In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, network activity serves as a crucial indicator of user engagement and overall health of a blockchain. Recent reports by Citi highlight a stagnation in network activity on the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain, while Ethereum (ETH) also shows a declining trend. This article delves into the underlying data and explores the broader implications for the crypto market.
Network Activity Lukewarm On Bitcoin And Ethereum
One of the key metrics used to ascertain user interest in a blockchain project is the measurement of its network activity. High network activity – unless propped up by trading bots – typically signals more users are transacting on the underlying blockchain network, enabling block miners to earn more rewards for confirming transactions. However, the vice-versa doesn’t paint as encouraging a picture.
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According to a report by Citi, the activity of the Bitcoin network seems to have stalled. Data from blockchain.com confirms Citi’s assessment. From the chart presented below, we can see that the number of confirmed transactions per day on the Bitcoin network seems to be oscillating in a range since April 2024.
At the same time, BTC prices have steadily been trending downwards, making lower highs after each rebound from range lows of around $56,000.
Pivoting to Ethereum data, we see a similar trend. The Ethereum daily transactions chart shows a slight decline in daily transactions, from approximately 1.37 million on March 19, to 1.12 million on September 5.
Network activity on any blockchain is largely dependent on the number of users or unique wallet addresses used on the concerned network. Looking at unique addresses used on the Bitcoin network, we see that it is down to 539,154 addresses on September 4, 2024, from 1,017,545 addresses on September 14, 2023. Interestingly, the number of unique addresses on Ethereum has remained steady.
However, it’s worth highlighting that sometimes, many users may have more than one wallet address, which might slightly reduce the reliability of this data point.
Adding to the complexity, the report indicates that Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have witnessed net outflows, signaling weak investor conviction in holding digital currencies during economic uncertainties. Specifically, Bitcoin ETFs experienced outflows amounting to $305 million on August 31, 2024.
Crypto Market To Remain Highly Correlated With Stock Market
The report by Citi notes that the digital assets market is expected to remain highly correlated with equities. In contrast, however, a recent post by Santiment on X stated that Bitcoin is becoming less sensitive to trends in the stock market and, over time, could finally decouple from it.
That being said, Bitcoin permabulls like Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, continue to place their bets on the leading digital currency. Recently, it came to light that Saylor had pocketed approximately $400 million on the back of planned daily sales of about 5,000 MicroStrategy shares.
At press time, Bitcoin trades at $54,097, down by 3.3% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum is trading at $2,292, down by 3.2% in the same duration.
In conclusion, the current trends in network activity for Bitcoin and Ethereum present a mixed bag. While user engagement appears to have plateaued, the broader market dynamics and investor sentiment continue to influence the crypto landscape. As the digital assets market evolves, keeping an eye on these key metrics will provide valuable insights into future trends.
