Bitcoin has been trending upward since mid-May, but the recent rally may have been fueled more by traders exiting their positions than new investors entering the market.
While many traders have been surprised by bitcoin’s slow recovery, it seems that the continued rise of the cryptocurrency could be a result of some of the factors mentioned above.
Bitcoin’s (BTC) sustained recovery above $9,200 could have come after record realized losses and marginal positions from over-leveraged traders were flushed out from the market.
Bitcoin Might Be In For Better Days
The cryptocurrency has been on a steady climb since Wednesday when it broke through resistance around $9,000 for the first time since March 1st. The price action has also seen Bitcoin break out of its recent bearish triangle, which was formed between May 2nd and June 10th when bitcoin fell from $11k to below $7k due to fears over regulation and impending liquidation in BitMEX margin positions.
According to data from Glassnode, the number of addresses holding positive profits in terms of U.S. dollars has risen to its highest level since March 2 — indicating a large proportion of long positions have been taken out of the market.
This could be a sign that the market is healthier as it shows that many traders are taking profits on their bitcoin holdings rather than simply going long and hoping for an increase in price.
The number of negative balances has also fallen significantly since January 4th, suggesting users are closing out their positions as they lock in gains or try to limit losses after this month’s volatility.
The bitcoin price recovery this week could have come after a record realized losses and leverage-driven washout. The market is now back on track to become more sustainable, with fewer positions open at large losses or overleveraged traders.
The takeaway: it’s important to remember that the cryptocurrency market is still in its early stages of development and growth, which means that trading activity can be volatile due to speculation and changes in sentiment from investors.
