The Bitcoin price has been on a rollercoaster ride recently, experiencing significant turbulence as the US and German governments executed transactions involving seized Bitcoin (BTC) holdings. This has led to another BTC retracement, causing concern among investors and analysts.
According to market intelligence platform Arkham, the US government transferred nearly 4,000 BTC, originally seized from drug trafficker Banmeet Singh, to Coinbase. Singh, an Indian national, pleaded guilty to charges related to narcotics trafficking and money laundering in January. His “criminal enterprise” reportedly facilitated the sale and distribution of controlled substances through dark web platforms such as Silk Road 1, Silk Road 2, Alpha Bay, and Hansa.
The US government wallets deposited 3,940 BTC, equivalent to $241.22 million at current trading prices, to Coinbase. While the move to a centralized exchange (CEX) typically implies selling, it is worth noting that Coinbase also offers custodial services for large institutional investors. This raises the possibility that the confiscated BTC will be transferred to Coinbase’s custody services for safekeeping, which may not impact the Bitcoin price recovery.
However, if the BTC is sold, it could potentially impact the market, especially with the expected movement of Mt. Gox BTC in early July. Market expert Adam Cochran suggests that the relatively small amount of BTC sent and the use of Coinbase indicate a slow auctioning process, which could mitigate the potential negative effects on the market and the Bitcoin price.
In addition to the US government’s actions, the German government also engaged in substantial Bitcoin transactions, liquidating approximately 2,786 BTC. This further added to the market uncertainty and contributed to a drop in the Bitcoin price to $61,000 from a slight recovery earlier at $62,400.
Despite these developments, technical analyst Mags highlights the significance of the bull market support band in macro analysis. Previous bull cycles have seen these bands serve as solid support and resistance levels. BTC flipped these bands into support in January 2023, and subsequent tests have resulted in favorable upside continuation. This suggests that while market uncertainty persists due to government liquidations, ongoing technical analysis indicates the potential for a continuation of the macrobullish trend.
Currently trading at $61,000, the Bitcoin price is still down nearly 13% over the month. Investors and analysts will be closely monitoring the market for any further developments and their potential impact on the price of Bitcoin.