Understanding BTC Dominance: A Guide for Crypto Traders | Dex-Trade Academy
1. Introduction
2. BTC Dominance and Market Capitalization
3. Factors Influencing BTC Dominance
4. Using BTC Dominance in Trading
5. Closing Thoughts
Introduction
As the original cryptocurrency, bitcoin has maintained its position as the largest digital asset by market capitalization. It has also become a useful tool for traders to use in understanding market conditions. The dynamics of bitcoin's share in the value of the overall crypto market have led to traders using BTC dominance as a guide for their trading behavior. BTC dominance is believed to offer insight into the current general market trend, and this article will delve into the factors that influence it and how traders use it in their trading strategies.
The value of BTC dominance can be seen in how it can give traders an idea of the general market trend. Since the cryptocurrency market is a complex and ever-changing landscape, traders need tools that can help them understand how to invest their funds. Using BTC dominance, traders can determine whether the market is bullish or bearish, and adjust their trading strategies accordingly.
BTC Dominance and Market Capitalization
Market capitalization refers to the total value of a certain asset in circulation. For Bitcoin, the market cap is calculated by multiplying the current price and the number of BTC that have been mined so far. Bitcoin dominance, on the other hand, is calculated by dividing bitcoin’s market cap by the total cryptocurrency market cap.
The market capitalization of bitcoin, as well as the total cryptocurrency market, is constantly changing. Because of this, BTC dominance is not a static number and can vary over time. A higher BTC dominance indicates that bitcoin is the dominant cryptocurrency in the market, while a lower BTC dominance means that other cryptocurrencies are gaining more market share.
BTC dominance can be a useful tool for investors looking to diversify their portfolios. By tracking BTC dominance over time, investors can determine which cryptocurrencies are gaining in popularity and which ones are losing market share. This information can be useful in making informed decisions about which cryptocurrencies to invest in and how to adjust their portfolios to meet changing market conditions.
Factors Influencing BTC Dominance
One of the factors that influence BTC dominance is changing trends. Before the explosion of altcoins, bitcoin dominance used to hover above 90%. However, as altcoins gained more user and investor interest, bitcoin lost some of this almost undivided attention to other assets with greater price swings and projects boasting new exciting use cases. Altcoins have evolved to do more than just transfer money, they are involved in different sectors such as gaming, art, and decentralized financial services. Depending on the current trend, there may be more interest and trading around a particular type of crypto project, causing BTC dominance to drop in favor of other tokens.
The emergence of new coins is another factor that can influence BTC's dominance. New coins that enter the market can gain popularity quickly, causing BTC dominance to decrease. However, there's a chance that these altcoins may lose popularity after the hype dies down, leading to a movement of funds from these altcoins to BTC or out of the crypto market entirely, causing BTC dominance to rise again.
BTC dominance can also be influenced by the current market conditions. In a bear market or in times of volatility, stablecoins are often used to protect crypto investors’ funds amid falling prices. When funds move out of the BTC market and into stablecoins, BTC dominance could go down. The inverse is likely in a bull market. When the market is up, traders can be incentivized to move value from stablecoins into more volatile assets that offer more trading opportunities, like bitcoin. However, emboldened traders may also choose riskier options and pump liquidity into altcoins that are even more volatile than BTC, so the overall effects of favorable market conditions on bitcoin dominance are highly context-dependent.
Using BTC Dominance in Trading
The Wyckoff Method, a set of principles designed for traders and investors in traditional financial markets, can be applied when seeking profit opportunities using BTC dominance. Many traders and investors use the Wyckoff Method to identify a market trend, estimate the likelihood of a trend reversal, and time trades. Diversified traders and investors often use this approach to pick the stronger trend.
Traders may also use BTC dominance to spot an altcoin season. Periods when altcoins steadily outperform bitcoin are known as “altcoin season” or “alt season.” Under the Wyckoff Method principles, such movement of funds from bitcoin to altcoins is cyclical. Because altcoins tend to perform better during an altcoin season, bitcoin may see its dominance weaken during this phase of the market cycle. Therefore, people who trade both bitcoin and altcoins may monitor bitcoin dominance to adjust their portfolios accordingly.
Another way traders use BTC dominance in trading is by comparing it with the current price of bitcoin. Although they are not iron laws, different combinations of BTC price and dominance may signal potential market trends. When the price and dominance of BTC are rising, it could signal a potential bitcoin bull market. When the price of BTC is rising but BTC dominance is falling, it could signal a potential altcoin bull market. Conversely, when the price of BTC is falling but BTC dominance is rising, it could signal a potential altcoin bear market. When the price and dominance of BTC are falling, it could signal a potential bear trend for the entire crypto market. While these two factors do not imply a definite bull or bear market, historical observations suggest a correlation.
Closing Thoughts
BTC dominance is a tool that helps traders adjust their trading strategies and manage their diversified portfolios. It sheds light on how market cycles are changing and offers insight into the current general market trend. While BTC dominance does not guarantee the performance of bitcoin or any other crypto, it acts as a guide to help traders plan their trading approach. By keeping an eye on BTC dominance, investors can make informed decisions about which cryptocurrencies to invest in and when to adjust their portfolios to meet changing market conditions.
