Bitcoin Price Crashes Below $61,000: The Main Reasons

As a seasoned crypto investor, I’ve witnessed my fair share of market volatility over the years. The recent 4.8% decline in Bitcoin (BTC) price within a day, dropping to $60,601 from $64,000, has left me feeling uneasy but not entirely surprised.


Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a steep drop of approximately 4.8%, reaching a fresh low of $60,601. This decline comes after the cryptocurrency traded above $64,000 only the previous day. Several reasons contribute to this downturn: recent unfolding events from the Mt. Gox case, substantial selling off of long positions, and ongoing miner surrender.

#1 Mt. Gox News Shakes Market Confidence

The dramatic drop in Bitcoin’s price from $62,900 to $60,601 occurred almost immediately following a significant announcement by the trustees of the defunct Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox. This exchange, linked to one of the first and most substantial Bitcoin heists, revealed their intention to begin compensating victims with the stolen assets from the 2014 hack as of July 2024.

As per Nobuaki Kobayashi, the trustee overseeing the rehabilitation process, it has been planned to initiate Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) repayments under the Rehabilitation Plan starting in early July 2024. The announcement states, “The Rehabilitation Trustee has been working diligently to facilitate repayments in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash as outlined in the Rehabilitation Plan. Repayments are set to commence from July 2024 onwards.”

The market reacted negatively to this news, mainly because of concerns about an oversupply of Bitcoin being sold by those who had originally invested before 2013 and saw significant appreciation in value since then. Specifically, the trustee transferred around 140,000 BTC, equivalent to approximately $9 billion, in May 2023.

As a long-term crypto investor, I couldn’t help but take notice when I saw the first transaction on an account that had been dormant for five years. The entire cryptocurrency community was abuzz with this development, and I wasn’t an exception. The momentary market reactions were swift, with Bitcoin prices taking a hit as traders and analysts began to speculate about potential market flooding from the release of these coins.

#2 Record Liquidations Of Long Positions

In addition to the bearish trend, there was a significant increase in the closure of Bitcoin investors’ long positions, as reported by Coinglass. An astounding $85.4 million in long BTC investments were terminated during this period. This occurrence represents the most substantial liquidation since late April, when over $195 million in long positions were eliminated on two separate occasions. These events coincided with a 12.5% price decrease over those two days.

As a crypto investor, I’ve experienced firsthand how sudden liquidations can impact the market. When the value of my leveraged positions falls below the set liquidation price, the exchange automatically sells off these holdings to cover any losses. This sell-off can then push the price down even further, creating a domino effect that amplifies the market volatility. It’s an unsettling experience to witness, as the rapid succession of forced sell-offs only serves to intensify the price swings and uncertainty.

#3 Ongoing Miner Capitulation Adds To Sell Pressure

The third significant element influencing Bitcoin’s value is the ongoing miner surrender, during which less efficient miners sell off their mined Bitcoids to meet expenses due to unprofitability. This period can put considerable downward pressure on Bitcoin prices because it increases the amount of Bitcoin being offered for sale in the marketplace.

As a crypto investor keeping a close eye on market trends, I can’t stress enough the importance of monitoring miner capitulation after Bitcoin halving events. Renowned analysts like Willy Woo have highlighted this phase as crucial, given that these events reduce miner rewards by half, putting a strain on their profitability. Historically, recoveries from such capitulations have been slow and closely tied to the resurgence in mining activity and hash rates.

Jelle, the knowledgeable figure in cryptocurrencies communicating through X, pointed out the persistent trend of miner capitulation as indicated by Hash Ribbons. He explained, “The ongoing miner sell-off is a desirable sign following a halving event. Typically, the market begins to recover once this phase of miner surrender concludes.”

At press time, BTC traded at $61,241.

Bitcoin Price Crashes Below $61,000: The Main Reasons

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2024-06-24 17:46