Bitcoin Spikes: Can Anybody Explain Them?

Bitcoin had yet another one of those moments this week where it spiked 10% in 30 minutes. Why? It could be ... Maybe because ... Possibly ... That's how most explanations start. And while this is a natural start to any explanation for why any market moves, in the case of Bitcoin it's often because there's no "obvious" explanation for anyone to latch onto. At least in the stock market we can blame tariffs for everything!

Steemit: https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@cryptovestor/bitcoin-spikes-can-anybody-explain-them

Okay so perhaps it might be because of excitement over the Bitcoin ETF decision next month (regardless of how likely it is). Perhaps it was over the Congressional hearing that started on July 18th. Perhaps it's because short sellers got squeezed and buy stops got hit by the dozens. My own theory is that it's because a few significant buyers jumped in and trading bots jumped on board after seeing volume rise and seeing Bitcoin break resistance at its 50 day moving average, causing more money to flood in and perhaps a few buy stops got hit along the way. But nothing is certain.

What are your theories? Another interesting element to all of this is that usually when the crypto market rises, money flows to altcoins as investors become more risk on. But in this instance, Bitcoin dominance has been rising at an accelerating pace. I have said before that I suspect there will be a "second wave" where money flows to crypto again and in that instance, I suspect altcoins will fare well. Is this the start to that wave?

As of right now, I don't think so. There needs to be a more fundamental reason (e.g: Bitcoin ETF approval, although that still seems unlikely in short-term) for people to pinpoint why they should flood more money into this market. For now, I believe this spike was just Bitcoin being Bitcoin. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Coinbase announced they are exploring adding 5 cryptocurrencies (Cardano, BAT, Stellar, Zcash and 0x) to their exchanges if possible. This caused a boon in these cryptocurrencies, but it is worth noting that this boon was far smaller than the boost XRP saw back at the height of bubble due to speculation of being added to Coinbase. This illustrates exuberance in the market has decreased substantially, even if it is still a risky market overall.

What are your thoughts on the current crypto market? I am still simply holding with no trades, but I know a few of you are still likely actively playing around so feel free to share what you're up to in the comments below. Thanks for watching / reading!

================
If you like my content, you can support me through using ANY of the affiliate links below (I receive small compensation). The beauty of affiliate links is that I can pick and choose what I like rather than have companies approach me - everything I linked below (with the exception of Trezor since I like Ledger), I use myself frequently.
================

My Recommended Hardware Wallets:

If you want to store your cryptocurrencies safely, the best way is through a hardware wallet. Seriously - look it up and you'll find plenty of information supporting this claim. There are alternatives such as paper wallets, but these are convenient and my choice for cold storage (offline):

Ledger Nano S: http://amzn.to/2hZPj0q
Trezor: http://amzn.to/2AxD9TN
Ledger Blue (expensive): http://amzn.to/2hk7xst

I personally prefer the Ledger Nano S, but the Trezor is such a close second that it really doesn't matter which one you go with. Ledger Blue is premium and convenient, but not necessary.
================

My Favorite Book for Investing in Crypto:

Cryptoassets: http://amzn.to/2zKDdCF

================

My Recommended Exchanges: Coinbase / GDAX / Bittrex

https://www.coinbase.com/join/5a08b12e305a1401d79d10e0

If you sign up to Coinbase using link above, you and I will both receive $10 each after you buy your first $100 of Bitcoin using Coinbase. Coinbase is much less intimidating for beginners. Once ready, move up to GDAX for cheaper or zero fees. For altcoins, I recommend Bittrex.
================