In the last 72 hours, over 63,000 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at approximately $1.83 billion, have been moved to cryptocurrency exchanges. The surge in transfers began on October 7, 2024, following a 50 basis-point interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which has sent mixed signals to the crypto markets.
Exchange Inflows and Potential Selling Pressure
CryptoQuant’s data reveals that 28,000 BTC were transferred to exchanges on October 7, followed by another 23,500 BTC on October 8, and roughly 12,000 BTC on October 9. While high inflows to exchanges do not guarantee immediate sell-offs, they often indicate that investors may be preparing to liquidate assets. Typically, large transfers from cold storage to exchange wallets suggest that holders are anticipating selling their assets.
Bitcoin’s Price Decline and Market Sentiment
Bitcoin’s price action has been negative throughout the week. The cryptocurrency, which started the week trading at over $64,000, dropped to around $62,000 by the close of trading on October 7. The downtrend continued over the following days, with Bitcoin breaking below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) on October 10—a key support level that traders often watch closely.
The price decline has been influenced by macroeconomic factors, such as higher-than-expected inflation data and an increase in jobless claims, which have fueled uncertainty in the broader markets. Glassnode analyst James Check suggested that Bitcoin needs to break out of the $60,000 range to attract new investor interest and push toward higher levels. Other analysts, however, believe that Bitcoin could dip below $50,000 before any significant recovery occurs.
Challenges to Reaching New All-Time Highs
Bitcoin has struggled to regain momentum since hitting its all-time high of approximately $74,000 in March 2024. The cryptocurrency has been trading sideways for months, unable to reclaim this peak. Analysts caution that breaking new highs may remain challenging without substantial market catalysts.
