
Comprehensive Analysis of Bitcoin’s Current Market Cycle
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Exploring the Realized Cap: A Crucial Metric for Bitcoin’s Future
In a recent discussion on the platform X, Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of the on-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant, shared his insights on Bitcoin’s market cycle. He suggests that the bull run might be concluding, based on the Realized Cap data. The Realized Cap is an on-chain valuation model that considers the last transaction value of each Bitcoin in circulation as its actual worth.
The Realized Cap essentially aggregates the initial investment cost of all Bitcoin in circulation. Unlike the traditional Market Cap, which multiplies the total supply by the current market price, the Realized Cap provides a more nuanced view of the investment landscape, reflecting the actual capital invested by Bitcoin holders.
When investors purchase Bitcoin, the Realized Cap increases by the exact amount spent. The Market Cap, however, may respond differently depending on market dynamics. The reaction of the Market Cap to changes in the Realized Cap can signal bullish or bearish trends for Bitcoin, as noted by CryptoQuant’s Ki Young Ju.
Understanding the Market Cap and Realized Cap Dynamics
The recent data indicates a negative growth rate difference between the Market Cap and Realized Cap. This suggests that current capital inflows are insufficient to elevate Bitcoin’s price, a pattern historically linked to bearish market phases.
Despite these findings, analyst James Van Straten offers an alternative viewpoint. In his analysis on X, he presents a chart that tracks the trend of the Bitcoin Realized Cap and its historical drawdown percentage.
Alternative Perspectives on the Realized Cap
The chart reveals that during bear markets, the Realized Cap typically experiences significant drawdowns as investors sell at lower prices than their purchase cost, leading to a repricing of the supply. However, recent data shows no major drawdowns in the Realized Cap, suggesting that investor confidence in Bitcoin remains intact. Furthermore, the upward trend in the Realized Cap indicates sustained capital inflows.
Van Straten emphasizes, “Bear markets don’t usually start with confidence and inflows.” The future trajectory of Bitcoin’s market cycle remains uncertain, and only time will confirm whether a bear market phase has truly begun.
Current Bitcoin Price Movements
As the new week unfolds, Bitcoin has experienced a significant price drop of nearly 7%, bringing its value down to approximately $76,500.

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