Decentral Block Post

Bitcoin (BTC) hodlers are returning to profit as new data hints the BTC price has put in the “foundation” of a macro bottom.

The latest figures from on-chain analytics firm Glassnode shows a large swathe of the BTC supply heading “into the black” as BTC/USD passed $18,000.

Bitcoin establishes "massive" accumulation zone

After gaining nearly 5% in 24 hours, Bitcoin is back on bulls’ radar ahead of a crunch United States inflation data release.

What the impact will be remains uncertain, but on-chain analysis is eyeing a more important phenomenon already playing out on the market.

The latest price uptick has seen a considerable number of bitcoins flip from unrealized loss to unrealized profit — it is now worth more than when it last moved.

'Degen' season smells like pixelated feet

Feetpix.wtf’s newly launched nonfungible token (NFT) collection, “Feetpix” has seemingly taken the NFT community by storm with surging trading volumes, prompting some to suggest the return of “degen” season.

Feetpix.wtf’s collection soared ahead of the likes of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) on Jan. 11 with the fifth-highest trading volume recorded on NFT marketplace OpenSea.

The project — which released 10,000 Feetpix NFTs — has traded over 825 Ether (ETH)($1,157,000) across nearly 18,000 transactions since its release on Jan. 8.

Crypto Twitter is still split on what inspired the surge in foot fetish-NFT trading volumes, though Feetpix noted the absence of a roadmap, promise and marketing scheme suggested a “love for feet” is not just legitimate but also clearly monetizable through the use of digital art.

Several Twitter users highlighted the absurd, short-term success of the project, suggesting a return of “degen szn” (season) which entailed a mass trading volume of high-risk NFT collectibles at the peak of the bull market in 2021.

Crypto and stock markets are usually forward-looking. Meaning, traders tend to ignore the near-term negatives and focus on the positives down the line. With Bitcoin’s (BTC) next halving in 2024, analysts are shifting their attention to this event.

Independent market analyst Rekt Capital highlighted this unique market dynamic in 2015 and 2019, a year before halving, Bitcoin rallied 234% and 316% respectively. If history repeats itself, Bitcoin’s price action may spring a surprise in 2023.

However, the near term remains uncertain and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on Jan. 12 may lead to a sharp uptick in volatility.

Some analysts are skeptical of the growing dominance of altcoin trading volume, which is above 50%. According to CryptoQuant contributor Maartunn, the altcoin dominance warns of “a potential risk for further downside.”

One event that is being closely tracked is the crisis brewing at the Digital Currency Group (DCG). Galaxy Digital Holdings CEO Mike Novogratz, in an interview with CNBC on Jan. 10, said that the DCG, Genesis and Gemini overhang could “play out in the next quarter” Though it is “not going to be great,” Novogratz does not believe it will trigger “a lot of selling.”