Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced one of its largest price pullbacks in recent times, plunging from $96,131 on February 24 to a potential local bottom of $85,418 today. The decline triggered liquidations exceeding $1.5 billion, with the majority coming from long positions.
Is It Time To Buy Bitcoin?
The recent price action suggests that the crypto market is reacting to bleak macroeconomic conditions, driven by US President Donald Trump’s proposed trade tariffs and a hawkish stance from the US Federal Reserve (Fed).
The total crypto market cap has now fallen below $3 trillion for the first time since November 2024, signaling growing bearish sentiment around risk-on assets. Major altcoins like Ethereum (ETH) have fallen by more than 10% in the past week.
However, despite yesterday’s downturn, overall sentiment toward the crypto market appears to be improving. In an X post, Andre Dragosch, European Head of Research at Bitwise, suggested that the worst may be over for BTC.
Dragosch shared the following Cryptoasset Sentiment Index, which is flashing a strong contrarian buy signal for the flagship cryptocurrency. The analyst added:
Wide-spread bearishness among flows, on-chain, and derivatives data implies that downside risks are fairly limited. Risk-reward appears to be quite favourable at these prices.
To further illustrate the level of bearishness surrounding risk-on assets, Dragosch highlighted that US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their single largest daily net outflow on record yesterday. Data from SoSoValue supports this assessment.
Additionally, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in bearish territory. Dragosch noted that sentiment levels are “already as bearish as during the macro capitulation last August.” At that time, BTC made a local bottom at $49,000 before rallying to multiple new all-time highs (ATHs).
On a more optimistic note, on-chain data indicates that crypto whales are capitalizing on market uncertainty. According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, long-term holders have accumulated nearly 20,400 BTC following the recent sell-off.
Strategy Falls With BTC Crash
In line with BTC’s decline, Strategy stock MSTR has also suffered, plummeting 55% from its peak of $543 in November 2024. At the time of writing, MSTR trades at $249, down approximately 29% over the past month.
Despite the overall bearish sentiment, recent analysis comparing BTC’s returns to other assets, such as gold and stocks, shows that while Bitcoin’s cumulative annual growth rate has slowed in recent years, it continues to outperform traditional asset classes significantly.
However, not all analysts share Dragosch’s optimism. In stark contrast, Standard Chartered recently warned that BTC may face further downside before resuming its bullish trajectory. At press time, BTC trades at $87,086, down 1% in the past 24 hours.
Featured image from Unsplash, Charts from X, Yahoo! Finance and TradingView.com
Ash Tiwari
Ash is a dedicated crypto researcher and blockchain enthusiast with a passion for diving deep into the evolving world of decentralized technologies. With a background in writing and a natural curiosity for how digital assets are shaping the future, he has immersed himself in various sectors of the cryptocurrency space, including decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and liquidity mining. His journey into crypto started with a desire to fully understand the technology behind it, leading him to explore and engage with these systems firsthand.
Ash’s approach to DeFi goes beyond surface-level research as he actively participates in decentralized protocols, testing their functionality to gain a deeper understanding of how they operate. From experimenting with staking mechanisms to exploring liquidity mining strategies, he is hands-on in his exploration, which allows him to provide practical, real-world insights that go far beyond theoretical knowledge. This immersive experience has helped him develop a comprehensive grasp of smart contracts, token governance, and the broader implications of decentralized platforms on the future of finance.
In the NFT space, Ash’s interest is driven by the technology’s potential to reshape ownership and creativity in the digital age. He has explored various NFT projects, gaining insights into how these digital assets function within different ecosystems. His focus is on understanding the evolving relationship between creators and communities, as well as the innovative uses of blockchain technology to establish authenticity and provenance in the digital world. Ash’s research in this area often touches on the intersection of culture, technology, and community-driven projects.
A key area of his expertise lies in liquidity mining, where he has engaged with various decentralized platforms to understand how liquidity provision contributes to the functionality and security of DeFi ecosystems. Ash’s hands-on involvement has allowed him to analyze the risks, rewards, and broader implications of liquidity pools, giving him a well-rounded perspective on this integral part of DeFi. His understanding of risk management and protocol design allows him to provide insights into how these systems can be navigated effectively, with an emphasis on both opportunity and caution.
When it comes to communicating these complex topics, Ash’s writing is grounded in clarity and depth. He excels at breaking down intricate blockchain concepts into easily digestible information for a wide audience. Whether explaining the workings of decentralized exchanges or outlining the future potential of blockchain technology, Ash ensures that his content is accessible to both those new to the space and experienced participants looking for deeper insights.
Beyond DeFi and NFTs, Ash explores a wide array of emerging blockchain applications. His research spans areas like cross-chain technologies, decentralized governance, and blockchain’s potential to integrate with traditional finance. He is continuously learning and adapting to the latest developments, ensuring that his insights are both timely and relevant. His interest extends to how these technologies are creating new possibilities for decentralization, transparency, and trust in a variety of industries.
Ash’s commitment to engaging with the crypto space firsthand gives him a unique perspective that goes beyond what can be learned from research alone. His practical involvement allows him to stay ahead of the curve, offering readers and enthusiasts a clear and comprehensive understanding of the rapidly evolving world of blockchain. Whether delving into the technical mechanics of DeFi or exploring the cultural impact of NFTs, Ash’s approach is always rooted in curiosity, research, and a desire to make this technology accessible to all.
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