Account

New to ADSS? Open an
account now to get started.

OR

Already have an account?

Add funds to your ADSS account

Account

New to ADSS? Open an
account now to get started.

Add funds to your ADSS account

Trends & Analysis
News

Crude oil rebounds as Trump wins US elections

News

US stocks at record highs on Trump’s election win

News

Ride Uber to record highs?

News

Latest market reactions to Trump as US President

News

Shares of Yum! Brands rally despite earnings miss

News

USD falls to 2-week low amid political uncertainty

Trends & Analysis
News

Crude oil rebounds as Trump wins US elections

News

US stocks at record highs on Trump’s election win

News

Ride Uber to record highs?

News

Latest market reactions to Trump as US President

News

Shares of Yum! Brands rally despite earnings miss

News

USD falls to 2-week low amid political uncertainty

Learn

What is Bitcoin halving?

Disclaimer: This article is an educational guide to CFD trading and the financial markets and should not be considered as advice. Trading CFDs is high risk. Always ensure you understand the potential risks and rewards associated with trading before you trade.

Introduction

Each four years, the reward for ‘mining’ a new block of Bitcoin decreases by half. At the launch of the now-famous cryptocurrency in 2009, the reward for Bitcoin ‘miners’ – in reality solvers of cryptographic puzzles to validate one block of blockchain transactions – was set at 50 Bitcoin, but with the built-in feature of that reward halving after every 210,000 blocks mined. In practice, this works out to a halving roughly every four years, with halving events in November 2012 (making the reward 25 Bitcoin), July 2016 (12.5), May 2020 (6.25) and shortly, in April 2024, 3.125. This is part of the strategy of successively restricting supply of Bitcoin as the number mined approaches 21 million. Bitcoin halving is normally seen as a positive event for the overall market, but as always with cryptocurrencies the impacts are unclear and all that can be said for sure is that volatility around the next halving event will be high.

 

Bitcoin mining

Bitcoin mining is the name given to the process whereby transactions are included on the blockchain , a distributed ledger that contains, publicly, the transaction history of Bitcoin transactions, divided into blocks. A reward is offered to the first miner to solve an algorithmic problem (in effect it involves guessing a very large number) for each block, and this provides an incentive for Bitcoin miners or ‘nodes’ on the network to validate transactions, which protects the integrity of the blockchain. Because the problems become progressively more difficult, the hardware requirements to mine successfully have grown to the point where only banks of powerful GPUs, sometimes requiring their own independent power source, will allow consisted profitable mining.

 

Fixed supply

One of the key features of Bitcoin  is the fixed limit to the number of coins. This was intended to solve one of the perceived weaknesses of state-backed fiat currency, the ability to inflate away its value by governments producing money ex nihilo. This practice is sometimes called ‘printing money’, though in reality cash produced this way is very rarely printed, instead normally being produced via Quantitative Easing, where a government buys its own bonds. These practices decrease the value of the currency by increasing the money supply, and are strongly disapproved of by many ideological backers of cryptocurrencies.

In order to avoid this problem, Bitcoin has a fixed number of 21 million coins that can ever be mined, and the halving process is designed to increase the cost (and hopefully value) of each Bitcoin before that point is reached. The idea is that scarcity will drive up the price of Bitcoin, making mining a profitable activity even after continuing halving events reduce the reward for mining each new block. So far, previous halving events have been associated with Bitcoin price increases, though they are not seriously out of line with the price action seen in normal trading, so far as normal trading conditions exist for such volatile assets.

 

Market impacts

Cryptocurrency markets are notoriously resistant to fundamental analysis, and should be treated with extreme caution due to their volatility, as traders have suffered considerable losses trading them in the past. That makes analysing the potential impact of Bitcoin halving 2024 difficult, if not impossible. The theoretical constraint to supply has a far lesser impact than the actions of speculative traders, and though the general consensus remains that halving is good for prices this is by no means a reliable response. In fact, whatever the initial reaction of Bitcoins next halving event, it is very likely the market response will see corrections and counter-corrections as traders change their positions in the ensuing volatility.

The next Bitcoin halving will be the last for the next four or so years, but these events will continue until the reward level is reduced to a single Satoshi, or one-hundred-millionth of a single Bitcoin. A Satoshi is the smallest indivisible fraction of a Bitcoin, and the final block reward will consist of a single Satoshi bringing the total of mined Bitcoin to 21 million. Because the algorithmic puzzles used to mint new blocks become progressively harder and harder, the hardware requirements are steadily more and more extreme, leading some analysts to conclude that the last few Bitcoin will never be mined.

Further analysis of market impacts

Bitcoin Cash is a similar currency to Bitcoin that was born out of a 2017 fork from the overall Bitcoin blockchain has also experienced halving events, since it works on a very similar protocol to the better-known rival. Bitcoin Cash’s halving events have seen sustained price increases, with the increased coverage of the coin and trading volumes driving it to new highs. This is a bullish signal for Bitcoin’s own halving, but should also sound a note of caution: Bitcoin remains by far the largest cryptocurrency, but it could lose market share in the future to newer coins. How this would impact prices, and whether miners are interested in moving to easier-to-mine new alternatives, potentially impacting the stability of the blockchain, is not yet clear.

 

How can I trade the Bitcoin halving in 2024?

The 2024 Bitcoin halving event has been the subject of a great deal of speculation, but it is not clear how much real market impact will follow. Bitcoin CFD traders should expect significant volatility as the date approaches and in the following days, likely with a prevailing uptrend but no doubt buffeted by significant downswings as traders close long positions and reassess their long-term price forecasts.

Remember that Bitcoin is significantly influenced by overall risk sentiment in wider markets, and usually crashes or rises with the overall stock market. The long-term price trajectory of Bitcoin also depends on how far it is able to stay out from under the influence of major financial regulators; the profitability of crypto stocks as well as the prices of individual cryptocurrencies could be significantly altered if the market ends up being regulated as tightly as the wider financial sector.

With those caveats made, it’s time to look at how traders can profit from price moves in Bitcoin. ADSS CFD traders are able to share in Bitcoin price action using different products, including CFDs on Bitcoin ETFs, on Bitcoin directly, or on Bitcoin mining stocks such as RIOT.

 

CFDs on Bitcoin

ADSS CFD traders can open CFD positions on Bitcoin with leverage [A1] of up to 4:1, alongside other popular coins including Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum. This is the most direct way of trading CFDs on cryptocurrencies and allows traders to rapidly open long or short positions on these volatile assets.

 

Conclusion

Bitcoin halving events are not massive market events and it shouldn’t change your long-term price view on the cryptocurrency. However, it is a widely publicised event and CFD traders dealing in the run-up and aftermath of the next Bitcoin halving will experience increased volatility. The fundamental logic of reward restriction is bullish for Bitcoin, but bear in mind these trends take place over a longer timescale than most CFD traders maintain positions for. Also, there is the potential risk that diminishing rewards will see miners lose interest in Bitcoin, perhaps leading to it losing crypto market share to other coins.

All of these is speculation, but it’s important to be aware that the market can interpret events in a number of different, sometimes contradictory ways. If past events are any guide, then its likely prices will rise through the event, but for intraday CFD traders the overall volatility could easily knock out long positions on the way, so extreme caution, as always valuable in crypto markets is necessary, and the appropriate risk management strategies must be in place before trading.

FAQs

What is Bitcoin halving?

Bitcoin halving refers to a programmed event where the reward for minting a new block on the blockchain decreases by half. Bitcoin experiences a halving event roughly every four years, after a fixed number of blocks have been mined. This means the miners competing to solve increasingly complex puzzles to confirm transactions receive a progressively smaller reward, a change partially covered by associated rises in the price of Bitcoin.

Does Bitcoin halving impact prices?

Previous halving events in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash have been associated with price increases, but there is no fast rule that this must happen. What seems to be likely is that the next Bitcoin halving will see upwards price pressure with significant volatility in both directions, creating both long and short opportunities for crypto CFD traders.

Where can I find a Bitcoin halving countdown?

Bitcoin halving takes place every 210,000 blocks, which usually takes around 4 years to complete. You can easily find a Bitcoin halving countdown online by searching the term and confirming the current mined block; the exact time and date depends on the speed at which subsequent blocks are mined.


Site by Pink Green
© ADSS 2024


Investing in CFDs involves a high degree of risk that you will lose your money due to the use of leverage, particularly in fast moving markets, where a relatively small movement in the price can lead to a proportionately larger movement in the value of your investment. This can result in loses that exceed the funds in your account. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and you should seek independent advice if necessary.

ADS Securities LLC – S.P.C (“ADSS”) is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (“SCA”) in the United Arab Emirates under First Category: Dealing in Securities and Fifth category: Arrangement and advice (Introduction). ADSS is a Limited Liability Company – Sole Proprietorship Company incorporated under United Arab Emirates law. The company is registered with the Department of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi (No. 1190047) and has its principal place of business at 8th Floor, CI Tower, Corniche Road, P.O. Box 93894, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The information presented is not directed at residents of any particular country outside the United Arab Emirates and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country where the distribution or use is contrary to local law or regulation.

ADSS is an execution only service provider and does not provide advice. ADSS may publish general market commentary from time to time. Where it does, the material published does not constitute advice, or a solicitation, or a recommendation to a transaction in any financial instrument. ADSS accepts no responsibility for any use of the content presented and any consequences of that use. No representation or warranty is given as to the completeness of this information. Anyone acting on the information provided does so at their own risk.