News
Bitcoin Stabilizes, JPMorgan Expects Rebound in August
Key points
- Bitcoin remains stuck in the $57,000 range. JPMorgan says Bitcoin’s negative price trend will reverse in August.
- Analysts boosted shares of Iris Energy a day after they were dragged lower by a short-seller’s report.
- US spot bitcoin ETFs have been on the upside this week.
The price of Bitcoin is stuck.
Despite a brief gain after better-than-expected consumer inflation data or Fed commentary this week, it has recently returned to the range around $57,000. JPMorgan analysts say the cryptocurrency could overcome its price inertia in August.
Meanwhile, the leading cryptocurrency has recently been trading just above $58,000, up slightly over the past 24 hours.
Why is the price of Bitcoin stuck?
It seems that supply and demand pressures cancel each other out.
The German government has continued to sell bitcoin, although it is starting to reduce those sales. It still holds 3,846 bitcoin (worth about $222 million) on the blockchain; however, the European nation has moved about $3 billion of the cryptocurrency since the beginning of June, according to data from Arkham Intelligence. Coinbase Germany general manager Jan Sell told DL News that the amount of bitcoin they have sold as part of Germany’s liquidation process is not a large amount compared to normal volumes.
US spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) bought, with about $79 million flowing into financial products on Thursday, according to Farside Investors. That brought inflows for the week to more than $737 million.
Recent news-driven downward pressure on bitcoin prices is nearly over, suggesting prices could recover next month, JPMorgan analysts said.
Featured Bitcoin Related Stocks
Microstrategy (MSTR) the stock continued its uptrend a day after the announcement a 10 for 1 stock splitup about 5% in recent trading on Friday.
Shares of bitcoin mining company Iris Energy (IRENE) rose 10% in early trading, with The Block reporting that Bernstein analysts came to its defense after a short-seller report. Iris shares fell 13% on Thursday after Culper Research said the company was worth far less than its current valuation.
Block Actions (square) rose nearly 3% after Bernstein analysts pegged the value of the company’s deal to supply mining hardware to Core Scientific (CORZ) to about $300 million. Core shares have recently risen more than 2%.
SEC Open to Easing Stance on Crypto Custody
On the regulatory front, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is poised to allow exceptions to its SAB 121 guidance, according to Bloomberg Law. The rule in question, which concerns cryptocurrency custody on behalf of customers, is considered restrictive for traditional financial firms, and a change in the SEC’s stance could help foster broader cryptocurrency adoption.