Bitcoin (BTC) Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are currently in the limelight as the products have seen massive net inflows in the past few days than in the initial weeks of introduction, dominating the market of crypto investment products.

Bitcoin ETF Inflows Surges In The Last 4 Days

Thomas Fahrer, the co-founder of Bitcoin tracking platform Apollo, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share the development with the community. Fahrer pointed out that BTC spot ETFs are presently experiencing a “total acceleration” of inflows.

Meanwhile, the products in the past 4 days have witnessed an inflow of 43,000 BTC tokens valued at $2.3 billion. This latest surge in inflows suggests renewed adoption of the products from crypto players and investors.

Data from Apollo reveals that Grayscale is the leading firm in Assets Under Management (AUM). Registered as Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), the company boasts a whopping $23.7 billion AUM.

However, this is a notable drop from $28 billion in assets it had on January 11, after transitioning to an ETF. This is due to the daily net outflows the fund has seen since it was approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Blackrock comes in second after Grayscale, with an asset under management of over $5 billion since it started trading. It is followed by Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC) and Ark/21Shares Bitcoin Trust (ARKB), which come in third and fourth place, respectively.

Investment firm Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF (BITB) is the latest company to reach the billion-dollar milestone. As of the press, the company’s BTC ETF is the fifth largest behind the aforementioned asset management companies.

Blackrock Records Its Largest Inflow

On Tuesday, Blackrock recorded its largest inflow day ever since Bitcoin ET products were approved. A senior Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, Eric Balchunas, revealed information regarding the update on X.

He stated that Blackrock’s BTC ETF was booming on Tuesday, seeing almost “half a billion” inflow. According to the data shared by Balchunas, IBIT made $493 million in revenue during the trading day.

IBIT’s previous largest daily net inflow was $386 million, recorded on the second trading day of January 12. Consequently, Blackrock’s Bitcoin ETF overall inflow exceeded the $5 billion mark after the Tuesday event. So far, of all ETFs, Blackrock’s IBIT leads by “7% by size in just 23 days of trading.”

These developments came in light of the recent rally around Bitcoin in the past few days, which took BTC’s price above $ 50,000. Many market enthusiasts believe that a major factor in the rally is the reason surrounding the BTC ETF flows.

Bitcoin has been on an absolute tear, surpassing $52,000 for the first time since December 2021. The leading digital asset has already climbed over 23% in 2024, and a major driver of this meteoric rise has been the influx of institutional money entering the space through spot Bitcoin ETFs. 

Bitcoin’s mainstream credibility among traditional investors has been growing since the beginning of February, with ETFs registering between $400 million and $650 million in daily inflows in the past week. At the same time, BTC call options have seen a massive rise. 

This bullish sentiment has prompted investors to begin anticipating the moment when BTC would achieve a new all-time high. According to analysts at QCP Capital, a crypto asset trading firm, Bitcoin is set to reach a new all-time high before the end of March 2024.

Top Firm Predicts Bitcoin Can Reach New All-Time High Before April

Bitcoin’s current all-time high of $69,044 has looked like an insurmountable mountain for the past two years, especially during the prolonged bear market in 2022, which saw BTC trading below $17,000. However, things have changed since that time, and current metrics point to the price of Bitcoin blasting past this price point in the coming months. 

This change in sentiment can mainly be attributed to the attention around spot Bitcoin ETFs. Although Bitcoin seemed to struggle behind a sell-the-news event for weeks after these ETFs hit the market, the situation has since turned positive.

According to data from BitMEX Research, Bitcoin ETFs have witnessed massive inflows led by BlackRock’s ETFs in the past week. At the same time, outflows from Grayscale’s GBTC have slowed down. Consequently, the ETFs have received a steady $400 million to $650 million in daily inflows, which works out to 8,000 to 12,000 BTC bought daily. 

Notably, trading hit historic highs on February 14th, with the top nine ETFs hitting $1.5 billion in trading volume.

What’s Driving The BTC Price Rally?

QCP Capital credits this increasing institutional investment in Bitcoin as a critical driver of future growth. Analysts expect this inflow to continue as BTC becomes increasingly popular among traditional investors and global liquidity rotates into the spot ETFs, allowing it to break past its all-time high before April. 

The analysts also looked at the massive purchases of BTC call options, noting how $10 million was spent in the past week on premiums for $60,000 to $80,000 strikes expiring from April to December. This price point is exciting, as it indicates many investors are already looking forward to Bitcoin breaking past $69,000 in the coming months. 

Predictions can be hit or miss, but Bitcoin seems poised to continue its meteoric rise in value. It’s also important to note that the next Bitcoin halving, slated for April 2024, is steadily approaching. 

Cover image from Dall-E, Chart from Tradingview

Stacks (STX), a cryptocurrency facilitating smart contracts on the Bitcoin blockchain, has defied broader market turbulence to emerge as a standout performer. Over the past week, STX price skyrocketed over 60%, reaching a nine-day high of $2.15 and flirting with its all-time peak of $2.45. This impressive rally has propelled Stacks into the top 25 cryptocurrencies by market cap, leaving many wondering: what’s driving the surge?

Stacks (STX) Climbs Over 60% On Back Of Bitcoin Ascent

Several factors appear to be fueling Stacks’ ascent. Firstly, its unique ability to bring smart contract functionality to Bitcoin resonates with investors seeking advanced applications on the world’s oldest blockchain. Unlike Ethereum, Bitcoin inherently lacks support for smart contracts, limiting its DeFi and NFT capabilities.

Stacks bridges this gap by anchoring itself to Bitcoin while offering smart contract features. This innovative approach has garnered significant attention, particularly as Bitcoin itself enjoys a recent price appreciation, reaching more than $52,000 at the time of writing.

The correlation between Stacks and Bitcoin is undeniable. Both assets saw pronounced recoveries in February’s second week, with STX mirroring Bitcoin’s climb from $38,500 to $50,000. This intertwined fate highlights the influence of Bitcoin’s broader sentiment on Stacks’ price action.

STX Gets Boost On Soaring TVL

Beyond price movements, another bullish indicator emerges from Stacks’ DeFi ecosystem. According to DefiLlama, the total value locked (TVL) within Stacks’ DeFi protocols has surged over 50% in the last three weeks, reaching $70.21 million. This growth signifies rising investor confidence and active capital commitment within the Stacks DeFi landscape.

Technical analysis further amplifies the optimistic outlook. Analysts predict a potential continuation of the rally, with price targets ranging from $2.475 to $2.82. This bullish forecast hinges on STX breaching the recent swing high resistance of $2.06, a decisive technical milestone achieved earlier this week.

.@Stacks has gone from around #60 ranked coin market cap to #34 in a year, passing many household names in the same

Expect it to enter top 20 around the halving as Bitcoin L2 narratives start dominating the discourse and L1 network fees reach new all-time-highs

As we go into…

— trevor.btc — b/acc (@TO) February 12, 2024

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market. Recent US inflation data triggered a sell-off across the entire market, reminding investors of the unpredictable nature of this asset class. While Stacks managed to recover rapidly, the episode underscores the importance of responsible investment practices and thorough risk assessment.

Despite the risks, Stacks’ unique value proposition and recent momentum cannot be ignored. Its ability to connect the smart contract functionality of Ethereum with the security and immutability of Bitcoin positions it as a potentially disruptive force in the blockchain space.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Matt Dines, the Chief Investment Officer at Build Asset Management, has identified a classical ‘Cup and Handle’ pattern in the Bitcoin (BTC) price chart, which he believes could signal an impending rally to $75,000. This technical formation is often considered a strong bullish signal and is closely watched by market analysts and traders.

Bitcoin Price Validates Cup And Handle Pattern

The ‘Cup’ part of the pattern, resembling a bowl or rounding bottom, began forming in March 2022 when the price plunged below $48,000 and entered one of the longest Bitcoin bear markets. The pattern reached its lowest point at approximately $17,600, signifying a strong support level for Bitcoin.

The left side of the pattern shows a rounded bottom resembling a “cup.” It forms when the price initially declines, then consolidates, and finally starts to rise again. Since hitting this bottom, Bitcoin’s price has made a steady recovery, mimicking the right side of the cup, indicating a bullish reversal of the previous downtrend.

“The saucer or the ‘cup’ signifies a consolidation period, a pause in the downward trend, before the price begins to rise back up to the test resistance levels,” Dines explained. The recovery to the initial resistance line completes the ‘cup’ portion of the pattern. The Bitcoin price completed this step in early January this year.

The subsequent ‘Handle’ is represented by a moderate retracement following the recovery, which forms a small dip or pullback from the peak. This handle is identified by a slight downward trajectory and is considered the final consolidation before a breakout.

BTC’s price drop to $38,600 at the end of January marked the bottom of the pullback. With the breakout above $48,000, the Bitcoin price validated the cup and handle pattern.

Setting A BTC Price Target

Dines also addressed the placement of the vertical projection from the bottom of the handle, clarifying its basis: “It’s totally arbitrary and in the eye of the beholder. But longer answer, traders are eyeing charts for formations.”

The vertical target line, or the ‘stick’ on the right, is projected from the bottom of the handle. The height of the cup — from the low at around $17,600 to the resistance line at $48,000— sets the stage for the price target.

Dines added, “A lot of traders will use the height of the bowl (from the low of the bowl to the top at the resistance line) to set their price target. Just add that height to the bottom of the handle … that’s a decent guesstimate for where we’d see the longs who entered on the breakthrough to set their price target.”

Based on the chart, the height from the cup’s low to the resistance level is roughly $31,973, marking the increase in Bitcoin’s price from its lowest point to the current level when the chart was produced. Projecting this height from the handle’s formation suggests a target in the vicinity of $75,000.

Dines further adds that the collective behavior of market participants will indeed guide the price movement: ” A lot of those longs would set a retrace at ~$75k as they close out their W. If enough participants put this trade on it will set the dominant price action … they win out and it will turn the chart into reality. I know it sounds ridiculous, but in the real world this is how markets actually discover price.”

At press time, BTC traded at $51,821.

Bitcoin bulls are back in charge, with the world’s leading cryptocurrency surging past $52,000 on Wednesday following a long hiatus.

This rally comes on the heels of a brief dip below $50,000 triggered by hotter-than-expected US inflation data, but investors shrugged it off, demonstrating resilient confidence in the digital asset’s future. Bitcoin is up more than 21% so far this year.

Bitcoin Shows Mettle With $52K Breach

This latest surge marks a significant milestone, not just for Bitcoin but for the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem. After 26 months, the top crypto asset has officially surpassed the coveted $1 trillion market cap, a testament to its growing adoption and mainstream appeal.

But what’s driving this renewed optimism? Several factors seem to be fueling the flames. Firstly, there’s the bullish sentiment surrounding Bitcoin, with many analysts and traders anticipating further price gains. Options traders are particularly optimistic, placing bets that one BTC could reach $75,000 in the coming months, adding fuel to the fire.

Secondly, the recent launch of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US has played a significant role. These ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly holding it, attracting institutional investors and driving significant inflows.

Nearly $10 Billion Flows Into The Crypto Market

Data from CryptoQuant reveals that a staggering $9.5 billion has poured into the Bitcoin market through these ETFs since their debut in January. In fact, over 70% of new money invested in Bitcoin in the past two weeks has originated from these spot ETFs, highlighting their growing impact.

Looking ahead, the upcoming halving event in April looms large. This programmed halving, occurring every four years, reduces the amount of new Bitcoin entering circulation, potentially impacting its price due to increased scarcity. Historically, Bitcoin has witnessed significant rallies following halving events, and many analysts believe this time will be no different.

“The upcoming halving will further tighten supply,” noted Duncan Ash, head of product go-to-market strategy at Coincover. “If history repeats itself, we can expect continued growth in BTC price in the months ahead.”

However, not everyone is singing an entirely bullish tune. While analysts at Swissblock agree that the uptrend is likely to continue, they caution against overexuberance, warning of potential slowing momentum and the inherent volatility of the market.

Ultimately, the future of Bitcoin remains uncertain, as with any cryptocurrency. However, this recent surge, driven by bullish sentiment, ETF inflows, and the upcoming halving, suggests that the bulls are firmly in control for now.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Amid a significant Bitcoin price rally, reaching a new two-year high of $52,000, a renowned social media account known as WhaleWire has made a startling prediction.

The account, widely followed for its bold statements and news postings, has forecasted a staggering 99.99% chance of Bitcoin falling below $10,000, directly challenging the prevailing bullish sentiment.

 Clash Over Potential Bitcoin Price Crash

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), WhaleWire has voiced concerns about sustainability and alleged manipulation through fraud and price manipulation. The account accuses mainstream media and self-proclaimed Bitcoin enthusiasts, often referred to as “moon boy scammers,” of perpetuating an upward price narrative to allegedly serve their interests.

However, not everyone is convinced by WhaleWire’s claims. In response to the account’s recent prediction, a user on social media accused WhaleWire of being a liar, citing a previous forecast from August 2022 when the account asserted that Bitcoin would undoubtedly drop below $20,000. 

Ironically, Bitcoin did experience a decline below that threshold a few weeks later, lending some credibility to WhaleWire’s track record.

WhaleWire continues to express skepticism and calls out the so-called “Bitcoin maximalists” who exhibit excessive greed and euphoria. The account suggests that recent price movements, including Bitcoin briefly touching $50,000 amid concerns over Tether’s money printing, are deliberate maneuvers to trap bullish investors. 

WhaleWire claims that retail investors are now heavily invested in Bitcoin, anticipating further gains, only to be blindsided by a subsequent price rug-pull.

Doubling down on its conviction, WhaleWire has announced that it has increased its short positions, surpassing its $69,000 short. He believes that the ongoing rally will mark the top of what he refers to as the “echo bubble run”, which he originally predicted when Bitcoin was valued at $16,000.

Bullish Optimism Builds 

As the Bitcoin price continues its uptrend, a crypto analyst operating under the pseudonym “Mags” has taken to social media to share an optimistic outlook for Bitcoin. 

As per Mags’ analysis, Bitcoin is currently trading above the critical 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level on a weekly chart, a feat never achieved in previous cycles before the halving event.

Traditionally, the 0.618 level has proven to be a formidable resistance zone, acting as a significant hurdle on Bitcoin’s path to reaching its all-time high (ATH). Mags believes that if Bitcoin successfully closes above the 0.618 level, which is currently valued at $48,500, it could signify an unprecedented bullish breakthrough.

Adding further weight to the bullish sentiment is the analysis provided by Ali Martinez. Martinez highlights a noteworthy trend: the amount of Bitcoin held in known cryptocurrency exchange wallets has plummeted to its lowest level in six years, with a total of only 2.34 million BTC remaining.

This substantial decrease in Bitcoin holdings on exchanges suggests a growing inclination among investors to move their BTC into secure, long-term storage solutions. 

According to Martinez, this shift away from exchanges implies a potential shift towards a more “hodling-centric” approach, where investors aim to hold their Bitcoin for extended periods rather than actively trading it.

Amidst the divergence of opinions and conflicting perspectives from both bullish and bearish investors, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. The Bitcoin price action, as the largest cryptocurrency in the market, continues its notable uptrend, challenging the bearish predictions put forth by WhaleWire and others.

As the debate rages on, time will reveal whether WhaleWire’s forecast proves accurate or if the current bullish momentum will persist, further solidifying Bitcoin’s position as a dominant force in the cryptocurrency market.

Currently, BTC is trading at $51,600, up 5.4% in the last 24 hours and over 18% in the last seven days.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Ethereum price is gaining bullish momentum above the $2,700 support. ETH remains supported and eyes more upsides toward the $3,000 resistance.

Ethereum is consolidating gains above the $2,770 support zone.
The price is trading above $2,780 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $2,700 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
The pair could continue to move up toward the $3,000 resistance zone.

Ethereum Price Remains In Strong Uptrend

Ethereum price remained well-bid above the $2,650 level. ETH settled above the $2,700 barrier to move further into a positive zone, like Bitcoin. The bulls were able to pump the price above the $2,750 and $2,800 levels.

A new multi-week high was formed near $2,826 and the price is now consolidating gains. It is trading above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent rally from the $2,589 swing low to the $2,826 high. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support at $2,700 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.

Ethereum is now trading above $2,780 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. Immediate resistance is near the $2,825 level. The first major resistance is near the $2,850 level. The next major resistance is near $2,880, above which the price might rise and test the $2,950 resistance.

Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com

If the bulls push the price above the $2,950 resistance, Ether could even spike above the $3,000 resistance. In the stated case, the price could rise toward the $3,045 level.

Are Dips Limited In ETH?

If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,825 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,770 level.

The next key support could be the $2,725 zone. A clear move below the $2,725 support might send the price toward the trend line at $2,700 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent rally from the $2,589 swing low to the $2,826 high. The main support could be $2,640 or the 100 hourly SMA. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,550 level.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Level – $2,700

Major Resistance Level – $2,880

Dogecoin is gaining pace above the $0.085 zone against the US Dollar. DOGE could start a fresh rally above the $0.088 and $0.095 resistance levels.

DOGE is showing positive signs above the $0.085 zone against the US dollar.
The price is trading above the $0.0865 level and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours).
There was a break above a key contracting triangle with resistance at $0.0820 on the 4-hour chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
The price could extend its rally above the $0.088 and $0.095 resistance levels.

Dogecoin Price Turns Green

In the past few sessions, Dogecoin price started a decent increase from the $0.080 support zone. DOGE cleared many hurdles near $0.0820 to enter a positive zone.

There was a break above a key contracting triangle with resistance at $0.0820 on the 4-hour chart of the DOGE/USD pair. It even broke the $0.0850 resistance, but the upsides were less than Bitcoin and Ethereum. A high is formed near $0.0883 and the price is now consolidating gains.

It is trading above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $0.0795 swing low to the $0.0883 high. DOGE is also trading above the $0.0865 level and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours).

Source: DOGEUSD on TradingView.com

On the upside, the price is facing resistance near the $0.0880 level. The next major resistance is near the $0.0920 level. A close above the $0.0920 resistance might send the price toward the $0.095 resistance. The next major resistance is near $0.100. Any more gains might send the price toward the $0.120 level.

Downside Correction in DOGE?

If DOGE’s price fails to gain pace above the $0.0880 level, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.0860 level.

The next major support is near the $0.0840 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $0.0795 swing low to the $0.0883 high. If there is a downside break below the $0.0840 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might decline toward the $0.0820 level.

Technical Indicators

4 Hours MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now losing momentum in the bullish zone.

4 Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $0.086, $0.084, and $0.082.

Major Resistance Levels – $0.088, $0.092, and $0.10.

Bitcoin price extended its increase above the $52,000 resistance. BTC is consolidating gains and might aim for more upsides toward the $55,000 resistance.

Bitcoin price remained in a bullish zone above the $51,000 and $51,200 levels.
The price is trading above $51,200 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
There are two bullish trend lines forming with support at $51,450 and $49,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
The pair could continue to move up if it clears the $52,500 resistance zone.

Bitcoin Price Extends Rally

Bitcoin price started a steady increase above the $50,000 resistance zone. BTC gained strength above the $50,500 and $51,200 levels. It even spiked above the $52,000 resistance zone.

A new multi-week high was formed near $52,493 and the price is now consolidating gains. It is holding gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $48,240 swing low to the $52,493 high. There are also two bullish trend lines forming with support at $51,450 and $49,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Bitcoin is now trading above $51,200 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Immediate resistance is near the $52,500 level. The next key resistance could be $53,200, above which the price could extend its rally.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com

The next stop for the bulls may perhaps be $54,400. A clear move above the $54,400 resistance could send the price toward the $55,000 resistance. The next resistance could be near the $56,500 level.

Downside Correction In BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $52,500 resistance zone, it could start another downside correction in the near term. Immediate support on the downside is near the $51,500 level and the first trend line.

The first major support is $50,500 and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $48,240 swing low to the $52,493 high. If there is a close below $50,500, the price could gain bearish momentum. In the stated case, the price could dive toward the $49,200 support and the second trend line.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $51,500, followed by $50,500.

Major Resistance Levels – $52,500, $53,200, and $54,400.

On-chain data shows a Litecoin whale has made a large deposit to cryptocurrency exchange Binance, which could add to the coin’s decline.

Litecoin Whale Has Transferred 100,000 LTC To Binance Today

According to data from the cryptocurrency transaction tracker service Whale Alert, a large transfer has been spotted on the Litecoin network during the past day.

This transaction involved the movement of 100,000 LTC across the blockchain, worth more than 7 million US Dollars at the time of the move. Since the transfer scale is so large, a whale entity was likely behind it.

Generally, the transfers of whales can be something worth watching out for, as they may end up causing ripples in the market. How a move from such a humongous holder would affect the asset, though, depends on the intent behind it.

Here are some additional details regarding the latest Litecoin whale transfer that may provide a hint about why the investor made the move:

As displayed above, the whale transferred 100,000 LTC to wallets associated with the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in this move. The sending addresses were all unknown wallets that were unattached to any centralized platforms.

Such wallets are usually the investors’ addresses. Transactions like this, where coins move from self-custodial wallets towards exchanges, are called “exchange inflows.”

The latest exchange inflow from the Whale suggests that the investor wanted to use one of the platform’s services, which can include selling. As such, the transfer can be bad news for Litecoin.

LTC Has Gone Down 3% In Past 24 Hours Despite Market Surge

While most cryptocurrency sectors have enjoyed profits during the last day, Litecoin has been the odd one as it has registered negative returns.

As the chart below displays, LTC plunged from above the $73 level to the $68 mark during its latest drop.

Litecoin has registered a bit of a rebound since its low, though, as it has returned above $70. Despite this increase, however, the coin has still been down around 3% in the past 24 hours.

Given the timing of the Binance inflow transaction made by the whale, it’s possible the move was for selling after all, as it coincided with this rebound in the cryptocurrency.

The whale may be using this small surge to exit from the asset, potentially for moving into the greener pastures the rest of the market seems to be providing.

Regarding the market cap, Litecoin has fallen to just the 20th spot on the top cryptocurrencies list, meaning there are nineteen larger digital assets than it currently. There is still some gap between LTC and 21st-placed Uniswap (UNI), so the coin may not be at risk of slipping further, at least for now.