Major Developments for the Week
– Demand for Bitcoin surges; could drive price to new all-time high
– Bitcoin whale activity hints at a major move ahead
– BTC’s rise lifts crypto market: SOL up 7%, APE jumps 21%
– Dogecoin spikes after Musk’s mention, analysts predict further rallies
– ETFs hit $65B, surpassing $20B in just 10 months
– Singapore’s DBS Bank launches tokenized banking services for institutions
– Memecoins dominate 2024, led by the “Big Four” amidst financial populism
– Italy plans to raise crypto capital gains tax from 26% to 42%
Counting down to an all-time high? What the analysts are predicting
Bitcoin appears to be heading into a new bull cycle with a 55% rise over 2024, fueled by strong Wall Street earnings and the possibility of Federal Reserve rate cuts. As Bitcoin surges toward potential new all-time highs, the crypto world is buzzing with predictions from top analysts about what lies ahead. The largest cryptoasset has been making headlines as it nears $70,000, driven by a surge in market activity and a range of bullish factors. A combination of technical signals, geopolitical influences, and the upcoming U.S. elections has created a wave of optimism, however some analysts are also urging caution.
Past performance is not an indication of future results
The image above shows the journey from March’s all-time high:
mostly a sideways shift with a few corrections, until this week’s breakout.
Bullish Momentum and Six-Figure Predictions
Bitcoin’s recent rally has analysts pointing to the Relative Strength Index (RSI) as a key indicator of more massive gains ahead. Both Kevin Svenson and analytics account Bitcoindata21 highlight the RSI’s breakout, which appears to signal that Bitcoin is entering a new expansion phase.
Bitcoindata21 even went so far as to make a very bold prediction: that Bitcoin could hit $233K by as early as Q1 2025, using historical RSI trends and applying standard deviation.
Whale Activity Signals Big Moves Ahead
A key factor driving market confidence is the aggressive accumulation by Bitcoin whales. In recent days, whales have purchased a staggering 60,000 BTC within 24 hours—a record-breaking level of accumulation that signals growing confidence in Bitcoin’s future price movement.
Historically, whales tend to buy in bulk when they anticipate major price gains, suggesting that these large investors expect significant upward momentum in the near future. This surge in whale activity comes alongside increasing interest from institutional investors, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust seeing $760 million of inflows in just three days.
Key Resistance Levels; Caution Amid the Optimism
Despite the bullish sentiment, some analysts are urging caution. Justin Bennett warns that Bitcoin’s rally is being fueled by speculative futures trading, which may not be sustainable. “It’s been a strange week,” he notes, emphasizing the importance of holding above $68,200 to avoid a correction.
Bennett advises traders to stay cautious, as conflicting signals in the market could lead to a pullback. Analysts including Altcoin Sherpa are watching Bitcoin’s next major resistance level at $70,000, while Michaël van de Poppe predicts a possible dip to $65,000 before a sustained breakout.
Broader Market Rally and Altcoin Gains
Bitcoin’s rise has lifted the entire crypto market, with major assets like Solana, Ethereum, and Cardano posting gains. SOL surged by 7% as speculative investments in AI-themed memecoins returned to the network. Meanwhile, ApeCoin saw a 21% jump following the launch of its new blockchain, ApeChain. As Bitcoin leads the charge, altcoins are also benefiting from the bullish market sentiment.
Potential Effects of Geopolitical Factors on Bitcoin Price
Amid the growing optimism around Bitcoin’s price, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could also play a significant role in driving further gains, with former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes, suggesting that an escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict might actually boost Bitcoin’s price. While Iran accounts for up to 7% of the global Bitcoin mining hash rate, Hayes pointed out that even if this is disrupted, Bitcoin’s price may remain unaffected, as demonstrated in such past events as China’s mining ban in 2021.
U.S. Election Driving Volatility
The upcoming U.S. presidential election is adding to Bitcoin’s volatility. Traders are betting on a favorable outcome for cryptocurrencies, especially if Donald Trump wins. The expectation is that a Republican victory would lead to regulatory reforms benefiting digital assets. Polymarket bettors have placed Trump’s odds of winning at 60%, with Kamala Harris at 39%. This political uncertainty, combined with broader macroeconomic factors like rate cuts in Japan and China, is pushing risk-on sentiment and further fueling Bitcoin’s price rise.
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Musk’s Playful Dogecoin Shoutout Drives 6.8% Price Increase in 24 hours
Dogecoin surged in value this week, after Elon Musk mentioned it during a Pennsylvania town hall meeting last Thursday. When asked if he would lead a “Department of Government Efficiency,” Musk humorously responded, “Yeah, Doge,” sparking cheers from the crowd. Following his comment, Dogecoin’s price jumped to $0.13, marking a 6.8% increase over 24 hours, and its market cap hit $19.3 billion. Despite being down over 80% from its 2021 peak, Dogecoin continues to benefit from Musk’s remarks, maintaining its position as a top-ten cryptocurrency by market cap.
Bitcoin’s Market Surge: $1 Trillion Ahead of Ethereum and Still Climbing
Bitcoin’s market capitalization has surged to $1.35 trillion, now over $1 trillion higher than Ethereum’s $318 billion. This milestone comes as Bitcoin traded above $68,000, marking its highest price since July and sparking renewed optimism about its upward momentum. The market cap difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum is at an all-time high, further solidifying Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto space.
Despite Ethereum’s supporters predicting a comeback, Bitcoin’s lead continues to grow, with some analysts believing there’s still significant room for further growth. Bitcoin is currently ranked as the 10th largest asset in the world, just behind Meta (formerly Facebook), with expectations from some investors that Bitcoin’s market cap could reach $100 trillion in the coming decades.
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