Bitcoin returned above $50,000 this week for the first time since early September, following a market-wide resurgence.
The latest price gains come after bitcoin briefly fell below $30,000 at the end of July, before a remarkable rebound. The cryptocurrency is now just $14,000 away from the all-time price high it experienced in mid April.
Other leading cryptocurrencies have mirrored bitcoin’s fortunes in recent weeks, with Ethereum (ether), Binance Coin and dogecoin all rising by between 15-30 per cent since this time last week.
The overall crypto market is now valued at nearly $2.2 trillion – up more than 15 per cent since the start of October.
After a poor September, some analysts are predicting a strong end to 2021. One price prediction model, which proved remarkably accurate in August and September, puts bitcoin on track to hit six figures before Christmas, though there are some caveats.
We’ll have all the latest news, analysis and expert price predictions right here.
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Key points
Bitcoin price to see ‘very significant moves to the upside’
11:03 , Anthony Cuthbertson
A key metric for estimating price movements is the supply of bitcoin held by long-term holders.
Of the 18.78 million bitcoins that currently exist, 13 million – or 69 per cent – of them are currently held by people who have held them for 12 months or longer.
“Tracking this metric is important as it clearly highlights times of tight supply, which are often highly correlated with significant future price appreciation,” Will Hamilton, head of trading and research at digital asset management firm TCM Capital, told The Independent.
“More and more investors are buying and holding, which should translate into higher prices. All things considered, we think Q4 will see some very significant moves to the upside for the market as a whole.”
Bitcoin price recovery divides analysts
10:23 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Is bitcoin’s remarkable recovery the second leg of a bull run or just a “dead cat bounce” before plummeting once again?
This is the question currently dividing crypto market analysts, with adherents to the first theory believing bitcoin is set to hit new all-time highs within the next couple of months. Those most optimistic see bitcoin hitting six figures before Christmas.
One analysts has drawn comparisons to similar market patterns seen in 2017, when bitcoin quadrupled in price between early October and December.
Others have pointed to a likeness to the descent from the dotcom bubble bursting in the early 200s.
The two diverging theories put bitcoin either at a fraction of its current price by 2022, or several multiples higher than it.
Should bitcoin rise another $14,000 over the coming weeks, the dead cat bounce theory will be disproved. However it will need to fall to well below $30,000 for the price rally theory to be dismissed.
Bitcoin price holds firm above $50k
09:32 , Anthony Cuthbertson
The price of bitcoin has managed to hold above $50,000, reaching as high as $51,839 on Wednesday morning, according to CoinMarketCap’s price index.
It’s now up more than 20 per cent week-on-week, while bitcoin’s market cap is steadily closing in on $1 trillion. The last time it was above this landmark was way back in May.
Bitcoin’s resurgence may have boosted the likes of Ethereum (ether) and dogecoin, but not all leading cryptocurrencies have seen a price rise overnight. Solana (SOL) fell by nearly 10 per cent, dropping it back below Ripple (XRP) in terms of overall market cap.
Bitcoin blasts past Facebook
Tuesday 5 October 2021 13:06 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Bitcoin’s latest price surge has pushed its market cap above Facebook’s.
During its record-breaking price rally earlier this year, bitcoin briefly rivalled the market value of silver, while the overall crypto market surpassed the entire worth of Apple, the world’s most valuable company.
It’s still a long, long way from gold, which has a market cap more than 10-times that of bitcoin’s. Some high-profile investors, such as Tim Draper, believe bitcoin could eventually reach these heights, meaning a single bitcoin would be worth more than half a million dollars.
Bitcoin price back above $50k
Tuesday 5 October 2021 12:46 , Anthony Cuthbertson
After a day of steadily climbing in price, bitcoin has finally risen above $50,000. It is the first time the cryptocurrency has peaked above this milestone since early September, and means bitcoin is now up more than 18 per cent since the start of October.
We’ve heard from some experts and analysts, who offer their thoughts on what’s behind this latest price surge, as well as speculate on where it might go from here.
You can read the full story here.
Bitcoin price breaks $50k, surpassing Facebook’s market value
Hello and welcome…
Tuesday 5 October 2021 12:30 , Anthony Cuthbertson
to The Independent’s live coverage of the crypto market. We’ll be bringing you all the latest news, updates and analysis from bitcoin, Ethereum (ether) and the rest of the cryptocurrency space.