Crypto Market Cools as Investors Weigh Trump’s Crypto Ambitions
As the year draws to a close, the Bitcoin rally that has captivated investors is losing steam. The digital asset’s value has retreated from its record high, and investors are reassessing the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly stance.
Trump’s Crypto Push
Trump’s promise to create a crypto-friendly environment in the US has been a significant driver of the Bitcoin rally. His backing of a national Bitcoin reserve has sparked optimism among traders, who are now waiting to see if the plan is feasible. However, with the expiry of a substantial quantity of Bitcoin and Ether options contracts looming, the market is bracing for a potentially volatile period.
Options Expiry Looms
The notional value of Bitcoin contracts on the Deribit exchange exceeds $14 billion, while the equivalent figure for Ether is about $3.8 billion. This massive expiry event has traders on edge, with Sean McNulty, director of trading at Arbelos Markets, warning of a “choppy market” ahead.
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Bet
Despite MicroStrategy Inc.’s announcement that it may expand its Bitcoin purchasing program, the digital asset’s value remains uncertain. The company has transformed itself into a Bitcoin accumulator, owning over $40 billion of the token. However, Bitcoin is still flirting with a monthly decline, which would be its first in four months.
Investor Sentiment Shifts
Investors have withdrawn a net $1.5 billion from a group of US spot-Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the four trading days through Dec. 24, the heaviest outflow since Trump’s election victory. This shift in sentiment suggests that investors are taking profits and reassessing their positions ahead of the new year.
A Record-Breaking Year
Despite the current uncertainty, 2024 has been a record-breaking year for Bitcoin. The digital asset reached an all-time high of $108,316 on Dec. 17 before pulling back. As the year draws to a close, investors will be watching closely to see if Bitcoin can regain its momentum and push towards new heights.
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