Layer 1 cryptocurrencies and DeFi tokens surged this week, while bitcoin and ether remained stable. Bitcoin struggled to stay above $35,000 and mostly traded between $34,000 and $35,000, facing selling pressure. By the week's end, Bitcoin was around $34,400, with a 2% weekly gain, while Ether saw a similar increase. On the other hand, tokens from Layer 1 networks like Avalanche, Cardano, and Polkadot saw substantial gains of 10%-15%, and Solana reached a 14-month high with a 25% gain over the week. DeFi tokens had the most significant weekly gains, with the DeFi Index increasing by nearly 10%, driven by tokens from decentralized exchanges and lending platforms. The CoinDesk Market Index outperformed Bitcoin and Ether, highlighting the strength of alternative cryptocurrencies. This shift towards smaller tokens suggests a capital rotation from Bitcoin and Ether after their recent rallies, a common pattern in crypto bull markets. It appears that the demand for crypto assets remains strong, driven by spot buying and indicating a sustainable uptrend.
Bitcoin's supply is limited to 21 million coins. Unlike traditional currencies, which can be printed endlessly, Bitcoin has a capped supply. This scarcity is built into the code and is one of the reasons Bitcoin is often referred to as "digital gold." It's designed to become more valuable over time as demand potentially increases while the supply remains fixed, making it a unique asset in the financial world.
Did you know that the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is estimated to hold around 1 million Bitcoins, which would make them one of the wealthiest individuals in the world? However, despite this immense wealth, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown, and they have never spent any of their Bitcoins. This enigmatic figure has sparked significant intrigue and speculation in the cryptocurrency community and beyond.
The first real-world Bitcoin transaction involved buying two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins in 2010. Those Bitcoin are now worth millions, marking “Bitcoin Pizza Day” in cryptocurrency history.