Bitcoin Supply In Loss Crosses Critical Threshold — Bullish Reversal Next?

After days of steep downward movement, the price of Bitcoin appears to have found a somewhat reliable anchor around the $60,000 region. However, recent on-chain data suggests that the premier cryptocurrency might not be down for long, with a bullish reversal seemingly on the cards.

In a June 7th post on the X platform, crypto analyst Ali Martinez revealed that the price of Bitcoin might have just reached a major bottom in this cycle. This evaluation is based on changes in the Bitcoin Supply In Loss metric, which measures the amount of BTC in circulation that was last moved at a price above the current market value.

This on-chain metric provides insight into how much pressure investors are under (or how deeply underwater they are) as they hold their Bitcoin at an unrealized loss. Hence, the Supply In Loss indicator, near unprecedented levels, is a signal of systemic fear and an impending shift in Bitcoin market dynamics.

Martinez noted that the flagship cryptocurrency formed major cycle bottoms in the past when more than 10 million BTC were held at a loss. According to Glassnode data highlighted by the analyst, Bitcoin has breached this threshold, with 10.46 million coins (more than half of the circulating supply) underwater.

As observed in the chart above, the Bitcoin price saw a bullish reversal in late 2018, as the supply in loss crossed this 10 million threshold. A similar pattern could be seen for BTC’s price when its Supply In Loss climbed to this mark around 2022.

Martinez explained:

I believe this is an important signal because selling pressure often begins to fade as fewer investors are willing to realize losses, increasing the probability of a market bottom forming.

Based strictly on historical context and patterns, there is a high likelihood that a price bottom is forming for BTC at current levels. However, an important factor to discount is that the Bitcoin circulating supply was markedly lower in both periods (around 17.4 million and 19.2 million towards the end of 2018 and 2022, respectively).

Lower circulating supply could mean the Supply In Loss might edge slightly higher this time, suggesting the BTC price could see further downside. This was evident in 2015 (when the circulating supply was much lower), when the Supply In Loss didn’t reach the 10 million threshold before a bullish reversal.

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $62,746, reflecting a 2.5% jump in the past 24 hours.