The cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant activity as two major events are set to occur within a span of two days. Bitcoin has seen a surge in its value while Ethereum is going through a massive update with the Ethereum Shapella update.
Bitcoin has surged above $30,000, a milestone not reached since June of the previous year. At the same time, the impending Ethereum Shapella update is generating excitement within the community.
Although Ether is also seeing strong movement, it has yet to reclaim the $2,000 level. Achieving this feat would mark the first time it has done so since May of the previous year. However, the response to the Shapella update will play a significant role in determining the market’s trajectory.
Bitcoin’s value has surpassed $30,000, a level not seen since June 2022, marking a rise of approximately 6% since the start of April and around 46% over the past month. The cryptoasset has been on an upward trajectory since hitting a low of slightly over $15,400 in November of the previous year. Investors are becoming more bullish on bitcoin, with markets beginning to factor in the end of increasing interest rates in the United States and globally, albeit initially tentatively.
As investors evaluate macroeconomic shifts in data, bitcoin’s momentum has steadily increased. The next macroeconomic data point that markets will be monitoring is US inflation, scheduled for release tomorrow. If inflation continues to decline, we could see some consolidation above $30,000. Nonetheless, the price is still hovering around this milestone currently.
Nevertheless, in terms of retesting the all-time high (ATH) above $64,000 achieved in November 2021, the cryptoasset still has a long way to go.
The highly anticipated Ethereum Shapella (Shanghai/Capella) update
The highly anticipated Ethereum Shapella (Shanghai/Capella) update is scheduled to take place at around midnight tomorrow UK time. This update has been the most eagerly awaited by the crypto community since the Merge began the process of permanently moving Ethereum away from cryptocurrency mining.
The Shapella update will finalize this process and enable staked ether tokens to be unlocked for investors who have confidence in the project’s direction and have earned a yield along the way. There is a great deal of speculation regarding the impact this will have on the market.
It is highly probable that large staked token holders will sell their positions to reclaim funds and capitalize on their progress. While some may be in a losing position regarding price, they will have earned significant staking rewards, making the outcome somewhat more palatable.
This selling activity may lead to short-term price volatility. However, given the more optimistic macroeconomic factors supporting the market than during the Merge, this turbulence is expected to be brief.
Long-term, we must now assess the investment case for ether, which will soon include staking, yield generation, and the freedom to withdraw as necessary. This is a momentous occasion for the sector and another touchpoint in the proof-of-stake versus proof-of-work protocols debate.
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