Bitcoin’s Prospects in 2024: Will Halving and ETF Approval Trigger a Bull Run?

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In 2024, significant changes are on the horizon for digital assets, especially bitcoin. The recent SEC approval for a spot bitcoin ETF and the upcoming April halving event are expected to impact both supply and demand. Understanding these changes is crucial for grasping the potential role of digital assets in enhancing global financial accessibility in the future.

Regarding the supply aspect, bitcoin experiences increased scarcity roughly every four years through a process known as halving. During a bitcoin halving event, the reward for Bitcoin miners is reduced by 50%, lowering the rate at which new bitcoins are issued.

If the SEC approves a spot Bitcoin ETF, more investors could easily access Bitcoin’s price in their regular investment accounts, bypassing the complexity of crypto exchanges. This is expected to increase liquidity and stabilize bitcoin prices. Additionally, the SEC’s approval marks a significant step in establishing Bitcoin’s legitimacy with mainstream financial institutions.

The recent approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for 11 Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) applications involving significant players like BlackRock, Ark Investments/21Shares, Fidelity, Invesco, and VanEck has triggered a significant positive trend in the crypto market, indicating an optimistic outlook. There is speculation that this approval could pave the way for a sustained bull run, marking the end of the recent crypto downturn.

The Effects of the Upcoming Halving Event

Every four years or so, the Bitcoin network undergoes a halving event, which involves reducing the block reward given to miners for processing transactions on the network.

This year’s halving is expected to occur in April 2024 and will decrease the number of new Bitcoins released per block from 6.25 to 3.25 BTC. As a result, miners will face reduced profit margins, potentially leading to increased selling pressure on the market.

The halving will help the markets but might not lead to a full-fledged bull run. This anti-inflationary measure makes mining new BTC harder, reducing the supply. Yet, without significant crypto adoption, it may not be enough to bring BTC back to its peak of nearly $69,000, let alone exceed it.

However, another reason for optimism is the upcoming U.S. election year 2024. During this crucial time, U.S. regulators may reduce attention-grabbing actions, leading to fewer adverse events for crypto that could impact investor enthusiasm. This might create a favorable environment for the next bullish trend.

Some analysts argue that this dynamic could also have positive consequences, as it may lead to fewer new Bitcoins entering circulation and more scarcity in the market. Furthermore, the halving event often precedes significant price rallies, suggesting that a bull run might be on the horizon following the event.

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Bitcoin price predictions for 2024

Various experts and entities share their Bitcoin price predictions for 2024:

Mark Mobius anticipates a rise to $60,000, attributing it to heightened interest, especially with the potential approval of a Bitcoin ETF. Bit Mining forecasts a high of $75,000, citing increased institutional investment and the impact of the Bitcoin halving.

CoinShares estimates a potential rise to $80,000, driven by the approval of Bitcoin ETFs and potential central bank interest rate cuts. Nexo envisions Bitcoin reaching $100,000 in 2024, fueled by Bitcoin’s halving and anticipated ETF approval.

Standard Chartered reiterates a $100,000 prediction, highlighting the approval of numerous ETFs and the supportive impact of the halving. Carol Alexander predicts an initial Bitcoin trading range between $40,000 to $55,000, with the potential to rise to $100,000 post-settlement of SEC charges.

Matrixport projects a rise to $125,000 by the end of 2024, considering the macroeconomic environment and Bitcoin’s inflation model. CoinFund offers a more ambitious outlook, suggesting that Bitcoin could range between $250,000 and $500,000 in 2024, potentially touching $1 million in subsequent cycles.

In 2024, we’re likely to see a continuation of current trends in crypto asset prices. The market is anticipated to be bottoming out and showing more significant signs of recovery by Q4 2024. Meanwhile, expect minor volatility as investors oscillate between high expectations and slight disappointment.

Nevertheless, the relatively subdued volatility suggests that the crypto finance market is evolving, requiring us to adapt our investment and trading strategies accordingly.