4 Bitcoin metrics at all-time highs
For the first time in its history, bitcoin has broken below its previous cycle's high. The previous cycle's high was US$19,783 in December 2017, and on June 19th, the price dropped to as low as US$17,708. The price has since rebounded, and at the time of writing, is hovering around US$19,200. With very thin trading historically under US$20,000, the next level of real support may not be until US$13,800.
Bitcoin is currently down ~70 % since peaking at US$68,789 in November 2021. In the current macro environment where tightening by the Fed continues to try to tame inflation, the price remains under pressure and may fall further.
Companies that placed bitcoin on the balance sheet, such as Microstrategy (129,218 BTC) and Tesla (42,000 BTC), are sitting underwater on their holdings, with an average cost price of US$30,200 and US$31,620 respectively.
There is some consolation in that the bitcoin price has fallen to its 200-week simple moving average (‘SMA’) and is now trading close to its ‘realized price’ (a kind of total “cost basis” for all coins on the network). Historically, both have been near ultimate lows or support for bitcoin.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance is shown in US dollars and does not take into account any USD/AUD currency movements.
But price is not necessarily an indicator of true value. Assets can and do trade over-valued and under-valued. As discussed below, we have continued to see metrics that make all-time highs for the Bitcoin network, suggesting that bitcoin is alive and healthy and will get through this tightening cycle in the crypto market (although many other cryptocurrencies may not).
Four on-chain metrics that have continued to hit higher highs and demonstrate the health of the Bitcoin network are:
Bitcoin: Mean Hash Rate
Hash rate is the total computational power being used by a proof-of-work cryptocurrency network to process transactions. A high hash rate is considered an indicator of a network's security because it shows many miners are verifying transactions.
While industry players like centralised borrowing and lending platforms have experienced risk issues, the Bitcoin network has continued to operate normally without any kind of hiccup, downtime, or “pause.” With the hash rate continuing to climb to a new all-time high, on this metric the Bitcoin network appears more secure today than at any time prior.
Source: Glassnode
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance is shown in US dollars and does not take into account any USD/AUD currency movements.
Bitcoin wallet addresses with at least or greater than .01, .1 or 1 BTC
Number of addresses with at least or greater than .01, .1 or 1 BTC shows the number of unique addresses holding at least or greater than the amount specified. This metric gives us a big picture view into whether the network is growing.
Investors have continued to accumulate. Based on the chart below, over 858,000 wallet address hold at least 1 bitcoin or more.
Source: Glassnode.
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance is shown in US dollars and does not take into account any USD/AUD currency movements.
Percent of Supply Last Active 1+ Years Ago
Percent of supply last active 1+ years ago shows the percent of circulating supply that has not moved in at least a year. Bitcoin that has not moved in 1+ years could be considered ‘illiquid’ even though it would still be considered as part of the circulating supply. The higher the illiquid supply, the less selling pressure there can be on the network, which is considered positive in the long-term.
Long-term holders have continued to sit tight. Investors holding BTC for at least 1 year has continued to grow and sits at an all-time high of 65.47%.
Source: Glassnode
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance is shown in US dollars and does not take into account any USD/AUD currency movements.
Lightning Network Capacity
The Lightning Network is a Layer 2 solution to solve Bitcoin’s scalability difficulties. With the Layer 2 solution, bitcoin can theoretically be used just like any currency without long confirmation times. Developed in 2018, the Lightning Network has sustained an upward trend in increasing its capacity.
Lightning Network Capacity shows the total amount of BTC locked in the Lightning Network. Lightning Network payment nodes open payment channels with each other. As transactions are made across channels, the channel balance is reflected without the need to broadcast a transaction on-chain, effectively creating a second layer on top of the Bitcoin network.
According to data, Lightning Network capacity is sitting at an all-time-high of 4012 BTC locked. As capacity increases, the Lightning Network enables faster and almost zero-fee Bitcoin transactions via off-chain payment channels. This metric is considered a positive for the use and adoption of bitcoin.
Source: Glassnode
Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Performance is shown in US dollars and does not take into account any USD/AUD currency movements.
If we consider Bitcoin to be like other growth assets, it stands to reason that it will not be insulated from the macro environment and will continue to suffer from monetary tightening. Since 2020, bitcoin has increased in price more than any other asset class and, unsurprisingly, has fallen harder. While the bitcoin price has continued to fall, there are several bitcoin fundamentals that have continued to strengthen and make new all-time highs. Eventually the fundamentals and value should meet price, but where and when that happens is anyone’s guess.
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Justin is the Head of Digital Assets, leading sales efforts on cryptoassets, educating and informing clients as they consider investments into this emerging and exciting asset class. He also contributes to the formation of digital asset strategy and product development for the business.
As the longest serving member of the Distribution team, Justin has supported the Institutional, Intermediary Broker and Adviser channels since 2010.
Justin has over 15 years’ experience in the ETF market, initially in North America and more recently in Australia. Before joining BetaShares, Justin was a V.P. Business Development at Horizons Exchange Traded Funds, one of the largest ETF issuers in Canada.
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This information is general only and is not a recommendation to invest in cryptocurrencies or adopt any particular investment strategy. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and should only be considered by investors who fully understand them, have a very high tolerance for risk and have the capacity to absorb a rapid loss of some or all of their investment. Cryptocurrencies should only be considered as a very small component of an investor’s overall portfolio.
BetaShares Capital Limited (AFSL: 341181) (“BetaShares”) prepared this material. It is general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. It is not a recommendation to make any investment or adopt any investment strategy. Anyone considering investing in BetaShares funds should obtain a copy of the relevant PDS from www.betashares.com.au, consider the risks and obtain personal financial and tax advice. Investors may also wish to consider the Target Market Determination which sets out the class of consumers that comprise the target market for the respective BetaShares fund, available at www.betashares.com.au/target-market-determinations. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Future outcomes are inherently uncertain. Actual outcomes may differ materially from those in any opinions, estimates or other forward-looking statements provided.
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Justin is the Head of Digital Assets, leading sales efforts on cryptoassets, educating and informing clients as they consider investments into this emerging and exciting asset class. He also contributes to the formation of digital asset strategy...
Justin is the Head of Digital Assets, leading sales efforts on cryptoassets, educating and informing clients as they consider investments into this emerging and exciting asset class. He also contributes to the formation of digital asset strategy...
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