Bitcoin’s price demonstrated resilience on Friday, edging higher after an initial dip below key support levels amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, while anticipation grew for the upcoming halving event.
Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin recorded a modest 0.9% increase, reaching $62,550.7 by 00:42 ET (04:42 GMT), rebounding from an earlier low of $59,693 following reports of an Israeli strike against Iran.
The drop below the $60,000 mark underscored the fragility of risk appetite, prompting traders to seek refuge in traditional safe-havens such as the Japanese yen, U.S. dollar, and gold.
Reports of explosions in Iran, purportedly linked to Israeli drone attacks, heightened geopolitical tensions, raising concerns about a potential escalation and its implications for the region. Despite this, Bitcoin managed to regain ground as the $60,000 support level held, albeit temporarily.
Attention has now turned to the impending halving event, expected to occur with the generation of block no. 840,000 on the Bitcoin blockchain. The halving will halve the reward for mining Bitcoin, potentially reducing the rate of new Bitcoin issuance. While historically associated with expectations of price increases due to reduced supply, past halvings have not always yielded immediate gains.
JPMorgan analysts cautioned that Bitcoin remains in overbought territory, suggesting the possibility of further price declines post-halving.
In the broader cryptocurrency market, altcoins displayed fragility amidst weak risk sentiment and concerns about higher interest rates flagged by Federal Reserve officials. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, declined by 0.6%, while XRP saw a 1.6% decrease. In contrast, Solana experienced a 4.4% uptick.
Despite initial volatility triggered by the Israel-Iran news, major altcoins managed to recover from intraday lows, indicating resilience amidst market uncertainties.