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[Stan NordFX]

Forex and Cryptocurrency Forecast for October 07 – 11, 2024

EUR/USD: Dollar Breaks Through

● For seven weeks, the EUR/USD pair remained in a sideways trend, lacking strong drivers, confined within the 1.1000-1.1200 range, and on Friday, 4th October, it once again approached the lower boundary of this channel. The main factor influencing this movement was the behaviour of the US Dollar Index (DXY). Calculated by ICE, the DXY rose due to increased demand for safe-haven assets. Concerns over the escalation of the Middle East crisis led to the largest weekly rise in oil prices since 2023, and the US dollar, as a safe-haven currency, became the best-performing G10 currency over a 5-day period. The US currency was also supported by encouraging economic data from the United States. According to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) report, the country's Services PMI jumped from 51.5 to 54.9 points in September, marking the highest level since February 2023.
● However, the most important event of the week was expected to be the US labour market data, traditionally published on the first Friday of every month. As reported by the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) on 4th October, the number of new jobs in the non-farm sector (NFP) increased by 254K. This figure followed a rise of 159K recorded in August and significantly exceeded market expectations of 140K. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% from 4.2% (forecast 4.2%), and instead of the expected decline in annual wage inflation to 3.3%, it actually rose to 4.0% (from 3.9% in the previous month).
● When making decisions on monetary policy, the US Federal Reserve always takes two key indicators into account: the state of the labour market and inflation. The current BLS report showed: 1) the resilience of the economy (since the number of new jobs is increasing and unemployment is falling, the economy is clearly on the rise), and 2) inflation growth. Based on this, market participants concluded that the Fed may not rush with further easing of its policy (QE).
Had the employment data been poor, it would have strengthened market expectations that the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) would cut the key interest rate by 50 basis points (bps) at its November meeting. However, now this probability has sharply decreased. Moreover, during his speech at the annual meeting of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) in Nashville on Monday, 30th October, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that the FOMC is "not the kind of committee that rushes to lower rates quickly." "If the economy performs as expected, that would mean two more rate cuts this year, both by a quarter of a point," the head of the US central bank stated.
● Against this backdrop, the US Dollar Index (DXY) surged to 102.69, and the EUR/USD pair, for the first time in many days, broke through the 1.1000 support and found a local bottom at 1.0950. The final note of the week was struck at 1.0974. Expert opinions on the future behaviour of EUR/USD in the near term provided no clear direction. About 20% of analysts supported the strengthening of the dollar and the pair's decline, another 20% predicted its weakening, and the majority (60%) took a neutral stance. In the medium term, the number of votes favouring dollar growth increases to 70%. In technical analysis on D1, all 100% of oscillators are in red, though a quarter of them signal the pair is oversold. Among trend indicators, 65% recommend selling, and 35% suggest buying.
The nearest support for the pair is located in the 1.0950 zone, followed by 1.0890-1.0925, 1.0780-1.0805, 1.0725, 1.0665-1.0680, 1.0600-1.0620, 1.0520-1.0565, and 1.0450-1.0465. Resistance zones are at 1.1000-1.1010, followed by 1.1045, 1.1100, 1.1155, 1.1185-1.1210, 1.1275, 1.1385, 1.1485-1.1505, and 1.1670-1.1690, 1.1875-1.1905.
● In the upcoming week's event calendar, Monday, 7th October stands out with the release of retail sales data from the Eurozone. Wednesday, 9th October is of interest due to the publication of the minutes from the latest FOMC meeting. The second half of the week promises to be more eventful. On Thursday, 10th October, in addition to the usual US unemployment data, we will learn what is happening with consumer inflation (CPI) in the United States. On Friday, Germany's CPI figure will be published first, and by the end of the five-day workweek, we can expect the release of another important inflation indicator – the US Producer Price Index (PPI).

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: The Mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto to be Revealed on 9th October

● Graphic analysis is somewhat reminiscent of the work of artists – each one sees something different when observing the same subject. A month ago, we shared how an analyst under the nickname Rekt Capital predicted a surge in the price of the first cryptocurrency in October, identifying a "bull flag" pattern on the BTC/USD chart. Another analyst, MetaShackle, based their forecast on the "cup and handle" pattern. This prediction was also described in detail by us. Peter Brandt, head of Factor LLC, recently made a forecast based on graphic analysis as well. This well-known analyst and trader suggested that by 2025, the bitcoin-to-gold ratio could increase by more than 400%. He based his highly optimistic forecast on another classic model – the "inverse head and shoulders."
And now, the same Peter Brandt, a Wall Street legend, has spotted not a head, but... blind mice. And not just one or two, but three, which seems to have deeply unsettled him. "A distinct 'three blind mice' pattern can be seen on the bitcoin chart," Brandt wrote. "It points to a further decline in price, so don't expect a bullish rally in October." According to him, the increase in bitcoin trading volumes alongside falling prices indicates that, amidst rising geopolitical tensions, institutional investors prefer to avoid risk and are quickly exiting the market, shifting to gold (and to the dollar, we might add). Brandt noted that in just one day at the beginning of October, over $240 million was withdrawn from US spot BTC-ETFs, the largest outflow in recent months.
It's worth mentioning that the "three blind mice" pattern also implies the presence of a "piece of cheese" these creatures are aiming for. Unfortunately, Brandt didn’t reveal where this cheese might be hidden. However, one could guess it's somewhere below the $60,000 support level. But as long as this level holds, there’s still a chance the mice will regain their sight and retreat, noticing the "bull flag," the "cup and handle," and the "inverse head and shoulders." Once they retreat, the leading cryptocurrency could take off.
● Analyst and Forbes contributor Jesse Colombo, much like Peter Brandt, has concluded that bitcoin has failed to live up to its reputation as a "safe haven" during times of global turmoil. Colombo points out that amidst escalating international tensions and the conflict between Israel and Iran, bitcoin, unlike gold, has once again disappointed investors who sought to use it as a hedge against risks.
"If bitcoin were truly 'digital gold,' it should have risen during periods of geopolitical upheaval, not declined," Colombo stated. "Bitcoin behaves like a speculative, high-risk asset, similar to shares of 'hot' tech companies, rather than as a safe-haven asset. This is evident from how closely bitcoin's price chart tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index. Data from the last five years shows a striking correlation coefficient between the two – 0.88 [close to the maximum of 1.00], confirming their strong connection," the Forbes analyst concluded. 
● Of course, the negative forecasts of Brandt and Colombo are well-founded. However, as noted by analysts at QCP Capital, the escalation in the Middle East only caused a moderate correction in the cryptocurrency market – bitcoin fell by just 4%, without breaking through the $60,000 level. QCP Capital does not rule out that further conflict escalation could lead to a decline in the price of "digital gold" to $55,000, but the asset is expected to recover from the drop. According to the specialists, BTC is currently supported by two factors: 1) The policy of the People's Bank of China, which aims to stimulate domestic demand amidst a slowdown in the national economy; 2) The initiation of monetary easing (QE) cycles and interest rate cuts by the central banks of major developed countries, primarily the US Federal Reserve.
According to QCP Capital's forecast, bitcoin is sure to demonstrate a bull rally, although its Dominance Index may dip slightly. Historically, October has been associated with a rise in this cryptocurrency’s price. QCP Capital analysts have calculated that over the last nine years, bitcoin has risen in October eight times, with an average increase of 22.9%. If this happens again, it could push the price above $75,000, marking new all-time highs.
● Another interesting observation was made by Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research. He noted that since the summer, after the release of data on business activity (PMI) in the US manufacturing sector, the crypto market has experienced a pullback of around 10%. "Now, manufacturing activity is declining again," the analyst wrote, "and it may shrink even further due to the dockworkers' strike that began on 30th September in several of the largest ports in the US. This will negatively affect the crypto sector as well." "Forecast indicators have dropped to a level close to recessionary," Thielen predicted. "If the PMI falls below 48.0, it will trigger another bitcoin decline, while a higher figure could fuel a rally." His forecast was accurate. While the market was expecting a reading of 47.5, the September manufacturing PMI actually dropped to 47.2 points. The data was released on Tuesday, 1st October, and that very day the BTC/USD pair showed a red candle on the chart, declining by approximately 6%. Of course, this could be a coincidence. Or it could be a pattern discovered by the founder of 10x Research.
Additionally, according to him, uncertainty in the crypto market is heightened by the potential for another key interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan as part of its ongoing tightening policy (QT).
● And, of course, a major factor generating a lot of speculation around the crypto market is the US presidential election. A survey conducted in the US by Harris Poll, with financial support from Grayscale, showed that over 56% of voters are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports the crypto industry. According to the survey results, nearly 40% of voters now pay attention to a candidate's stance on digital assets (in December 2023, this figure did not exceed 34%). At the same time, nearly 45% of cryptocurrency holders believe that the Democratic Party is more favourable to the industry (with Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate), while 42% pointed to the Republicans (with Donald Trump as the candidate).
A similar poll conducted by crypto exchange Coinbase and Morning Consult showed that the votes of digital asset holders are split evenly: 47% support Kamala Harris, and another 47% back Donald Trump. Despite some discrepancies with the Harris Poll data, the results of both surveys clearly indicate that crypto investors will be an important group that could influence the outcome of the US presidential election on 5th November.
● Expert and founder of Eight and MN Trading, Michael Van De Poppe, believes that by the end of 2024, the price of the leading cryptocurrency will reach a record high of $192,000. He suggests that the BTC market is currently in a "perfect storm" situation. Rising social tensions in many countries, declining trust in traditional financial institutions, and geopolitical conflicts are driving investors towards assets like bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
According to the expert, as central banks lower interest rates and increase liquidity to stimulate economic growth, price increases for assets such as physical and digital gold are inevitable in the medium term. The exponentially growing US national debt and further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve will become strong catalysts for cryptocurrency price growth. Van De Poppe believes that in the next cycle, bitcoin's price could reach anywhere between $300,000 and $600,000.
● As for bitcoin's main competitor, Ethereum, in our previous review titled "ETH Is No Longer the King of Altcoins. Long Live the New King?" we provided statistics showing how Solana (SOL) is surpassing the leading altcoin in terms of capital inflow. We won't claim that our publication was the reason, but the co-founder and former CEO of the crypto exchange BitMEX, Arthur Hayes, refuted it in a recent interview, stating that "Ethereum is the unassailable king of altcoins."
"It seems that Ethereum will never stop," he wrote. "The emergence of Layer 2 solutions has reduced transaction costs and accelerated transaction processing on the network. This increases Ethereum's competitiveness and gives it advantages over other networks. [...] Therefore, no other blockchain will be able to surpass it." The ex-CEO of BitMEX praised the Solana network for its user interface and active community. However, according to him, the SOL coin significantly lags behind Ethereum in market capitalization ($67 billion versus $294.5 billion). Furthermore, Hayes believes that for any blockchain to overtake ETH, developers must introduce new and original technology beyond its network.
● According to Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget Research, the price of ETH in October could range between $2,200 and $3,400. Among the key factors influencing the asset’s price, Lee highlighted the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts. He noted that once this rate aligns with Ethereum's staking yield, currently at 3.5% per annum, ETH will once again become an attractive investment tool. Thus, a reduction in interest rates will positively impact the coin's value.
Another bullish factor is the release of EigenLayer (EIGEN) tokens and their subsequent listing on exchanges. This could trigger an influx of additional capital into the ecosystem, helping ETH outpace bitcoin and Solana (SOL) in price growth. As a third growth factor, Ryan Lee pointed to the renewed excitement around meme tokens. According to him, there is currently an increase in meme-based digital assets on the Ethereum network, such as Neiro (NEIRO). High demand for these coins will attract new users and boost the popularity of the ETH network.
● As of the time of writing this review, on the evening of Friday, 4th October, the BTC/USD pair is trading around $62,400, while the ETH/USD pair is at $2,430. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has declined to $2.17 trillion (down from $2.32 trillion a week ago). The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has dropped from 61 to 41 points, swiftly moving past the Neutral zone and shifting from the Greed zone directly into the Fear zone.
● And finally, an event that promises to become a global sensation. Next week, on 8th-9th October, the American TV channel HBO will air a documentary in which the creators claim to have identified the real Satoshi Nakamoto! "The revelation could send shockwaves through global financial markets and even impact the US presidential elections, given how the Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump has gained the support of bitcoin enthusiasts," the filmmakers stated.
Well, we'll see. Don't forget to turn on your TV and have some calming pills ready – just in case it turns out to be a real information bomb!

NordFX Analytical Group 

Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

[Stan NordFX]

Forex and Cryptocurrency Forecast for October 14 – 18, 2024

EUR/USD: Doves Outplay Hawks, Score 76:24

● Last week, four key events attracted the attention of the markets. The week began on Monday, 7th October, with the release of eurozone retail sales data. According to the statistics, retail sales in August grew by 0.2% month-on-month and by 0.8% year-on-year, which was almost in line with forecasts. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected growth of 0.2% (m/m) and 1.0% (y/y).
● The next significant event was the release of the minutes from the September FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting of the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday, 9th October. This 13-page document provided a detailed assessment of the economic situation and the opinions of Committee members on the prospects for monetary policy. The Fed downgraded its forecast for US economic growth in 2024 from 2.1% to 2.0%, while keeping the 2025 estimate unchanged at 2.0%. The inflation forecast for the current year was lowered from 2.6% to 2.3%, and for the following year, from 2.3% to 2.1%.
According to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's statement, the regulator's baseline scenario assumes further monetary policy easing. However, he noted that the Fed is in no hurry to act. The minutes revealed that Committee members are divided into two camps regarding the expected pace and magnitude of the key interest rate cuts. Some believe that it is essential to avoid a rate reduction that is either too late or insufficient, citing risks to the labour market. Others argue that a rate cut that is too swift or too large could halt the progress made in the fight against inflation or even lead to its resurgence. 
● The next meeting of the US regulator will take place on 6-7th November. Market participants expect to see two more rate cuts this year, each by 25 basis points. According to the CME FedWatch tool, there is a 76% probability that the first of these cuts will occur next month, while the probability that the rate will remain unchanged is estimated at around 24%. Against this backdrop, the major US stock indices rallied, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones reaching record closing levels.
● The third event took place on Thursday, 10th October, with the release of US inflation data. According to the US Department of Labour, while consumer prices in September slightly exceeded forecasts, annual inflation reached its lowest level since February 2021.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained at 0.2% month-on-month, despite forecasts of 0.1%. On an annual basis, the CPI was 2.4% in September, which was higher than the forecast of 2.3% but lower than the previous value of 2.5%. Core inflation (Core CPI), which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose to 3.3% year-on-year, exceeding both the forecast and expectations of 3.2%. 
These figures reinforced investors' expectations that the US Federal Reserve would proceed with another rate cut in November. The EUR/USD pair reacted to the inflation data with volatility, fluctuating within a 50-point range (1.0904-1.0954), but by the start of Friday, it had returned to where it had been at the beginning of Thursday – in the middle of the range around 1.0935.
● It is worth recalling that on 18th September, the Federal Reserve lowered the key interest rate for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and by 50 basis points at once. According to Jerome Powell, this sharp move was necessary to protect the labour market. However, data from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, released on 4th October, showed the largest increase in new jobs in six months and a decrease in unemployment. The number of new jobs in the non-farm sector (NFP) rose by 254K, following an increase of 159K in August, and far exceeded market expectations of 140K. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% from 4.2%. According to analysts, this confirmed the resilience of the economy, and the expectation of a gradual rate cut this year.  
● The final event of the week, which had the potential to influence the dynamics of the US Dollar Index (DXY) and consequently EUR/USD quotes, was the release of another important inflation indicator on Friday, 11th October – the US Producer Price Index (PPI). According to the report from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the PPI rose by 1.8% year-on-year in September. This followed an increase of 1.9% in August and exceeded market expectations of 1.6%. The core PPI, on a yearly basis, grew by 2.8% (forecast 2.7%). On a monthly basis, the PPI remained unchanged, while the core index rose by 0.2%. 
● Despite the fact that producer price inflation exceeded forecasts, the market barely reacted to these figures. As a result, the week's final note was struck at the same level, 1.0935. Most analysts (70%) predict a decline in the EUR/USD pair ahead of the ECB meeting. The remaining 30% have taken a neutral stance. Indicators on D1 mostly align with the analysts’ outlook. All oscillators are in red, though a third of them signal the pair is oversold. Among trend indicators, 75% point south, while 25% point north.
The nearest support for the pair is in the 1.0890-1.0905 zone, followed by 1.0780-1.0805, 1.0725, 1.0665-1.0680, 1.0600-1.0620, 1.0520-1.0565, and 1.0450-1.0465. Resistance zones are located around 1.0990-1.1010, then 1.1045, 1.1100, 1.1155, 1.1185-1.1210, 1.1275, 1.1385, 1.1485-1.1505, 1.1670-1.1690, and 1.1875-1.1905.
● The most interesting day next week is expected to be Thursday, 17th October. On this day, eurozone consumer inflation (CPI) data will be released, followed by a meeting of the European Central Bank. Some experts anticipate that the ECB might opt for another 25 basis point cut in the key interest rate. In addition to this decision, the ECB's leadership comments on monetary policy will undoubtedly attract significant interest. Moreover, on 17th October, data on US retail sales and initial jobless claims will also be released.

CRYPTOCURRENCIES: The Crypto Industry's War with the SEC Enters a 'Hot' Phase

● We will begin our review of the crypto industry by picking up where we left off last time—with the "information bomb" that was expected to explode on 8-9th October. The American television channel HBO had promised to reveal the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. And indeed, they did name someone, but few believed it. According to the authors of the documentary Electronic Money: The Mystery of Bitcoin, the pseudonym Nakamoto allegedly belonged to 39-year-old Canadian Peter Todd. Todd was indeed one of the early developers of Bitcoin Core, but he was never among the main suspects thought to be Nakamoto.
The filmmakers presented several arguments, including the use of British/Canadian spelling in Nakamoto's writings and a correlation between the timing of Todd’s educational schedule and Nakamoto's posts. The key "evidence" was a message posted on the Bitcoin forum in 2010, supposedly left by Todd under Nakamoto’s name. However, these arguments failed to convince most viewers. Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, even called the documentary "disgusting" and expressed astonishment at how misguided the conclusions were.
● Another, more tangible, sensation could emerge from the latest round in the ongoing battle between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and representatives of the crypto industry. Speaking at New York University’s School of Law, SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated that cryptocurrencies are unlikely to ever be widely used as a payment method and will continue to be viewed primarily as a store of value. Gensler also praised his agency’s approach to enforcing regulations on crypto companies through legal action. "Sometimes we need to take enforcement actions to bring people back to the right side," he said.
Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC has filed numerous lawsuits against crypto companies for violating securities laws. Defendants include major centralized exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken, as well as the fintech company Ripple, the issuer of the XRP token. The SEC, however, has refused to establish clearer regulatory guidelines or criteria for determining whether a cryptocurrency falls into one of two categories: a security or a commodity. In assessing the future of cryptocurrencies, Gensler struck a blow to the digital industry by citing Gresham's Law: "Bad money drives out good."
● It's certainly disheartening when cryptocurrencies are labelled as "the worst," and crypto advocates are described as being on "the wrong side." However, in the US, it's not only authorities that can file lawsuits against commercial organisations— the reverse is also possible. And they can even call the SEC an "illegal entity." In a bold move, the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has filed a lawsuit against the SEC, accusing the agency of overstepping its authority in regulating the crypto industry. This was announced by the co-founder and CEO of the platform, Kris Marszalek.
"This unprecedented action by our company against a federal agency is a justified response to the SEC's enforcement measures, which have harmed more than 50 million American cryptocurrency holders," he wrote on his social media page. According to Marszalek, the Commission has overreached its legal boundaries and now operates as an unlawful entity, labelling almost all cryptocurrencies as securities. The Crypto.com CEO also promised that the company would use "all available regulatory tools" to bring clarity to the industry and protect the future of the crypto sector in the US through legal means. 
● Continuing with the topic of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), here's another development. Following in the footsteps of Bitwise, the crypto investment firm Canary Capital has filed an application with the SEC to launch a spot XRP-ETF based on Ripple. The idea behind this exchange-traded fund is to give investors access to one of the largest altcoins through a traditional brokerage account, without the risks associated with directly buying and storing cryptocurrency. And this is good news.
The application was submitted using Form S-1, which means there are no specific deadlines by which the regulator must make a decision. And that's the bad news: knowing Gary Gensler’s stance, the review process could range from "just a long time" to "endlessly long." Additionally, a second mandatory step in launching the ETF is the submission of another application—this time by the stock exchange where the new product will be listed. As of now, the SEC has not received such a filing from any exchange.
● The outcome of the US presidential elections could significantly impact the crypto industry. Geoff Kendrick, Head of Crypto Research at Standard Chartered Bank, predicts that if Donald Trump is elected, the price of bitcoin could triple by the end of 2025, and Solana could rise fivefold. Kendrick believes that the Trump administration would be more favourable towards the Solana ecosystem compared to a Harris administration. Therefore, if Kamala Harris becomes the occupant of the White House, bitcoin is expected to outpace Ethereum in growth, while Ethereum would surpass Solana and reach $7,000. Kendrick also suggests that bitcoin could rise to $200,000 by the end of 2025, regardless of the election results on 5th November.
● Currently, both bitcoin and Ethereum are under pressure. Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, faces speculation about a potential sale of a large number of tokens held by the US government, although no decision has been made yet. According to analysts at QCP Capital, the rising demand for meme coins is also hindering BTC's growth. As for Ethereum, its price could be negatively impacted by the Chinese authorities, who are reportedly preparing to sell $1.3 billion worth of Ethereum seized from employees of the cryptocurrency company PlusToken.
● At the time of writing this review, on the evening of Friday, 10th October, the BTC/USD pair is trading around $63,080, the ETH/USD pair at $2,460, and SOL/USD at $146.0. The total cryptocurrency market capitalisation has remained relatively unchanged, standing at $2.20 trillion (compared to $2.17 trillion a week ago). The Bitcoin Crypto Fear & Greed Index has dropped from 41 to 32 points, placing it in the Fear zone.
● And finally, an event that could turn into another global sensation. Renowned economist Tyler Cowen has nominated Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin for the Nobel Prize in Economics. This initiative was supported by another prominent expert, Professor Alexander Tabarrok. Both economists praised Buterin for his significant contributions to the monetary economics of cryptocurrencies, emphasising that his work has far surpassed that of any other economist. According to Tyler, Vitalik built the brilliant Ethereum platform and created a digital currency that challenges Mises' Regression Theorem. This theorem asserts that the value of money can be traced back ("regressed") to the value of the goods and services it represents.
Cowen and his colleague also commended Buterin's continued efforts to develop the Ethereum network and highlighted that he would make an excellent speaker at the Nobel Prize ceremony (if he is approved), noting his politeness and good communication skills.
For reference: Vitalik Buterin was born near Moscow in 1994, meaning he is currently 30 years old. At the age of 6, he moved with his parents from Russia to Canada. He is the co-founder and former editor of *Bitcoin Magazine* and the co-founder of the Ethereum project, for which he won the World Technology Award in 2014, beating out Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other contenders. In 2021, Buterin became the youngest cryptocurrency billionaire in the world. American *Forbes* estimated Buterin's net worth at $1.3 billion.

NordFX Analytical Group 

Notice: These materials are not investment recommendations or guidelines for working in financial markets and are intended for informational purposes only. Trading in financial markets is risky and can result in a complete loss of deposited funds.

[Stan NordFX]

CryptoNews

 – Following the stock market crash on "Black Monday," August 5th, the World Gold Council (WGC) decided to examine the behaviour of various asset classes and explain why bitcoin should not be considered "the new gold."

First, the WGC highlighted volatility. For instance, the weekly volatility of physical gold in 2024 was 13.83%, while for bitcoin, it was 53.62%. "Gold and bitcoin are at opposite ends of the volatility spectrum," WGC analysts write, emphasising that gold has always played the role of a safe-haven asset on a global level. As for bitcoin, it is more of an indicator of how widely blockchain technology is used, so its behaviour resembles that of tech company stocks.

As an example, WGC experts suggest considering the correlation with the S&P 500 index in 2022. Based on this, they conclude that the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict "underscored gold's role as a safe-haven asset protecting investors from risks," which differentiates it from the leading cryptocurrency.

Furthermore, the WGC modelled the impact of adding these assets to an investment portfolio in a range of 2.5% to 10%. The Council concluded that gold reduces volatility and improves returns, even when its share in the portfolio is increased. However, the situation with bitcoin is different: the higher its share, the greater the risk of losses.

 

– According to data from the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com, the number of cryptocurrency holders grew by 6.4% in the first half of 2024, from 580 million people to the current 617 million. Meanwhile, the number of Ethereum holders increased by 9.7%, from 124 million to 136 million. Among holders of the first cryptocurrency, the growth was 5.9%: 314 million compared to 296 million at the end of December 2023.

According to Crypto.com analysts, the broader adoption of ETH followed the Dencun update in March. The hard fork resulted in some second-layer ETH blockchain protocols reducing transaction fees by 99%.

Key factors for bitcoin included the April halving, the launch of the Runes protocol, and the approval of spot BTC ETFs, which attracted over $14 billion in institutional investment.

 

 – Considering the current consolidation, crypto market participants are focusing on how bitcoin will trade in the short to medium term. Given that the leading cryptocurrency ended July in the red, it cannot be ruled out that August will also close with losses. According to PricePredictions' Artificial Intelligence, on August 31st, the coin will trade at $53,766, and in the last decade of September, it will approach $48,000.

 

–  The analyst known as Crypto Banter disagrees with AI. He pointed out that the Stochastic RSI momentum indicator is entering the investment zone, signalling the possibility of adding BTC to investors' portfolios. Crypto Banter also highlights bitcoin's Fear and Greed Index levels as important indicators for identifying potential market bottoms and profitable entry points. In his observations, current conditions suggest that now is an optimal time to open long positions on BTC, which is fluctuating within key support and resistance levels of $56,000 and $62,000, respectively.

 

– In China, cryptocurrency trading and mining are banned by law. However, according to the CEO of the analytics platform CryptoQuant, Ki Young Ju, miners from China account for 54% of global cryptocurrency mining. Additionally, according to a TechFlow survey, for 25% of respondents, crypto trading is the most important source of income and the main occupation in life.

49.14% of Chinese people consider themselves experienced experts in the digital market, while the remaining 50.86% regard themselves as beginners. More than half of the respondents admitted to experiencing a significant level of anxiety when dealing with cryptocurrencies. At least 60% admitted to being superstitious, and 40% reported praying to the "god of prosperity" before engaging in market transactions.

70% of respondents prefer to trade on the cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and OKX. In addition to bitcoin, respondents named Ethereum, Solana, BNB, and the meme coin PEPE as the most profitable assets.

 

– The personal account of MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor holds bitcoins worth $1 billion. He revealed this figure himself in a recent interview with Bloomberg. However, four years ago, it was known that the businessman owned more than 17,000 coins.

Saylor is known for his commitment to bitcoin. And this is well-founded—over the past four years, MicroStrategy has invested about $8.4 billion in this asset, bringing its reserve to 226,500 coins, which has yielded a profit of more than $5 billion. As a result, the company's shares have risen in value by 995%. During the same period, the leading cryptocurrency has appreciated by approximately 500%.

 

– The Ripple (XRP) token is displaying a bullish signal, pleasing the bulls of this altcoin. Technical indicators point to an inverted "Head and Shoulders" pattern on the daily chart of the altcoin, with the second shoulder almost ready to form.

Since the court ruling in the case between the SEC (the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and Ripple, the XRP token has been correlating with major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Leaning on the $0.55 support, it has been trading in a narrow sideways trend along with the aforementioned assets since the 50% decline that followed the court ruling. As a result, Ripple has recently begun to form the base of the second shoulder in the bullish pattern with a potential risk-to-reward ratio of 1:2.

 

– The U.S. Federal Reserve and the Treasury-controlled Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have proposed amendments to the Bank Secrecy Act, equating the "rights and obligations" of the dollar and cryptocurrencies. After revising the definition of "money" in this Act, federal supervisory authorities will be able to impose new reporting requirements on financial institutions to track all domestic and cross-border cryptocurrency transactions. The amendments, if approved by Congress, are scheduled to take effect in September 2025.

 

– The author of the bestseller "Rich Dad Poor Dad," financier Robert Kiyosaki, believes that people are wrong to turn to the U.S. Federal Reserve for support, as this institution consists of highly educated but poor employees. "The Fed cannot save you," the entrepreneur declares. "It's time to save yourself. Buy more gold, silver, bitcoin, and stop listening to highly educated poor people."

Kiyosaki predicts that in the face of the upcoming market downturn, the prices of precious metals will rise several times over. And bitcoin, in his opinion, may become the most effective protection against "theft of savings by authorities and bankers." Recall that he previously stated that key technical indicators point to a stock market crash, and against this backdrop, the price of "digital gold" could easily reach $10 million per BTC.

 

– Michael Van De Poppe, CEO of MN Trading, is convinced that bitcoin will reach a new peak this autumn. The main driver for its growth will be institutional investors, who actively bought the coin when its price dropped. The analyst also believes that the recent correction could trigger a strong rally in September or October of this year, as long as bitcoin itself stays above the $57,000 mark.

Approximately the same timeline for the start of the bull rally was predicted by the analyst known as Rekt Capital. He suggested that about 160 days after the halving, bitcoin will enter a parabolic phase. According to his calculations, this should happen at the end of September 2024.

 

– Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, is also optimistic. He believes that bitcoin will approach its all-time high immediately after the U.S. presidential election: "A typical seasonal pattern is observed where the first cryptocurrency usually struggles between one and three months after the halving," he writes. "Thanks to the influx of liquidity, bitcoin should soon show growth."

The analyst pointed to the weakening of the forced sales factor and predicts that bitcoin will follow gold. According to VanEck's top executive, in 2025, financial markets will be influenced by a monetary policy easing, and because of this, BTC will surpass its all-time high.

According to Matthew Sigel, regardless of who becomes the next U.S. president, the market should be prepared for four years of reckless fiscal policy, and it is during this period that the first cryptocurrency will reach its peak values.

Let us remind you that the digital asset management company VanEck recently released a new forecast for bitcoin. It envisages three possible BTC price levels depending on the development of the market and the adoption of bitcoin as a reserve asset worldwide. According to the base scenario, by 2050, the flagship cryptocurrency could reach $3 million per coin. In the bearish scenario, the minimum BTC price will be $130,314. If the VanEck bullish scenario comes true, in 26 years, 1 bitcoin will be worth $52.4 million.