Key Points
- Bitcoin’s price recovery is attributed to significant exchange outflows reducing selling pressure.
- Increase in new Bitcoin addresses suggests a growing retail interest.
Bitcoin’s recent price fluctuations have been a focal point of attention. The cryptocurrency witnessed a sharp decline followed by a bounce back. This happened in response to news about a U.S. crypto reserve initiative that includes Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin’s Response to Crypto Reserve Initiative
Bitcoin initially surged above $94,000 before settling at just above $92,000. Alongside these price movements, CryptoQuant data showed significant activity on cryptocurrency exchanges. According to analyst KriptoBaykusV2, large inflows and outflows of Bitcoin on exchanges directly influence market sentiment and price trends.
On February 25th, about 8.4K BTC moved into exchanges, causing increased selling pressure and a subsequent price drop. However, the next day saw a reversal with substantial Bitcoin outflows, indicating a shift towards long-term holding strategies. This activity pattern stabilized Bitcoin’s price and led to a gradual recovery by early March.
Exchange Flows and On-chain Metrics Impact
Exchange inflow and outflow data suggest that investor sentiment often changes rapidly in response to external factors. Inflows correlate with increased selling pressure, resulting in short-term price declines. On the other hand, outflows usually signal a preference for long-term storage, reducing immediate selling pressure and potentially setting the stage for upward price momentum.
Historical data supports this relationship: rising outflows often coincide with price increases as the circulating supply tightens. KriptoBaykusV2 noted, “As of March 2, Bitcoin’s price has started to rise again. Historically, when outflows from exchanges increase, prices tend to move upward.”
Besides exchange movements, on-chain metrics provide additional context. Glassnode data shows a surge in the number of new Bitcoin addresses in February, reaching a monthly peak of 371,442 on February 26th. Although this metric slightly retreated in early March to around 300,000, the overall increase in new addresses suggests growing retail interest in BTC.
This increase in address activity, along with the observed exchange flows, offers a more complete picture of the market’s current state.