Bitcoin’s Dominance Went Below 40%: Crypto Winter or Maturity?

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation rose slightly, by 0.4%, to 2.36 trillion in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency Fear & Greed Index added another 1 point overnight to 29, a significant retreat from the December 6 lows of 16 points, but still in the fear zone.

Binance Coin, XRP and Luna have added between 4% and 10% over the past 24 hours, leading the gains among the top altcoins Altcoins Altcoins can be defined simply as any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin. Originally, Bitcoin was the first and only cryptocurrency, though this number has expanded to now include countless cryptos launched. Unlike Bitcoin, many altcoins have met varying levels of success, with the vast majority effectively ceasing to exist as tradable entities. Several however, have risen to rival Bitcoin itself.The most common altcoins include Ether, XRP, Stellar, Monero, Ada, and Dash, among others and are see Altcoins can be defined simply as any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin. Originally, Bitcoin was the first and only cryptocurrency, though this number has expanded to now include countless cryptos launched. Unlike Bitcoin, many altcoins have met varying levels of success, with the vast majority effectively ceasing to exist as tradable entities. Several however, have risen to rival Bitcoin itself.The most common altcoins include Ether, XRP, Stellar, Monero, Ada, and Dash, among others and are see Read this Term. Growth has been held back by the negative dynamics of the first cryptocurrency, which is losing more than any other of the top-20 coins.

The pressure intensified on exceeding the $50K level, pushing it down 1.7% in a day and 12% in seven days.

As another result, bitcoin’s overall crypto market share fell below 40%. Approaching this mark in May was a manifestation of sharp profit-taking in Bitcoin Bitcoin Bitcoin is the largest and world’s first digital currency launched back in 2009 by the entity, Satoshi Nakamoto. Being a digital currency, a defining feature of Bitcoin is that it functions without a central bank or single administrator. Rather, Bitcoin instead can be sent by peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, which is itself absent of any intermediaries.Instead of being a physical currency, Bitcoins represent pieces of digital code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger n Bitcoin is the largest and world’s first digital currency launched back in 2009 by the entity, Satoshi Nakamoto. Being a digital currency, a defining feature of Bitcoin is that it functions without a central bank or single administrator. Rather, Bitcoin instead can be sent by peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, which is itself absent of any intermediaries.Instead of being a physical currency, Bitcoins represent pieces of digital code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger n Read this Term after a dizzying rally.

Any sustained period when the share of the first cryptocurrency fell below 40% was in January -March and April-June periods in 2018. After that, the BTC domination has recovered with altcoins’ deeper crash, called later the crypto winter.

But there is another crucial point: Bitcoin’s peak share declines from cycle to cycle as more new players emerge. At the beginning of 2017, it was 87%, then in 2019, it is already less than 70%.

Many other projects have appeared in place of XRP, which has lost its former strength, like a hydra with several new ones growing in an area of its severed head.

That said, neither the mechanics (BTCUSD above its 200-day average and retreating from an oversold area on the daily charts) nor the sentiment in the stock markets are pessimistic, indicating that we see purely local momentum in Bitcoin.

Ether continues to pivot around its 50-day moving average, sticking to local bullish momentum. As always, it should be stated that a sustained negative on Bitcoin has the power to affect the entire crypto market, but the smooth slide in price suggests that enthusiasts are looking for other ideas in the sector, but not a general flight out of it.

Perhaps capital flowing from one cryptocurrency to another is the best scenario for the entire market. However, as Saturday showed, it is easy to scare the whole market with solid moves in BTCUSD.

This article was written by FxPro’s Senior Market Analyst Alex Kuptsikevich.