Bitcoin and the broader crypto market have experienced a significant bull run since the approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the US SEC in January 2024. Led by Bitcoin's 134.36% yearly increase, cryptocurrencies have seen a resurgence following the FTX collapse and crypto winter. While Bitcoin and Ethereum have traded flat in the first week of April, Bitcoin's volatility remains high ahead of its halving event, expected to drive further market movement.
Bitcoin's Historic Surge and the Rise of ETFs
Since the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) authorized a series of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on January 10, 2024, Bitcoin (BTC) has spearheaded an unrelenting surge in the cryptocurrency market. These investment vehicles grant investors access to the underlying Bitcoin asset without the requirement of joining a cryptocurrency exchange. Since then, the cryptocurrency sector has experienced an upswing, with altcoins following Bitcoin's footsteps.
As of April 2, 2024, Bitcoin has witnessed a remarkable yearly increase of 134.36%. This substantial achievement coincides with the cryptocurrency market's emergence from a crypto winter triggered by the collapse of FTX in 2022, exacerbated by events such as the Terra-LUNA death spiral.
At the onset of April's first week, Bitcoin and Ethereum, the undisputed industry leaders, traded relatively flat. This stagnation can be attributed to the closure of several major financial centers worldwide during the extended Easter weekend. On April 2, Bitcoin traded slightly above $66,400, falling short of its newfound resistance around $70,000.
Concurrently, Ethereum traded around $3,355, below the $3,600 levels observed on April 1. According to Messari data, Bitcoin's volatility has fluctuated throughout March, potentially influenced by the fourth Bitcoin halving, scheduled to occur in 17 days. While volatility subsided slightly in the latter half of March, analysts anticipate increased volatility in the near future due to the impending Bitcoin halving.
Bitcoin's well-known volatility, with its ability to create and shatter fortunes overnight, appears poised to resurface, at least temporarily. In the meantime, US Bitcoin ETFs continue to shatter records, with prominent names including BlackRock's IBIT, Grayscale's GBTC, and Fidelity's FBTC. Collectively, the 10 US Bitcoin ETFs hold approximately 851,593 bitcoins, representing 4.055% of Bitcoin's finite supply of 21 million units. GBTC holds the largest portion at 335,153.8, followed by IBIT at 252,011 and FBTC at 144,704.
As the crypto bull market persists, users eagerly await the SEC's approval of Ethereum ETFs. Shashank, founder of yMedia and an ETH maximalist who has been involved in cryptocurrency since 2013, offers valuable insights on Twitter (@bhardwajshash).
