Market Update - March 15 2024
BTC price hits new all-time high; surpassing silver’s market cap: Bitcoin (BTC) captured new all-time highs hitting $73.6K this week, making it the eighth largest asset by market capitalization globally. On March 12, spot BTC exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw a record SEED_TVCODER77_ETHBTCDATA:1B of net inflows; with Blackrock’s IBIT taking in $849Mof inflows. Additionally, the London Stock Exchange indicated they will start to accept applications to list BTC and ether (ETH) exchange traded notes during the second quarter of this year.
Ethereum completes biggest upgrade in almost a year; ETF odds lower: The highly anticipated Ethereum ‘Dencun’ upgrade was successfully implemented on Ethereum’s mainnet. The upgrade is designed to catalyze growth on layer-2 networks by lowering data fees and enhancing scalability. Meanwhile, Bloomberg analysts have significantly lowered the probability of a spot ETH ETF approval by the SEC to 30%, citing the agency's lack of engagement and concerns over ETH’s regulatory classification.
Consumer prices rise more than expected as inflation persists: In February, prices in the United States for shelter and gas rose more than expected, likely impacting hopes for Fed rate cuts. With the February Consumer Price Index showing a 0.4% monthly increase and a 3.2% annual gain, markets are expecting the Federal Reserve will keep rates unchanged next week and start cutting rates in June, based on implied futures pricing.
Memecoins and altcoins show strength: PEPE, WIF, and FLOKI led the way for memecoins with double digit percentage performance over the last 7 days. Other altcoins related to artificial intelligence, such as NEAR, RNDR, GRT, THETA, and FET, also posted double digit percentage gains over the same period. Layer one tokens such as AVAX, INJ, and RUNE posted double digital gains, and Solana registered an all-time high in daily new addresses, at over 691K.
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Dencunupgrade
Ethereum Surges Past $2,500 Milestone: Can It Reach $3,000
Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ), the world's second-largest cryptocurrency, has once again captured the spotlight as it soared past the $2,500 milestone on February 9th, marking a significant weekly gain of 13%. This surge in price comes amidst a flurry of positive developments within the Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) ecosystem, including the recent Dencun upgrade and a notable increase in staking deposits. As investors eagerly anticipate the potential approval of a spot ETF and continue to demonstrate confidence in Ethereum's ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) future, the question looms: Can Ethereum reclaim the $3,000 mark in the era of Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) 2.0 Proof of Stake (PoS)?
Rising Staking Deposits and Market Sentiment:
One of the driving forces behind Ethereum's recent price surge is the rising number of CRYPTOCAP:ETH coins being deposited into staking contracts. Since the announcement of the Dencun testnet launch on January 31st, investors have poured an additional 588,866 ETH into Ethereum 2.0 staking contracts. This influx of staking deposits has propelled the total locked-up ETH on the beacon chain to 29.8 million, equivalent to 24.7% of the total circulating supply. This milestone not only enhances the security of the Ethereum network but also reduces the available supply of CRYPTOCAP:ETH on spot markets, contributing to a potential supply-demand imbalance that favors price appreciation.
Dencun Upgrade and DeFi Ecosystem Growth:
The recent rollout of the Dencun upgrade on the Sepolia testnet has garnered positive feedback from market participants. With its promise of enhancing transaction processing capacity and reducing costs, the Dencun upgrade is poised to attract more developers and users to the Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) DeFi ecosystem. This increased utility and adoption could fuel further demand for CRYPTOCAP:ETH , thereby exerting upward pressure on its price.
Market Analysis and Short-Term Price Targets:
While Ethereum's upward trajectory appears promising, bullish traders may encounter a significant roadblock at the $2,600 level. IntoTheBlock's global in/out of the money (GIOM) data indicates a cluster of holders who acquired CRYPTOCAP:ETH at the maximum price of $2,555, potentially posing initial resistance as Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) prices surpass their break-even point. However, if bulls manage to decisively break above this resistance level, a potential upswing toward the $3,000 mark could be within reach.
Conclusion:
As Ethereum ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) continues to ride the wave of bullish sentiment fueled by rising staking deposits, positive market developments, and anticipation surrounding the potential approval of a spot ETF, the path toward $3,000 appears increasingly plausible. While short-term obstacles may present challenges, the underlying fundamentals and investor confidence in Ethereum's long-term prospects suggest that further price appreciation could be on the horizon.
In conclusion, Ethereum's ( CRYPTOCAP:ETH ) journey toward reclaiming the $3,000 milestone in the Ethereum 2.0 Proof of Stake era remains a topic of keen interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency community, with all eyes eagerly watching for signs of continued momentum and potential breakthroughs in the weeks ahead.