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Active Currencies: 17,387
Market Cap: $2.337T
Bitcoin Dominance: 55.42%
24h Market Cap Change: $-2.05

Bitcoin: Exploring sub-$20k price possibility amid rate hikes

Sell pressure lowered the level of profitability. According to Glassnode data, the percentage of Bitcoin addresses in profit is now at $61.47%.

  • Assessing Bitcoin’s next move now as the bears take a breather.
  • Whale activity suggests prospects of a potential bullish relief.

Appetite for leverage in Bitcoin [BTC] trading exposed the inherent risks on the market when interest rates surge. In BTC’s case, many traders are forced to liquidate just so they can afford to keep up with debt due to rising rates.


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It is no surprise that the U.S Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates high is associated with Bitcoin’s recent bearish sentiment. Many analysts currently expect Bitcoin’s potential upside to be subdued as the FED is anticipated to keep interest rates high.

The FED is not expected to decrease interest rates substantially unless the level of inflation goes below the 2% level.

It might take a while before inflation levels are down to favorable levels. This means interest rates may not favor a substantial Bitcoin surge (all factors held constant). However, that might be subject to treasury bond dumping. Such a situation could force the FED to intervene and lower interest rates.

Evaluating the possibility retesting the $20,000 price tag

Bitcoin might be oversold after the recent crash but that does not necessarily negate more downside possibilities. Peruvian Bull’s analysis suggests that there could be another wave of sell pressure before the FED lowers interest rates.

Can Bitcoin really drop from the current level? Well, the recent sell pressure lowered the level of profitability. According to Glassnode data, the percentage of Bitcoin addresses in profit is now at $61.47%. This means there is still more room for another shakedown.

Bitcoin percent of addresses in profit and exchange balance
Source: Glassnode

Bitcoin exchange balance has also dropped below June levels, which underscores a fall in the level of confidence in the market. Despite the above observations and the discounted price, the level of demand, especially from whales, remains low.

A substantial price drop usually triggers some accumulation, which in turn offers some short-term relief.


Check out Bitcoin’s price prediction for 2023/2024


Let’s take a look at some on-chain findings which suggest that there might be some bullish attempts in the next few days. Miner balances have been on the rise, which meant that BTC miners are opting to hodl in anticipation of higher prices. It also means things are not so bad as to warrant a selloff.  Bitcoin whales holding over 1,000 BTC (denoted in green) have been gradually re-accumulating since 19 August.

Bitcoin miner balances and whale address activity
Source: Glassnode

Meanwhile, addresses in the 10,000 BTC range accumulated back to 13 August levels. This means they exited before the crash and accumulated back suggesting that they anticipate some upside. Nevertheless, these findings are subject to market changes. In this case, interest rate related announcements should definitely be on the list of factors to watch.

Disclaimer: AMBCrypto's content is meant to be informational in nature and should not be interpreted as investment advice. Trading, buying or selling cryptocurrencies should be considered a high-risk investment and every reader is advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

Michael is a full-time journalist at AMBCrypto. He has 5 years of experience in finance and forex and more than two years as a writer in the crypto and blockchain segments. Michael's writing at AMBCrypto is primarily focused on cryptocurrency market news and technical analysis. His interests include motorcycles and exotic cars.

AMBCrypto was founded in 2018 with a mission to simplify and bring the latest blockchain and cryptocurrency news to our readers. We have quickly grown into the digital news source for an emerging generation of cryptocurrency enthusiasts, reaching more than a million readers on a monthly basis, across the globe.