Crypto: A weak start to a difficult month

Market picture

The crypto market lost 2.7% over the past 24 hours to $3.75 trillion, the level of a week earlier. As this was not the first day of decline, the biggest hit was to altcoins, with ETH losing 5.6% and XRP losing 6%, compared to a 3% loss for BTC.

The cryptocurrency sentiment index fell to 65, its lowest level since 8 July, after three weeks of extreme greed. Clearly, the inability to grow disappointed speculators and increased bearish sentiment.

Bitcoin is trading at $115K, falling below $114K at the most vulnerable time at the start of Asian trading. The first cryptocurrency has given up almost half of its gains from the lows at the start of the month to the peaks on 14 July. Heavy selling in the second half of the month is darkening the clouds, but it will take more than just fatigue and a lack of news to reverse the trend. Last month and August 2024 also saw a weak start, so this comes as no surprise.

News background

Bitcoin rose 8.3% in July to $116,500, strengthening for the fourth consecutive month after a two-month decline. In terms of seasonality, August is considered one of the two most unfavourable months for BTC. Over the past 14 years, Bitcoin has ended the month with growth only five times and has declined nine times. For the last three years, Bitcoin has been unsuccessful. The average decline was 14.7%, while the average growth was 26%.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, corporate Ethereum reserves exceeded $10 billion. Sixty-five companies hold 2.73 million ETH on their balance sheets, which is 2.26% of the second cryptocurrency's total supply.

Standard Chartered Bank expects large companies to accumulate Ethereum as a strategic asset and buy up to 10% of the cryptocurrency's total supply.

The American bank JPMorgan has announced an expansion of its cooperation with the Coinbase crypto exchange. The bank's customers will be allowed to buy cryptocurrencies using credit cards.