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Crypto World

Bitcoin spirals toward $65,000, headed for worst drawdown since FTX crash

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Crypto price as of 6:29 pm UTC (CoinDesk data)

Bitcoin tumbled below $66,000 during early afternoon U.S. hours as this week’s crypto selloff accelerated into a bloodbath on Thursday.

The largest cryptocurrency fell more than 10% over the past 24 hours to a session low of $65,156, according to CoinDesk data, the weakest level since October 2024 and below the 2021 peak.

Feb. 5 could be one of the worst days in bitcoin’s history. BTC is on track to suffer its steepest one-day drawdown — 10.5% since midnight UTC at current prices — since Nov. 8, 2022, when the collapse of crypto exchange FTX sent BTC below $16,000 after a 14.3% drop on the day.

Crypto wasn’t the only asset class under relentless selling pressure. Silver also plunged 15% during the day, and is now almost 40% below its record high just a week ago. Gold also fell more than 2.8% to $4,820, but that selloff wasn’t as bad as silver. The precious metal is now trading about 15% below its record last week.

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Software stocks, often moving in lockstep with bitcoin, continued to selloff, with the thematic iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) declining more than 3% and down 24% year to date. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq were also 1% lower.

Crypto stocks weren’t spared either. Coinbase (COIN), Galaxy (GLXY), Strategy MSTR) and BitMine (BMNR) tumbled more than 10%, while several crypto miners, including Bitfarms (BITF), CleanSpark (CLSK), Hut 8 (HUT), and Mara (MARA), saw similar losses.

“One big factor is just very thin liquidity,” said Adrian Fritz, chief investment strategist at 21shares. “If there is a bit of a sell pressure, it usually triggers a lot of liquidations.”

In a fragile market environment with only a few buy and sell orders to cushion trades, even modest sell-offs can trigger a large price reaction, in turn triggering further liquidations.

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While some have said the worst is over for weeks now, Fritz believes otherwise.

“There’s still no signal that we bottomed out. I think it’s too early. There’s no confirmed turnaround,” he said.

He points to the 200-moving-day average — currently around $58,000 to $60,000 — as a key support level to watch. That level also aligns with bitcoin’s “realized price,” or the average cost basis of all bitcoin holders, which he believes could serve as a strong, multi-year support.

Read more: Bitcoin can still fall further. Historical data shows $60,000 will be the bottom

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Altcoins decimated

Bitcoin’s performance could seem minor compared to the brutal selloff in altcoins.

Almost all CoinDesk index prices, including major tokens and memecoins, are down by more than 10% over the last 24 hours.

Crypto price as of 6:29 pm UTC (CoinDesk data)

Crypto price as of 6:29 pm UTC (CoinDesk data)

XRP, which fell 19% over the same 24-hour period, underperformed most other large-cap cryptos.

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While Fritz said he believes there’s no specific trigger that puts extra pressure on the token, he said that “from a technical point of view, there’s not a lot of support levels for XRP.”

Read more: Here is what industry veterans are saying as bitcoin tumbles below $70,000

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Crypto World

Peter Schiff raises concerns over MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin funding strategy

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Goldbug Peter Schiff says the U.S. dollar is facing massive deleveraging as metals surge and crypto stalls

Peter Schiff, a well-known Bitcoin critic and gold advocate, has raised concerns about MicroStrategy’s ongoing Bitcoin acquisition strategy. 

Summary

  • Peter Schiff says MicroStrategy Bitcoin funding model may increase shareholder dilution through repeated share issuance.
  • Company shifts toward 11.5% yield preferred shares as earlier funding methods become less effective.
  • Debate continues as analysts disagree whether MicroStrategy faces risk or retains financial flexibility.

The company has continued to expand its holdings through a mix of debt and equity issuance.

Schiff stated that MicroStrategy’s approach is becoming harder to sustain under current market conditions. He said “the company is shifting toward more expensive capital” while referencing recent financing changes linked to preferred shares.

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He added that earlier funding methods, which included issuing shares at higher valuations, are becoming less effective in the present environment.

MicroStrategy has recently relied more on preferred share offerings with higher yield obligations. Schiff noted that the company is now issuing instruments with yields around 11.5 percent.

He said ”these obligations cannot be covered by software earnings alone” when describing the firm’s financial position. The company’s core software business has limited profit contribution compared to its Bitcoin exposure.

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Schiff stated that funding future purchases may require additional issuance of preferred shares, discounted equity, or Bitcoin sales. He argued this could increase pressure on shareholders through dilution over time.

Claims of structural risk and market reaction

Schiff described the company’s financing approach as vulnerable if market conditions weaken. He said the structure depends heavily on continued access to capital markets.

Canadian billionaire Frank Giustra also commented on the strategy, calling it ”a giant ponzi that will unravel when the next financial crisis hits” according to remarks cited in reports. He suggested that macroeconomic stress could expose weaknesses in the model.

The comments reflect ongoing debate over corporate treasury strategies that rely on digital assets as a primary reserve.

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Additionally, market research group BitMEX Research provided a different view on MicroStrategy’s approach. The firm stated that MicroStrategy is not under forced liquidation pressure and still has financial flexibility.

BitMEX Research said ”nobody is forcing MSTR to do this” and described the strategy as potentially beneficial under current conditions. It noted that the company can adjust financing terms, including coupon rates, instead of selling assets.

The discussion continues as MicroStrategy maintains one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holdings while using structured financial instruments to support its accumulation strategy.

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Bitcoin Halts Gains as US-Iran War, Hormuz Closure Make a Comeback

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Bitcoin Halts Gains as US-Iran War, Hormuz Closure Make a Comeback

Bitcoin foreshadows fresh market mayhem as it appears that the US-Iran war has returned, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz oil route.

Bitcoin (BTC) sought to protect $75,000 into Sunday’s weekly close as crypto surfed fresh uncertainty over the US-Iran war.

Key points:

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  • Bitcoin price action sinks from ten-week highs amid fears that the US-Iran war has returned in full force.

  • Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, bringing back the risk of an oil-price surge.

  • BTC price action faces ongoing resistance at a 21-week trend line into the weekly close.

Bitcoin abandons highs as US-Iran war fears return

Data from TradingView showed BTC price pressure reentering after a trip to ten-week highs of $78,400 on Friday.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Mixed signals from US and Iranian sources characterized the weekend, with an assumed ceasefire and mutual agreements between the two sides now seemingly undone.

Among the latest developments was the repeat closure of the Strait of Hormuz, putting the focus on oil futures on the day. News of a ceasefire had sent WTI crude below $80 per barrel for the first time since March 10.

“We expect an eventful Sunday ahead,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter summarized in ongoing analysis on X.

CFDs on WTI crude oil one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

As BTC/USD circled local highs, and sentiment with it, market participants stayed cautious. Trading resource Material Indicators noted that the entire market mood could flip on relatively little input, such as a social media post.

“Sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish at the moment, but that could change with one Tweet in the coming days. Know your invalidations,” it told X followers.

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Data from CoinGlass showed long positions coming under fire during the BTC price retracement, with total crypto liquidations at $260 million over the past 24 hours.

Crypto seven-day liquidation history (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass

BTC price capped by resistance trend line

Continuing, trader Daan Crypto Trades eyed a potential gap in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures market opening as a result of the weekend comedown.

Related: Bitcoin can grow ‘probably a lot bigger’ than $30T+ gold market — Analysis

As Cointelegraph reported, such gaps often act as short-term price magnets when the new week begins.

“It’s going to be interesting to see the futures open today and how $OIL will react to the recent headlines regarding the strait,” he added.

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BTC/USDT 15-minute chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X

Looking at the weekly close, trader and analyst Rekt Capital placed importance on Bitcoin’s 21-week exponential moving average (EMA) near $78,900.

“Bitcoin is rejecting from the 21-week EMA (green),” he observed alongside the weekly chart. 

“It is this rejection that could force a post-breakout retest of the top of the Double Bottom (~$73k) next week, provided Bitcoin Weekly Closes just like this.”

BTC/USD one-week chart. Source: Rekt Capital/X