In the early hours of Monday, Bitcoin's price surged to $65,000, thus nearing its all-time high from 2021, which was just below $69,000.
This upward momentum for the world's largest cryptocurrency is attributed to several factors.
One significant driver, according to Mads Eberhardt, a Cryptocurrency Analyst at Steno Research, is the considerable net inflow into Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds, ETFs, which are financial products that allow investors to buy shares representing Bitcoin without owning the cryptocurrency directly.
Additionally, Eberhardt specifies that the decreasing balances of Bitcoin and Ether on exchanges suggest a diminishing selling pressure. This trend indicates that fewer people are looking to sell, potentially leading to higher prices due to limited supply.
Yet, enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies comes with its pros and cons.
"The market’s alignment with this outlook suggests that most participants are positioned for further gains, often employing significant leverage to do so," says Eberhardt.
"This is evidenced by near-record highs in open interest across futures markets and a strongly positive funding rate. While this could sustain a rally for longer, it also raises the risk of a sharp correction. The market might need to shed some of this excess leverage with a potential drop of at least 10% before it can continue its upward trajectory."