Date: 26-09-2024
The image illustrates the typical money flow within the cryptocurrency market, from Fiat to Bitcoin and finally into Altcoins (ranging from Large Caps to Low Caps). Understanding this flow is crucial for every crypto investor or trader to maximize gains and strategically plan entries and exits in the market.
Let’s dive deep into the money flow cycle and understand each stage thoroughly with examples, trends, and a historical perspective.
1️⃣ Fiat to Bitcoin: The Entry Point 💸 → ₿
Fiat Money (e.g., USD, EUR, JPY) is the starting point for most investors when they first enter the cryptocurrency market.
Investors convert their Fiat currency into Bitcoin. This step typically marks the beginning of a bull run.
📈 Why Bitcoin First?
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency and serves as the entry gate into the broader crypto market. It has the largest market cap and is seen as the most stable and trusted store of value compared to other cryptos.
Example: In the 2020 bull run, institutional investors such as MicroStrategy and Tesla first bought large amounts of Bitcoin before venturing into any other assets.
2️⃣ Bitcoin to Large Caps: The Next Step 💡
After Bitcoin reaches a certain price point and begins to slow down in terms of growth (or consolidates), investors start looking at Large Cap Altcoins as the next big opportunity.
🚀 What are Large Cap Coins?
These are coins that have large market capitalizations (typically over $10 billion) and are established within the space.
Examples include Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), and Cardano (ADA).
🔑 Key Indicators:
As Bitcoin stabilizes, profits start flowing into Large Caps.
Ethereum, for example, tends to see massive rallies right after Bitcoin reaches a temporary peak. In 2020, while Bitcoin surged from $10,000 to $30,000, Ethereum followed with an explosive move from $300 to $1,000+.
Timeframe:
Typically, this phase occurs shortly after Bitcoin has made significant gains. Historically, this flow into Large Caps occurs within a few months after Bitcoin's primary surge.
3️⃣ Large Caps to Mid Caps: The Momentum Continues 💪
Once Large Cap coins have made significant gains, investors look for the next wave of opportunities in Mid Cap Altcoins. Mid Cap coins tend to be a little more volatile but offer higher growth potential.
⚖️ What are Mid Cap Coins?
These are projects that are still strong but not as well-established as Bitcoin or Ethereum, usually with market caps between $1 billion and $10 billion.
Examples include Chainlink (LINK), Polkadot (DOT), Avalanche (AVAX), and Solana (SOL).
🔥 Historical Example:
In the 2021 bull run, after Ethereum had reached new heights, coins like Solana (SOL) and Polkadot (DOT) followed with massive rallies. Solana, for instance, surged from under $10 in early 2021 to a peak of $200 by the end of that year, representing a 20x gain.
4️⃣ Mid Caps to Low Caps: The Parabolic Phase 🚀💥
At the tail end of the money flow cycle, investors begin seeking riskier, smaller market cap Altcoins with explosive growth potential. These coins often experience parabolic rises as the bull market reaches its peak.
⚠️ What are Low Cap Coins?
These are coins with market capitalizations below $1 billion, often referred to as small-cap Altcoins.
They are generally higher risk but also have the potential to skyrocket in value.
Examples: Coins like Shiba Inu (SHIB), SushiSwap (SUSHI), and PancakeSwap (CAKE).
📅 Historical Context:
During the 2021 Altseason, some Low Cap coins achieved astronomical gains. For instance, Shiba Inu (SHIB) delivered multi-thousand percent returns within a few months as retail investors poured into these smaller, more speculative projects.
🔥 Example of Growth:
During the 2021 run, Axie Infinity (AXS) went from $0.15 in early 2021 to over $150, providing 1,000x returns in less than a year.
5️⃣ Low Caps Back to Bitcoin (Profit Taking) 🤑↩️
Once the speculative frenzy in Low Caps reaches its peak and retail investors flood into the market, savvy investors start taking profits and rotate their gains back into Bitcoin or stablecoins. This action typically signals the end of the bull market and a potential correction or bear market.
🔄 Profit Rotation:
As the market becomes saturated, Bitcoin once again becomes a safe haven for investors to protect their gains.
Stablecoins (like USDT or USDC) also become a key tool for investors looking to exit volatile positions without converting back to Fiat immediately.
6️⃣ Back to Fiat (End of the Cycle) 🔄💵
Once investors have taken profits from Bitcoin and Altcoins, many decide to exit the market completely and convert back to Fiat. This marks the end of the cycle and often coincides with the peak of the bull run and the beginning of the bear market.
Understanding the Timing: Historical Trends 📅⏳
Bitcoin Cycles and Halving:
Historically, Bitcoin goes through 4-year cycles, with a halving event every 4 years that reduces the supply of new Bitcoin entering circulation.
After every Bitcoin Halving (which reduces the BTC mining reward), Bitcoin experiences a bull market followed by a parabolic Altseason.
Examples of Historical Cycles:
2013-2014 Cycle: After Bitcoin surged, Large Caps like Litecoin (LTC) followed, then smaller Altcoins rallied.
2017 Cycle: Bitcoin rallied to $20,000, followed by Ethereum's surge to $1,400, and then Low Cap coins exploded.
2021 Cycle: Bitcoin rallied to $64,000, Ethereum reached $4,000, and projects like Shiba Inu and Solana saw massive gains.
📅 When to Buy & Sell:
Accumulate Bitcoin during early accumulation phases (e.g., 2019-2020 or current markets in 2023).
As Bitcoin starts rising rapidly, rotate into Large Cap Altcoins (e.g., Ethereum).
Once Large Caps rally, rotate into Mid Cap and eventually Low Cap Altcoins.
Take profits once Low Caps start showing extreme parabolic moves to protect gains.
The Importance of Monitoring Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D) 📊
Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D) is an indicator of how much of the total cryptocurrency market is made up of Bitcoin. By tracking BTC Dominance, you can time the market more effectively:
When BTC Dominance is high (above 60%), Bitcoin is leading the market.
When BTC Dominance begins to drop, it signals that money is flowing into Altcoins.
Example:
In the 2020-2021 bull run, Bitcoin Dominance dropped from 70% to 40%, marking the start of Altseason.
Conclusion: How to Use the Crypto Money Flow to Your Advantage 🎯💡
Understanding the money flow in the crypto market gives you a strategic edge. Following the money flow from Fiat to Bitcoin to Altcoins can help maximize profits and avoid common pitfalls. Here's a quick step-by-step guide to leverage this concept:
Accumulate Bitcoin in the early bull phase (usually after a halving event).
Rotate into Large Cap Altcoins (ETH, BNB) as Bitcoin stabilizes.
Move into Mid Cap and Low Cap Altcoins during the final stage of the bull market.
Take profits and rotate back into Bitcoin or Stablecoins before the market peaks.
This strategy can help preserve capital while allowing you to participate in the explosive growth of smaller, riskier Altcoins during their parabolic phases.
🔮 Future Outlook:
With the next Bitcoin Halving set for April 2024, the crypto market is expected to follow this money flow once again. The time to start positioning yourself in this cycle is now, while we are still in the accumulation phase for Bitcoin and Altcoins.
🚀 Are you ready for the next big Altseason? Let’s discuss which Altcoins you’re targeting!
