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Bitcoin hashrate recovers after big freeze shuts down miners

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Bitcoin’s network hash rate has returned to regular levels again, days after freezing temperatures across the United States put a strain on the nation’s electricity grid — leading to a temporary drop in hash rate.

In the days leading up to Christmas, bone-chilling temperatures swept across the United States, leading to millions without power and claiming at least 28 lives.

According to reports, Bitcoin (BTC) miners in Texas, which accounts for a significant portion of the country’s hash rate, voluntarily curtailed operations to give power back to the grid — so that residents can keep their homes heated.

The disruptions appear to have put a dent in Bitcoin’s hash rate, which typically hovers around 225-300 Exahashes per second (EH/s). This fell to 170.60 EH/s on Dec. 25.

As of Dec. 26, however, the hash rate has returned to 241.29 EH/s, according to data from hash rate mining calculator CoinWarz.

Bitcoin’s hash rate is calculated by measuring the number of hashes produced by Bitcoin miners trying to solve the next block. It is regarded as a key metric in assessing how secure the Bitcoin network is.

The recent events prompted a controversial statement from FutureBit founder John Stefanop, who suggested the fall in hash rate was due to a number of “highly centralized mines” in Texas turning off at the same time.

“I know, does not change the fact that a few large mines in Texas affect the entire network to the tune of 33%…everyones transactions are now being confirmed 30% slower because the hashrate is not decentralized enough,” he said.

“If hashrate was distributed evenly around the world by 10’s of millions of small miners instead of a few dozen massive mines, this event would not have even registered on the network,” Stefanop added.

Bitcoin bull Dan Held however refuted Stefanop’s take on the events, arguing that weather patterns do not mean centralized ownership or control.

According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, the United States accounts for 37.84% of the average monthly hash rate share. The top four states in the country for Bitcoin mining include New York, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas — all of which had experienced power outages due to the winter storm.

However, Dennis Porter, the CEO of Bitcoin mining advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund noted to his 127,400 Twitter followers on Dec. 25 that while the inclement weather, particularly in Texas, caused 30% of Bitcoin’s hash rate in the United States to go offline, the network “continues to work perfectly.”

Cheap power and favorable mining regulation in Texas has led to a Bitcoin mining boom in Texas in recent months, which is now host to some of the largest mining companies in the world.

Among those Riot Blockchain, Argo, Bitdeer, Argo, Compute North, Genesis Digital Assets and Core Scientific — who’ve recently received a $37.4 million bankruptcy loan to stay afloat.

Related: ‘There’s a lot less land to go around’ — Why White Rock established off-the-grid mining in Texas

However, recent weather events have only added to Bitcoin mining companies’ list of headaches.

The bear market has plagued Bitcoin mining companies to the tune of $4 billion in debt, according to recent data.

Many notable United States-based mining companies have filed for bankruptcy in recent months too, while many other companies are approaching near-insurmountable debt-to-equity ratios that require immediate restructuring.

The tragic weather events haven’t impacted the price of Bitcoin thus far, which is currently priced at $16,826 — only down 0.27 over the last 24 hours.

 

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-hashrate-recovers-after-big-freeze-shuts-down-miners

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Nomura Group Unveils Bitcoin Fund Catering to Institutional Investors

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Nomura Digital Assets, a subsidiary of Japan’s leading financial institution, Nomura Group, has ventured into the world of digital assets with the launch of a Bitcoin fund. This strategic move is designed to streamline access to digital assets for major investors, responding to the escalating demand for cryptocurrency investments. It marks Nomura’s maiden foray into providing investment solutions tailored to the digital asset arena.

In a press release dated September 19, Laser Digital Asset Management, the digital asset management arm of Nomura, proudly introduced the Bitcoin Adoption Fund, a specialized offering aimed squarely at institutional investors. This fund underscores the growing breadth of cryptocurrency adoption in Japan.

Facilitating Bitcoin Uptake

The Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption Fund offers institutional investors an attractive proposition, blending cost-efficiency with robust security measures. In a bid to safeguard the fund’s holdings, Laser has enlisted the services of Komainu, a custody solution established in 2018, which is subject to regulatory oversight and jointly formed by Nomura, Ledger, and Coinshares.

Fiona King, the head of Laser Digital Asset Management, emphasized the fund’s meticulous management and compliance standards. Notably, the fund operates as a segregated portfolio within the mutual fund entity, Laser Digital Funds SPC.

Nomura Holdings foresees that its crypto-focused division, Laser Digital, will begin turning a profit within the next two years. This projection is a response to the surging demand for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, pitting Nomura against established traditional heavyweights such as JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.

While Laser Digital already offers Bitcoin derivatives to its institutional clientele, the prolonged bear market has impacted the company’s growth trajectory. Due to the recent downturn in cryptocurrency values, Nomura has cautioned that it might take longer than initially anticipated for Laser Digital to achieve profitability.

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Bitcoin Surges to $32,500 in China: Here’s Why

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The cryptocurrency market has witnessed a remarkable surge in the price of Bitcoin, and according to a renowned cryptocurrency analyst, this increase has a fundamental reason: Chinese buying. In a recent YouTube video, the CryptoBanter analyst dissected the factors behind this Bitcoin surge, which comes after a series of significant declines in August. In this report, we will delve into how Chinese buying has propelled the price of Bitcoin and how other factors, such as the depreciation of the Chinese yuan and its correlation with the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), have influenced this exciting development in the cryptocurrency market.

The Flight from the Chinese Yuan: Bitcoin and Gold as Havens

One of the key factors behind Bitcoin’s recent surge is the increasing flight of Chinese consumers from their national currency. The Chinese currency has experienced depreciation in its value, leading many Chinese individuals to seek refuge in Bitcoin and gold. Economic uncertainty in China, exacerbated by crises in the stock market and the real estate market, has further eroded confidence in the Chinese yuan. As a result, Bitcoin and gold have become safe-haven assets for Chinese investors.

Bitcoin Reaches $32,500 in China

The CryptoBanter analyst reports that the demand for “digital gold” in China has driven Bitcoin’s price to astonishing levels. According to their observations, a single Bitcoin has reached a price of $32,500 in China and was then exchanged for USDT at $33,000. This represents a significant premium compared to the current price of Bitcoin in other markets, which stands at $27,135. This price disparity has created a substantial arbitrage opportunity for investors.

September Breaks the Traditional Bearish Pattern

September is typically a historically bearish month for Bitcoin, but this year has been a notable exception. Despite pessimistic predictions from many analysts, BTC has recorded a 4% increase in its price during this month. The CryptoBanter analyst suggests that this positive performance may foreshadow even greater gains in the future.

Correlation with the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)

One interesting observation from the analyst is the correlation between the price of Bitcoin and the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). According to their data, whenever the DXY reaches the level of 105, the price of Bitcoin tends to rise. This could indicate an inverse relationship between the strength of the U.S. dollar and the attractiveness of Bitcoin as an investment asset.

Long-Term Investors Continue to Accumulate

Despite the volatile market conditions, the analyst points out that long-term Bitcoin investors have increased to over 75%. This suggests sustained confidence in the long-term potential of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, even amid price fluctuations.

Bitcoin in the Last 24 Hours

According to CoinMarketCap data, in the last 24 hours, Bitcoin has experienced a 0.79% increase. On the weekly price chart, the leading cryptocurrency has risen by 4.56%. At the time of writing this report, Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $528 billion, solidifying its position as the largest and most robust cryptocurrency network in the world.

In Conclusion…

Chinese buying has proven to be a crucial factor in the recent surge of Bitcoin, challenging the traditionally bearish expectations for September. As the cryptocurrency continues to evolve and attract the attention of investors worldwide, the relationship between Bitcoin and global economic events will remain a topic of interest and discussion within the crypto community.

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This Analyst Predicts a Bright Bullish Future for Chainlink (LINK)

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In an exciting revelation, prominent cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe has shared his insightful analysis of Chainlink (LINK), one of the standout cryptocurrencies in today’s market. Van de Poppe, widely recognized in the crypto community, has caused a stir with his bullish predictions for this decentralized oracle network. Let’s delve into the details of his analysis and understand why he foresees a bright future for Chainlink.

Van de Poppe’s Chainlink Analysis

According to Van de Poppe’s analysis, Chainlink has reached its minimum level and is poised for a reevaluation phase that could offer extremely lucrative buying opportunities. His expert view focuses on a specific price range: $6.15 to $6.40. For investors, this range presents itself as a strategic entry point that could result in substantial gains in the near future. Van de Poppe has even set an ambitious price target of $8, suggesting an impressive bullish potential.

Technical Analysis: Bullish Outlook

Chainlink’s technical analysis supports Van de Poppe’s claims. The 4-hour chart for LINK/USD reveals that the altcoin remains above all moving averages, a positive indicator of the current bullish trend. Furthermore, the chart shows that Chainlink is struggling to break above the upper band of its symmetrical triangle pattern, which could mark the beginning of a significant rally.

The MACD indicator also lends support to the idea of a bullish breakthrough, with two consecutive higher highs indicating an upward momentum. Although the RSI remains neutral, it is above the 50 level, suggesting room for further growth in Chainlink’s price.

LINK/USD. Source: TradingView

Key Levels and Resistance

In recent days, bears attempted to push Chainlink’s price below $6.55, but strong buying pressure at this level prevented a significant decline. This demonstrates the strength of buyers in the area. After this attempt at a downward correction, the price returned and reached the supply zone at $6.68. At this point, several double-bottom patterns were observed, a bullish indicator according to technical analysis.

Chainlink’s Potential

The pivotal moment came in the previous 4-hour timeframe when bulls gained momentum by surpassing the resistance at $6.70. This bullish breakthrough led the price to steadily rise, reaching an intraday high of $6.88, which is close to the 200-exponential Moving Average (EMA), a significant technical indicator.

However, as in any financial market, there is always the possibility that bulls may lose their momentum. In that case, we could see a retracement to the main support level at $6.45. If this level fails to hold, a more significant correction to $6.0 is possible, potentially opening the door to a bearish trend.

Conclusion

In summary, Michaël van de Poppe, with his impressive track record of predictions, has put Chainlink on the radar of many investors. His technical analysis supports his bullish outlook and highlights key levels to watch. As this cryptocurrency continues to attract attention in the crypto community, investors will be eager to see if Chainlink lives up to expectations and reaches new highs on its exciting journey towards $8 and beyond. Stay tuned for market updates, as exciting opportunities can arise in the world of cryptocurrencies.

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