Bitcoin experienced a notable decline on Friday, falling to $80,600 and extending its weekly losses to over 10%. This recent downturn marks the steepest monthly decline since June 2022, with the cryptocurrency now down approximately 23% from its peak. The move below $84,000 also brought Bitcoin closer to the 100-week exponential moving average, a crucial support level since October 2023 that coincides with the start of the current bullish cycle.
Futures liquidations across the Bitcoin market surpassed $1 billion, highlighting the severity of this downturn. The Kobeissi Letter described it as “the fastest bear market ever,” emphasizing the rapidity and intensity of recent sell-offs within the broader crypto sector.
Key Takeaways
- •Cryptocurrency market capitalization has shrunk by approximately one-third since October, erasing nearly $1.4 trillion.
- •Record institutional fund outflows and negative ETF flows reflect persistent selling pressure from large investors.
- •Macro indicators, notably the National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI), are trending downward and historically lead Bitcoin rallies by four to six weeks.
Market Cap Collapse and Accelerating Sell-off
Since October 6, the total market cap of cryptocurrencies has plummeted from $4.2 trillion to around $2.8 trillion. The Kobeissi Letter characterized this as one of the swiftest declines, with all major sectors experiencing heightened selling activity. Digital asset investment products have also seen significant outflows, with weekly fund redemptions reaching $2 billion—marking the largest since February. Notably, Bitcoin accounted for $1.4 billion of these withdrawals, while Ether saw $689 million exiting in the same period.
This persistent outflow has reduced the total assets under management (AUM) in crypto funds to approximately $191 billion, a 27% decline from October. Experts interpret this trend as a structural downturn, rather than mere short-term panic, suggesting ongoing liquidation pressures across the market.
Additionally, US-based spot Bitcoin ETF flows continue to be negative, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust approaching its largest weekly outflow on record, nearing $1.17 billion. This persistent outflow underscores the cautious sentiment among institutional investors.
Macroeconomic Indicators Point to Potential Liquidity Infusion
Amid the sell-off, some analysts are turning to macroeconomic data for insights. Miad Kasravi conducted a decade-long backtest of 105 financial indicators, finding that the NFCI reliably leads Bitcoin by four to six weeks during major regime shifts. Currently, the NFCI stands at -0.52 and is trending lower, historically signaling upcoming rallies when it drops further.
The pattern observed in previous instances—such as October 2022, when easing financial conditions preceded a 94% rally—suggests potential for Bitcoin to benefit from upcoming liquidity expansion. Central bank operations, including the Federal Reserve’s plans to rotate mortgage-backed securities into Treasury bills, could inject liquidity akin to the 2019 “not-QE” event that preceded a 40% rally in Bitcoin.
If the NFCI continues its decline into mid-December, it may trigger a notable upward cycle for Bitcoin, aligning with the historically observed four-to-six-week lead time. This signals a possible inflection point driven by macroeconomic shifts, which could set the stage for a significant market move.