Bitcoin hit a new all-time high for the second time this week and once again experienced a violent sell-off that erased its gains and stirred memories of past volatilities in the crypto space.
Bitcoin broke its previous record early in the US trading hours on March 8, climbing to an all-time high of $70,136 after US jobs data raised expectations of rate cuts in the coming month.
However, the jubilation was short-lived as a wave of sell pressure engulfed the market, driving the price down by more than 3% to a low of $66,500 in less than an hour. The wider crypto market experienced similar volatility.
As of press time, BTC was trading at $67,890, according to CryptoSlate data.
Over the past four hours, the volatility caused $181.5 million in total liquidations, with longs making up more than $100 million. Meanwhile, Bitcoin liquidations during the period stood at $70.57 million, with longs accounting for $40.3 million, according to CoinGlass data.
The wall
This week’s market movements have been particularly turbulent, with Bitcoin’s value fluctuating widely. After setting a new record earlier in the week, BTC suffered a dramatic 14% drop, plummeting to around the $59,000 level before recovering.
Such volatility has become a defining characteristic of the crypto market, reflecting both the speculative nature of digital assets and the evolving landscape of financial markets.
Analysts identified a significant volume of sell orders on major exchanges, including Binance and OKX, as a pivotal factor in the rapid price reversal.
The sell orders, valued at roughly $70 million and totaling approximately 1000 BTC, created a formidable barrier that halted any further price increase beyond the $70,000 mark.
Institutional influence
Market analysts attribute the initial price surge to a combination of factors, including investor optimism regarding the US economic outlook and the introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
These developments have increasingly aligned crypto trading activity with traditional stock market hours, highlighting the growing integration of digital assets into conventional financial systems.
The backdrop to Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally was the latest US unemployment data, which suggested a potential easing of inflationary pressures and fueled speculation about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.
The unexpected rise in the unemployment rate to 3.9%, coupled with downward revisions to job growth figures, has bolstered hopes for a more accommodative monetary stance.
As Bitcoin’s price ascension coincides with a weakening US dollar, the implications for the Fed’s upcoming policy decisions are being closely watched.
With the Fed’s next interest rate decision anticipated on March 20, market participants remain vigilant as the interplay between macroeconomic indicators and monetary policy could significantly influence the trajectory of Bitcoin and the wider digital assets market.
At the time of press 5:39 pm UTC on Mar. 8, 2024, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap and the price is up 1.2% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $1.35 trillion with a 24-hour trading volume of $53.05 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin ›
At the time of press 5:39 pm UTC on Mar. 8, 2024, the total crypto market is valued at at $2.59 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $148.59 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 51.89%. Learn more about the crypto market ›
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