altcoins falling by 50% or more. This sharp decline is the result of several factors coming together, creating a perfect storm of market troubles.
Here are the key catalysts:
Reason Behind Massive Crypto Sell-Off
Geo-Political Tensions
Geopolitical tensions are also significant, with rising conflicts impacting investor sentiment. As geopolitical issues escalate, they create additional challenges for the cryptocurrency market, further impacting its stability.
Market in Recession Fear Grip
Recession fears are another crucial element. As economic indicators suggest a potential downturn, investors are becoming more cautious, leading to sell-offs in various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies. The Sahm Rule Recession Indicator has surpassed the 0.50 threshold, historically signaling the beginning of a recession in the U.S. economy.
Yen Unwind a global impact
Moving on, the recent drop in the crypto market can partly be traced to the Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates from 0% to 0.25%. This change, the first rate hike in years, has increased the cost of maintaining leveraged investments funded by cheap yen. As a result, investors have no funds left to invest in crypto assets, causing ripples of instability across financial markets, including cryptocurrencies.
Gox Distributions
The long-awaited Mt. Gox distributions are putting additional pressure on the market. As former creditors begin receiving their payouts, some are opting to sell their Bitcoin, increasing supply and contributing to the downward pressure on prices.
Jump Unwinding Positions
According to the LookonChain report, Jump Trading, a major player in the crypto space, is offloading 120,695 $wstETH ($481M), having sold 83K $wstETH ($377M) since July 24. The market has dropped 33%+ since then. This move by a significant market participant can trigger further sell-offs, as others may react to the increased volatility and follow suit, amplifying the downward pressure.
Stock Market Correction
The stock market felt the tremors when Japan’s Nikkei and TOPIX indices dropped over 8% each, marking the worst stock market loss since 1987 and a 20% decline from their highs in July. This crash follows a previous dip, driven by the Bank of Japan’s interest rate hike and reduced government bond purchases.
Trump Presidency Odds Decreasing
Another factor in the crypto crash is the growing chance that Kamala Harris could defeat Donald Trump in the November election. With Harris raising over $300 million and gaining momentum, PredictIt gives her a 53% chance of winning. Investors, concerned about potential policy changes, are adjusting their positions, adding to market instability.
Recent Pump Trapped Fresh Longs
The recent surge in crypto prices led many new investors to enter the market, hoping for continued gains. However, as the market reversed, these new positions faced liquidation, intensifying the downward momentum and contributing to the current market instability.
Altcoin Dispersion
The recent surge in crypto prices attracted many new investors, but as the market reverses, these positions are being liquidated, worsening the downward momentum. Plus, Bitcoin’s ongoing trend of lower lows and lower highs signals bearish control, undermining previous bullish patterns. With Bitcoin below the 200-day moving average, further declines are possible, and altcoins are likely to experience more extreme movements.
What shape will this perfect storm take, tell us.
Also Check Out: Crypto Bloodbath: Why Is Crypto Crashing Right Now?