- Bitcoin experienced a significant 6% slide, marking its worst monthly performance since late 2022, amidst investor withdrawals ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.
- Factors contributing to the downturn include profit-taking by investors, uncertainties surrounding interest rate changes, and the broader impact on both Bitcoin and altcoins.
Cryptocurrency investors faced a nerve-wracking Wednesday as Bitcoin, the flagship digital asset, tumbled nearly 6%. This downturn marked its steepest monthly decline since late 2022, setting the stage for an uneasy market sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.
In April alone, Bitcoin witnessed a tumultuous drop of almost 16%, with its value plummeting from record highs above $70,000 to its current standing at $57,001. This decline, while significant, is not isolated to Bitcoin alone; Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also experienced a dip of 3.6%, resting at $2,857.
Analysts attribute this downturn to a variety of factors, including profit-taking by investors who entered the market during the downturns of 2022 and 2023, as well as the pullback of ETF investors who witnessed substantial price appreciation earlier in 2024.
Matteo Greco, a research analyst at Fineqia, commented, “The recent downtrend can be attributed to increased profit-taking by investors who entered the market during the downturns of 2022 and 2023, as well as ETF investors who witnessed significant price appreciation on their shares after entering the market in the early weeks of 2024.”
Crypto-related stocks mirrored the market’s turbulence, with prominent names like Coinbase, Riot, and Marathon Digital experiencing notable declines in U.S. premarket trading.
The looming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision added to the apprehension, with investors speculating on the potential impact of interest rate changes. While the consensus anticipates no immediate alterations, the possibility of rate hikes throughout the year casts a shadow over interest rate-sensitive assets like cryptocurrencies.
In response to the uncertainty, the 10 largest U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs are witnessing substantial outflows, with withdrawals amounting to $496 million this week alone. This trend, predominantly seen in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, underscores investor apprehension amidst market volatility.
Furthermore, altcoins, typically seen as alternatives to Bitcoin and Ethereum, are also feeling the heat. Solana’s sol token, along with meme coins like dogecoin and shiba inu, have all experienced significant losses, reflecting the broader market sentiment.
As Bitcoin grapples with its “halving event” last month, which aimed to reduce the rate of new bitcoin creation, investors remain on edge. With May historically signaling weakness for Bitcoin and critical economic announcements on the horizon, including the FOMC decision and monthly jobs data, the cryptocurrency market braces for potential volatility in the days to come.
