Bitcoin surpasses $100,000 milestone
Bitcoin (BTC) made headlines last week by surpassing $100,000 for the first time, reaching an all-time high of $104,000. According to Bitfinex, this incredible feat represents a 111% increase from its summer low of just under $50,000. However, the rally was short-lived as BTC experienced a sharp 14.84% correction, including a rapid 10% drop in just 8 minutes, marking the largest pullback in ATH since the pre-election sell-off.
Market Correction and Clearing
This correction triggered liquidations of over $1.1 billion, leaving Bitcoin long positions at $419 million, highlighting significant leverage within the market. Despite the volatility, there are signs of stabilization. Realized profit metrics, which stood at $15 billion each day, fell to $2.5 billion, reducing sell-side pressure. Additionally, futures funding rates have normalized, reducing speculative leverage.
Economic indicators and market outlook
Despite the recent volatility, the mid-term outlook for Bitcoin remains positive as funding rates normalize and sell-side pressure decreases. ETF inflows slowed slightly late last week but continue to provide significant support as long-term holders continue to benefit.
Meanwhile, the latest US economic data presents a mixed picture. November saw a strong rebound in job creation, with 227,000 jobs added, despite disruption from the hurricanes in October. However, with the unemployment rate slightly increasing to 4.2%, it appears that the workforce will remain. Job openings jumped to 77.4 million in October, reflecting continued demand for labor, but hiring slowed, signaling employer caution amid economic uncertainty.
Global Crypto Development
In Global Crypto News, South Korea has witnessed a sharp surge in crypto trading, hitting $34 billion in just 24 hours on the country’s major exchanges following President Souk-El Yoon’s declaration of martial law. This political unrest has led to panic selling and platform outages, highlighting the market’s sensitivity to geopolitical instability. Additionally, as Bitcoin reaches new milestones, bankruptcy exchange Mt. Gox moved $2.4 billion worth of Bitcoin to a new wallet.
Grayscale also made headlines by joining the competitive race to launch the Solana ETF and filing to convert the Solana Trust into Sol Rallied. These developments highlight the dynamic interplay of political, regulatory, and historical factors shaping the cryptocurrency landscape.
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