The anticipated year-end Christmas rally in the Bitcoin (BTC) 
$98,426 market has disappointed investors. The sale of $49.3 million worth of Bitcoin from Mt. Gox caused the price to plummet to $92,500, marking a 14% decline from last week’s all-time high. However, the market has shown some recovery, with prices edging back toward the $95,000 mark. As the end of the year approaches, decreasing liquidity and the third consecutive day of outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs further soften market sentiment.
MicroStrategy’s Acquisition Strategy Raises Questions
MicroStrategy announced its continued policy of accumulating Bitcoin. The company disclosed that it purchased $561 million worth of Bitcoin at an average price of $106,662. This marks the seventh consecutive week of Bitcoin purchases for the company, although this recent acquisition amount is the lowest seen in recent weeks, prompting questions about MicroStrategy’s willingness to acquire more Bitcoin at current price levels.
Despite the wave of sales, there has not been significant activity in the options market. Short-term volatility rates have remained stable, and the overall market has maintained a calm demeanor. Ahead of the large options expiration date on Friday, the market appears poised for fluctuations. The levels indicating volatility differences, known as vol flies, are hovering at +2.0, indicating that the market has not yet stabilized.
Bitcoin Attracts Attention with 24/7 Trading Advantage
In traditional markets, shortened hours or closures are common at year-end. However, the Bitcoin market’s availability 24/7 provides a high responsiveness to extraordinary events. For instance, the Bitcoin/KRW pair reflected the market’s reaction to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law. This situation once again highlights the role of cryptocurrencies in response to political and economic events.
As the week leads into year-end holidays, Bitcoin finds itself in a precarious position regarding sudden price movements. Experts warn of a high likelihood of filling price gaps due to the market’s liquidity shortfall. Investors closely monitoring the cryptocurrency market should consider these potential fluctuations.
