Bitcoin traders say $34K was the bottom, but data says it’s too early to tell

2 years ago

Bitcoin (BTC) terms traded down 23% successful the 8 days pursuing its nonaccomplishment to interruption the $45,000 absorption connected Feb. 16. The $34,300 bottommost connected Feb. 24 happened close aft the Russian-Ukraine struggle escalated, triggering a crisp sell-off successful hazard assets.

While Bitcoin reached its lowest level successful 30 days, Asian stocks were besides adjusting to the worsening conditions, a information evidenced by Hong Kong's Hang Seng scale dropping 3.5% and the Nikkei besides reached a 15-month low.

Bitcoin/USD astatine FTX. Source: TradingView

The archetypal question 1 needs to reply is whether cryptocurrencies are overreacting compared to different hazard assets. Sure enough, Bitcoin's volatility is overmuch higher than accepted markets, moving astatine 62% per year.

As a comparison, the United States tiny and mid-cap banal marketplace scale Russell 2000 holds a 30% annualized volatility. Meanwhile, arsenic measured by the MSCI China index, Chinese equities basal astatine 32%.

Bitcoin/USD (purple, near scale) vs. Hang Seng Index (blue) & Russell 2000 (orange)

There is precocious correlation betwixt Bitcoin, the Hang Seng banal marketplace and the U.S. Russell 2000 index. A imaginable mentation is the U.S. Federal Reserve's tightening objectives. By reducing enslaved buybacks and threatening to summation the involvement rates, the monetary authorization has caused a "flight to safety" movement.

Despite the non-existent returns adjusted by the 7.5% inflation, investors often question extortion connected currency U.S. dollar positions and Treasury Bills. This is particularly existent during periods of utmost uncertainty.

Bitcoin futures traders are moderately bearish

To recognize however nonrecreational traders are positioned, 1 should show Bitcoin derivatives. The Bitcoin futures annualized premium should tally betwixt 5% to 12% to compensate traders for "locking in" the wealth for 2 to 3 months until the declaration expiry.

Bitcoin 3-month futures premium. Source: Laevitas

Levels beneath 5% are highly bearish, portion an annualized premium supra 12% indicates bullishness. As shown above, the futures premium dropped beneath 5% connected Feb. 9, displaying a deficiency of assurance from nonrecreational traders.

Although the existent 2.5% represents the lowest level since July 20, this day marked a reversal from a 74-day terms correction. In fact, a 71% rally followed that event, confirming the thesis that the futures premium is simply a backward-looking indicator.

Bitcoin/USD (blue) and 30-day correlation vs. Russell 2000 (purple). Source: TradingView

Notice however Bitcoin’s correlation versus the Russell 2000 scale was comparatively precocious connected July 20. However, that concern rapidly reversed arsenic BTC initiated its rally, autarkic from accepted markets.

The bottommost could beryllium in, but uncertainty could pb to further downside

Similar to the futures premium, the correlation metric uses humanities data, truthful it should not beryllium utilized to foretell inclination reversals. Investors, peculiarly nonrecreational money managers, thin to debar precocious volatile assets during turbulent markets.

Understanding marketplace science is indispensable for avoiding unexpected terms swings. Therefore, arsenic agelong arsenic Bitcoin remains considered a risky plus by marketplace participants, these short-term corrections should beryllium the norm alternatively than the exception.

Therefore, it makes consciousness to hold for further decoupling signs earlier predicting a Bitcoin bottom.

The views and opinions expressed present are solely those of the author and bash not needfully bespeak the views of Cointelegraph. Every concern and trading determination involves risk. You should behaviour your ain probe erstwhile making a decision.

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