Warning: Bitcoin Long-Term Holders Under Acute Financial Stress

Bhushan Akolkar
November 17, 2022
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96000 BTC Options Expiry Sets Max Pain Price At $61,000, What's Next?

As the FTX crisis unfolded over the last week, the world’s largest cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) has been facing severe selling pressure. As of press time, BTC is trading 1.68% down at a price of $16,571 and a market cap of $318 billion.

So far Bitcoin long-term holders have shown great conviction in holding their coins. However, they are undergoing a period of acute financial stress. Pointing out the MVRV ration of the long-term holders, on-chain data provider Glassnode explained:

Bitcoin Long-Term Holders are currently experiencing acute financial stress, holding an average of -33% in unrealized losses. This is comparable to the lows of the 2018 bear market, which saw a peak unrealized loss of -36% on average.

Courtesy: Glassnode

As we can see in the above chart, the last time the long-term holders came under similar stress, it was the point of reversal for the Bitcoin price. This might suggest that the bottom for Bitcoin could be nearly in.

However, Bitcoin critic Peter Shiff believes that the lion’s share of selling hasn’t started yet. He shared his older prediction from June 2022 wherein he said:

The need to sell #Bitcoin to pay the bills will only get worse as the #recession deepens and many #HODLers lose their jobs, especially those working for soon to be bankrupt #blockchain companies. If circumstances change, long-term buyers without paychecks will be forced to sell.

Bitcoin Investors Going for Self-Custody

The FTX collapse has forced BTC investors to move their coins away from the exchange and opt for self-custody. Post the FTX episode, the withdrawal of coins from exchanges has happened at a truly historic rate. In its latest report, Glassnode writes:

Exchanges have seen one of the largest net declines in aggregate BTC balance in history, falling by 72.9k BTC in 7-days. This compares with only three periods in the past; Apr-2020, Nov-2020, and June to July 2022.

Courtesy: Glassnode
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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Bhushan is a seasoned crypto writer with over eight years of experience spanning more than 10,000 contributions across multiple platforms like CoinGape, CoinSpeaker, Bitcoinist, Crypto News Flash, and others. Being a Fintech enthusiast, he loves reporting across Crypto, Blockchain, DeFi, Global Macros with a keen understanding in financial markets. 

He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills. Bhushan has a bachelors degree in electronics engineering, however, his interest in finance and economics drives him to crypto and blockchain.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.