Bitcoin Price Falls Below $55,000 Amid Anticipated ‘Significant’ Selling in Coming Months
Bitcoin experienced a 6% decline over the weekend, dropping to $54,600 despite some recovery from the previous week’s losses. The cryptocurrency hit a low of $54,000 on Friday before bouncing back slightly to trade at $55,300, according to Decrypt data.
Various factors are contributing to the challenges facing Bitcoin, including market uncertainty in the crypto space, the possibility of selling pressure from the German government, and the situation involving 127,000 Mt. Gox creditors awaiting cryptocurrency funds from the exchange’s bankruptcy estate.
Although there was a brief rally attempting to push the price back above $58,000 on Sunday, Bitcoin ultimately settled at its lowest point since late February.
Germany currently holds approximately 39,826 BTC valued at around $2.2 billion. On the other hand, former Mt. Gox users are anticipating the distribution of up to $7.7 billion in lost funds due to a hack over a decade ago. Repayments from Mt. Gox are expected to commence this month, with plans to distribute approximately 142,000 BTC and 143,000 Bitcoin Cash.
K33 Research highlighted the potential selling pressure that could arise from Mt. Gox creditors receiving their funds, which may impact Bitcoin’s market dynamics. Additionally, the summer season typically brings a slowdown in crypto markets, but an oversupply coupled with downward momentum could lead to increased trading activity.
Recent liquidations in the crypto market have wiped out approximately $210 million in both long and short positions. This follows significant liquidations totaling $600 million after Bitcoin briefly dipped below $55,000 last week.
Ryze Labs noted a liquidity shortfall in Q2 2024, with the Federal Reserve’s reverse repo balance surging by over $200 billion to $664.5 billion. The reduction in China’s liquidity injections since February 2024 may also tighten global liquidity, potentially impacting crypto prices and increasing market volatility.
As the crypto market faces these challenges, traders are advised to remain cautious and attentive to the evolving landscape.