Bitcoin hits $40,000 for first time, but pullback likely imminent

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and Chuck Mikolajczak

 

FILE PHOTO: A representation of virtual currency Bitcoin is seen in front of a stock graph in this illustration taken November 19, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin topped $40,000 for the first time on Thursday, as it continues a rally that has seen the digital currency climb more than 700% from a March 12 closing low.

 

Increased demand from institutional, corporate, and more recently retail investors has powered bitcoin's surge this year, attracted by the prospect of quick gains in a world of ultra-low yields and negative interest rates.

 

The world's most popular cryptocurrency climbed as high as $40,402.46 and was last up 6.1% at $39,100. It crossed $30,000 for the first time on Jan. 2 and $20,000 on Dec. 16.

 

Smaller coins ethereum, the second largest in terms of market capitalization, and XRP, the fourth biggest, gained 1.8% at $1,231 and 31% at 32 U.S. cents, respectively. Both currencies often move in tandem with bitcoin.

 

Some investors viewed bitcoin as a hedge against inflation amid enormous monetary stimulus aimed at battling the economic devastation caused by COVID-19.

 

Market participants though warned a correction could be in the cards after a scorching rally.

 

"While further growth is inevitable, investors should not expect this to move in a straight line," said Gavin Smith, chief executive officer of cryptocurrency consortium, Panxora Group.

 

"The reality is that bitcoin is far from being a magic money tree, nor is it free from downward price swings. In fact, we can expect dips as sharp as 25% at times as investors periodically withdraw profits," he added.

 

Bitcoins surge happened as the market cap for the entire cryptocurrency sector topped $1 trillion on Thursday, according to data trackers CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko.

 

Glassnode, which provides insight on blockchain data, noted that retail interest in bitcoin has increased the last few weeks, with the number of bitcoin addresses or wallets holding a "non-zero amount" of the virtual currency reaching an all-time high of more than 33 million.

 

The information provider also said while interest in bitcoin and news coverage have grown, it is far from being in bubble territory. The number of daily new bitcoins has still not reached 2017 levels, Glassnode said, suggesting the currency is experiencing strong organic growth in adoption, but not the sort of "viral growth typical of a bubble."

 

(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Chris Reese and Aurora Ellis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-08

 

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It dropped as far back as just under $36500 but as I type this it's back around $39600 and heading up

how is this not a pyramid SCAM about to explode soon

 

GREED

 

bitcoin backed by what ? hot air ?

Why didn't I buy bitcoin and tesla?

1 hour ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

how is this not a pyramid SCAM about to explode soon

 

GREED

 

bitcoin backed by what ? hot air ?

 

Power consumption. 

https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-energy-consumption/

 

tulips, tulip, and yet more tulips...

Very minor pullbacks.  Still feels like price discovery...

I know how to make this all crash.  Works every time.

 

I invest my money...

 

 

articles just like this are why i sold yesterday. my unemployed thai friend asked me about bitcoin. he also asked if he could shine my shoes.

On 1/9/2021 at 5:03 AM, mr mr said:

 

articles just like this are why i sold yesterday. my unemployed thai friend asked me about bitcoin. he also asked if he could shine my shoes.

???? classics from the JP Morgan

 

 

Preparing the popcorn right now,  for the morning, when all the crypto experts will start posting that they cashed out at 40K, and are now waiting to get in big again at 20K

Nice shake out of weak hands in the last 48 hours.   Also a nice reminder not to be leveraged.

On 1/12/2021 at 10:13 AM, Heng said:

Nice shake out of weak hands in the last 48 hours.   Also a nice reminder not to be leveraged.

Yeah, it comes and goes ????

Pullbacks are both necessary and healthy. Time spent in the accumulation phase between spikes builds support for the next pullback. 

 

This bull market (party) is just getting started!  .... ALL ABOARD!!!

 

MSTR (Microstrategy) stock is up 251% in just 3 months since the CEO Michael Saylor bought 70,470 bitcoins to hold in their corperate treasury reserves.  It's a great way to get exposure to bitcoin without buying it directly.  No fees and no premium (or markup) vs buying Grayscale bitcoin trust.

 

 

We can revisit this thread later this year. Should be interesting!

Buy regularly, dollar cost averaging. Like 100$ each month. Nothing you could do wrong with it.