Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin Liquidity Hits 10-Month Low Even With the Price Surging

  • Market-makers losing access to USD payment rails, says Kaiko
  • Can get more volatility due to concentrated ownership: Devitt

A sign for a Bitcoin ATM at a gas station in Washington, DC.

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg
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Bitcoin might be astounding investors with its double-digit rally this year, but liquidity in crypto markets remains desiccated.

One measure of how easily the largest cryptocurrency can be bought or sold has fallen to 10-month lows, according to Conor Ryder at Kaiko, who summed up the bids and asks within the 2% range of the price on both sides of market maker order books. The liquidity dropoff is happening due to the firms that buy and sell crypto losing access to dollar-payment systems.