Digital Assets Face ‘Liquidity Drought’: A Deep Dive into Bitcoin’s Current Market

  • The digital asset market is experiencing a severe liquidity drought.
  • Bitcoin and major altcoins show stagnant growth and declining volumes.
  • Long-term holders stand firm, but short-term traders face potential significant losses.

As Bitcoin hovers around $26,000, Glassnode’s analysis points to dwindling liquidity in the digital asset market, with potential implications for traders and investors alike.

Market Dries Up: A Return to Pre-Bull Levels

The market-realized value net capital change breakdown. TheSource : Glassnode.
The market-realized value net capital change breakdown. TheSource : Glassnode.

The digital asset market’s liquidity crunch is increasingly evident as both on-chain and off-chain volumes dive to record lows. This current scenario is reminiscent of the 2020 pre-bullish period, with prevailing sentiments being described as “extreme apathy and boredom.”

Stablecoin Flow Woes: The Decline and Dominance

Stablecoin supply dominance. TheSource : Glassnode.
Stablecoin supply dominance. TheSource : Glassnode.

While the overall stablecoin supply has been dwindling since April 2022, Bitcoin and ether have seen mixed inflows. Factors such as the Terra ecosystem’s collapse and non-yielding stablecoins’ higher interest rates have played a role. In the race for dominance, Tether’s USDT surged to 69% from a mere 44% in June 2022, overshadowing USDC and BUSD’s steep declines.

On-Chain and Off-Chain Metrics: A Silent Period

Bitcoin entity-adjusted volume. TheSource : Glassnode.
Bitcoin entity-adjusted volume. TheSource : Glassnode.

October 2020 seems to be mirroring the present, with on-chain Bitcoin transactions averaging a daily volume of just $2.44 billion. The off-chain derivatives market isn’t faring much better, with Bitcoin’s daily trading volume sinking to a meager $12 billion. An anomaly, however, arises in the bitcoin options market where volumes have seen a notable increase, signaling a market preference amidst tighter liquidity.

Hodlers Stand Steadfast: The Holding Trend

Long/short-term bitcoin holders. TheSource : Glassnode.
Long/short-term bitcoin holders. TheSource : Glassnode.

Even in subdued market conditions, the trend to “hodl” remains robust. Glassnode’s data indicates that long-term holders, classified as those who’ve held coins for over 155 days, are at an all-time high. In stark contrast, the short-term holder supply has shrunk, reaching its smallest size since 2011. With Bitcoin’s price teetering at $26,110, a significant portion of these holders face being in the red.

Bitcoin’s Performance: A September Slump

BTC/USD price chart. TheSource : CoinGecko.
BTC/USD price chart. TheSource : CoinGecko.

According to CoinGecko data, Bitcoin, the foremost crypto asset by market cap, has slumped by approximately 5% since the month’s onset. This decline further accentuates September’s reputation as a challenging month for the cryptocurrency domain.

Conclusion

The digital asset market, especially Bitcoin, finds itself in choppy waters as liquidity dwindles and volumes drop. Both on-chain and off-chain metrics signal a market slowdown, reminiscent of pre-bull 2020 conditions. Despite this, the spirit of “hodling” seems unshaken among long-term investors. As we move forward, market participants would be keenly observing any signs of recovery or further descent into this liquidity abyss.

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