Bitcoin (BTC) kicked off the U.S. trading week with a dip, falling below $27,500 and sparking a discussion among investors about the potential impact of major events, such as the PEPE meme coin interest and Binance congestion issues. With these events in mind, questions have been raised about the effect of large bitcoin transaction volume on the market. Meanwhile, Ether (ETH) followed a similar pattern, falling below the $1,900 level it maintained for much of the past week.
The deflationary narrative surrounding ETH post-Ethereum Shapella upgrade gained traction as ETH’s net issuance, or the annualized inflation rate, dropped to -2.7%. With an equivalent worth of around $116 million, over 62,300 ETH have been burned during the past seven days. As Joe DiPasquale, CEO of crypto fund manager BitBull Capital, mentions, both BTC and ETH have not tested their near-term supports since the mid-March rally.
With a favorable economic outlook for BTC and the broader crypto market, DiPasquale suggests that accumulating BTC and ETH during price dips could be a sound strategy. However, there are contrasting views in the market, with some investors pointing to the fluctuating prices and others stressing the long-term growth opportunities for both cryptocurrencies.
Most major tokens, including crypto-payment-focused XRP and Polygon’s MATIC, experienced price drops on Monday. The PEPE craze also appeared to be losing momentum, with its market cap dropping below $1 billion. Consequently, the CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) was down over 5% for the day.
Greg Cipolaro, global head of research at bitcoin investment firm NYDIG, emphasized that despite short-term price fluctuations, on-chain data indicates that BTC is increasingly serving as a “buy-and-hold” asset. With more bitcoins being held for longer periods, a dwindling supply is available for short-term trading, potentially leading to increased volatility or trading costs from wider spreads.
Furthermore, with bitcoin’s fixed supply, fewer bitcoins are available for purchase, which may result in upward pressure on prices if demand for the cryptocurrency grows. As equity markets turned mixed on Monday afternoon, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold for the major cryptocurrencies.
The current state of the market presents an opportunity for investors to reassess the advantages and disadvantages of investing in cryptocurrencies such as BTC and ETH. While some might see the current price dips as a chance to accumulate more assets, others may view them as a signal of increasing volatility and uncertainty. Whichever perspective one adopts, understanding the factors contributing to these fluctuations is essential for making informed decisions in the ever-changing world of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Source: Coindesk
