Bitcoin's price experienced a significant drop, falling over 3% in 24 hours, as Grayscale's Bitcoin ETF saw a massive outflow of funds, with analysts predicting further corrections post-halving.
Record ETF Outflows
Grayscale's spot Bitcoin ETF, recently converted from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), witnessed its second-largest net outflow on record, with $598.9 million leaving the fund on February 29. This near-record outflow follows a period of high inflow into Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, highlighting the volatile investment landscape surrounding Bitcoin.
Impact on Bitcoin's Price
The substantial outflows from GBTC contributed to a 3.3% drop in Bitcoin's price, which fell to just under $61,500 from a 24-hour high of $63,585. This shift in investment behavior comes amid broader market dynamics, including a record-high net inflow into ten United States spot Bitcoin ETFs the day before, showcasing the fluctuating investor sentiment towards Bitcoin.
Analysts Predict Post-Halving Correction
JPMorgan analysts have issued a cautionary note, suggesting that the upcoming Bitcoin halving in April, traditionally a bullish event for the cryptocurrency, might lead to a price correction instead. They argue that the "halving euphoria" could fade, potentially driving Bitcoin's price down to $42,000. The halving event, which reduces the block reward for miners, typically leads to increased production costs and has historically been a catalyst for price rallies.
Mining Costs and Difficulty Adjustments
The analysts further explained that the mining difficulty, a measure of how hard it is to mine a Bitcoin block, could decrease by 20% due to some miners with less efficient equipment going offline. This adjustment could lower the theoretical minimum price of Bitcoin, based on mining costs, to around $42,000 post-halving. However, they also noted that demand from Bitcoin ETFs could keep inefficient mining rigs profitable, thereby sustaining a higher Bitcoin price.
