List of questions about [Bitcoin]

• Use trusted platforms: Stick to exchanges like Binance, BYDFi, and OKX.
• Research thoroughly: Check coin fundamentals, team, and market history.
• Avoid hype: Don’t buy based on social media buzz or unverified tips.
• Diversify: Spread your investment across multiple assets to reduce risk.
• Stay updated: Follow crypto news and regulatory changes closely.

Final Thoughts

The worst cryptocurrency in 2024 shows how volatile and risky the crypto market can be. Even well-known projects can face sharp declines due to competition, regulation, and technical challenges. By understanding these risks and doing your homework, you can avoid falling into the trap of bad investments.

Ready to trade smarter? Check out BYDFi’s beginner tutorial and start your crypto journey with confidence.

Most successful portfolios hold both. By allocating to Bitcoin for safety and Ethereum for growth, you capture the entire upside of the crypto revolution. Register at BYDFi today to build a balanced portfolio and trade both assets with deep liquidity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Ethereum riskier than Bitcoin?
A: Generally, yes. Because Ethereum changes its code more frequently to upgrade the network, it carries higher technical risk than the ossified Bitcoin protocol.

Q: Can I stake Bitcoin?
A: Not natively. Bitcoin uses Proof-of-Work. You can only stake Ethereum (Proof-of-Stake) to earn yield on the protocol level.

Q: Do they move together?
A: Yes. In the Bitcoin vs Ethereum correlation, they typically move in the same direction. However, Ethereum tends to have higher volatility, moving up more in bull markets and down more in bear markets.

Financial markets are witnessing a subtle yet powerful shift. While gold dominates headlines with record-breaking price levels, Bitcoin’s relative strength against the precious metal has weakened dramatically. The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio, a long-standing macro indicator watched closely by institutional investors, has fallen to its lowest level since late 2023. On the surface, this appears to signal Bitcoin’s fading appeal. Beneath the surface, however, analysts argue it may represent something far more significant.

The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio reflects how many ounces of gold are required to purchase one Bitcoin. As of this week, that figure slipped to around 18.5 ounces, driven largely by gold’s explosive rally rather than a collapse in Bitcoin itself. Gold surged toward the $4,900 level, while Bitcoin struggled to sustain momentum above $90,000, creating a widening valuation gap that has not gone unnoticed.

Gold’s Rally Is More Than Just a Safe-Haven Trade

Gold’s strength is not merely a reaction to short-term uncertainty. According to long-term historical data, gold bull markets over the past century have delivered average gains exceeding 150%. Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, has highlighted that if history follows a familiar path, gold’s current rally may still be in its early stages. Under such conditions, prices could potentially rise toward the $10,000–$12,000 range over the coming decade.

This surge reflects a deeper shift in global capital allocation. Investors are increasingly questioning the sustainability of sovereign debt, the reliability of long-duration bonds, and the long-term purchasing power of fiat currencies. As confidence in traditional financial instruments erodes, capital naturally seeks refuge in assets perceived as scarce, tangible, and politically neutral. Gold, with thousands of years of monetary history, has once again become the first destination for that flow.

Bitcoin Left Behind — Temporarily

Bitcoin’s relative underperformance does not necessarily imply weakness in its fundamentals. Instead, it highlights Bitcoin’s position on the risk spectrum. During periods of elevated uncertainty, investors tend to favor assets with lower volatility and established credibility. Gold fits that profile perfectly. Bitcoin, despite its growing institutional adoption, is still viewed as a higher-risk asset — one that investors prefer to approach later in the cycle rather than at its onset.

This dynamic has played out repeatedly over the past decade. Gold often leads during the early phases of macro stress, while Bitcoin lags. Once risk appetite stabilizes and confidence begins to return, Bitcoin historically transitions from underperformer to outperformer, often at a pace that far exceeds traditional assets.

Technical Signals Hint at Trend Exhaustion

From a technical perspective, some analysts believe the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio is approaching a critical inflection point. Crypto analyst Decode has applied Elliott Wave theory to the BTC/gold pair, suggesting that the ratio may be completing the final phase of a corrective structure. In Elliott Wave terms, this fifth-wave movement often signals exhaustion rather than continuation.

Such setups have historically coincided with shifts in market psychology. When sentiment reaches extreme pessimism, selling pressure tends to diminish, even if prices remain subdued. This environment often creates the conditions for sharp reversals, particularly in assets with asymmetric upside potential like Bitcoin.

Relative Value Matters More Than Headlines

Institutional investors rarely focus on price alone. Instead, they assess relative value across asset classes. André Dragosch, Head of Research at Bitwise Europe, recently described Bitcoin’s valuation versus gold as “exceptionally discounted” on a historical basis. According to Dragosch, similar conditions have appeared only a handful of times over the past decade, and each instance eventually preceded significant capital rotations back into Bitcoin.

This discount does not imply that Bitcoin is cheap in absolute terms, but rather that it is undervalued relative to gold when adjusted for liquidity, scarcity, and long-term monetary dynamics. For macro-focused investors, these moments are often more important than short-term price action.

A Structural Shift in the Global Monetary System

Beyond charts and ratios lies a broader transformation. Influential investors such as Ray Dalio have repeatedly warned that the global financial system is undergoing a structural reset. Rising debt burdens, geopolitical fragmentation, and declining trust in traditional reserve assets are forcing countries and institutions to rethink how they store value.

In this environment, gold has reasserted itself as the primary non-sovereign reserve asset. However, Bitcoin shares many of the same characteristics — fixed supply, neutrality, and resistance to debasement — while adding digital portability and transparency. The key difference lies in perception and maturity. Gold benefits first because it is familiar. Bitcoin benefits later because it is disruptive.

Capital Rotations Tend to Be Sequential

According to Dragosch, capital rarely moves into multiple alternative assets simultaneously. Instead, it flows in stages. Gold typically absorbs the initial wave of defensive capital. Once confidence builds and investors seek higher returns, attention shifts toward assets with greater upside potential. Bitcoin has historically been the primary beneficiary of this second phase.

This sequential rotation helps explain why gold’s strength should not necessarily be viewed as a headwind for Bitcoin. On the contrary, gold’s rally may be laying the groundwork for Bitcoin’s next expansion by validating the broader thesis of hard assets and monetary scarcity.

Bitcoin’s Asymmetric Setup: Rare but Powerful

What makes the current setup particularly compelling is the asymmetry involved. Downside risks for Bitcoin are increasingly constrained by institutional adoption, ETF infrastructure, and expanding global liquidity. At the same time, upside potential remains significant if capital flows rotate even modestly away from gold and into digital assets.

Historically, periods where Bitcoin significantly underperformed gold were followed by aggressive catch-up rallies. These moves often occurred rapidly, leaving little opportunity for late entrants to position themselves.

Long-Term Perspective Over Short-Term Noise

Short-term price fluctuations can obscure long-term trends. While Bitcoin’s recent struggle to hold above $90,000 may concern traders, long-term investors are focused on macro positioning rather than daily volatility. From that vantage point, Bitcoin’s discounted relative value may represent opportunity rather than risk.

The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio reaching multi-year lows is not a common event. When it happens, it often reflects peak pessimism — a condition that has historically favored patient investors willing to look beyond immediate headlines.

Conclusion: A Quiet Setup Before the Next Move?

The collapse in the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio has sparked debate, skepticism, and caution. Yet beneath the surface, the data suggests a familiar pattern may be unfolding. Gold leads, Bitcoin lags, sentiment cools — and then capital rotates.

If historical behavior and macro dynamics repeat, Bitcoin’s current underperformance may prove temporary. Rather than signaling decline, the present divergence could mark the early stages of Bitcoin’s next catch-up cycle, one shaped by global monetary transformation and the search for scarce, non-sovereign assets.

For investors who understand cycles, this may not be a moment of fear — but one of quiet preparation.

Ready to Take Control of Your Crypto Journey? Start Trading Safely on BYDFi

Whether your problem stems from a forgotten seed phrase, a hacked wallet, or frozen funds on a shady DeFi platform, there are concrete steps you can take to improve your chances of recovery. This guide will walk you through the reality of crypto recovery, how to identify legitimate services, and how platforms like BYDFi can provide a safe place to secure your assets after a scare.

What Is Crypto Recovery? Understanding the Process

At its core, crypto recovery is the process of regaining access to or retrieving lost, stolen, or otherwise inaccessible cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional banking, where a wire transfer can sometimes be reversed, crypto’s decentralized nature makes recovery far trickier. Blockchain transactions are irreversible. Once your Bitcoin reaches a scammer’s wallet, it’s essentially like sending cash through the mail with no return address.

Yet, recovery experts approach this challenge like digital detectives. They use advanced tools such as blockchain forensics software to trace transactions and sometimes even collaborate with law enforcement to freeze stolen funds. Imagine a European trader accidentally sending ETH to the wrong address on Uniswap – a crypto recovery specialist might be able to reconstruct the wallet’s seed phrase to retrieve the funds. Or consider a U.S. investor hit by a SIM swap attack – timely reporting can enable authorities to freeze stolen assets on exchanges like Binance before they disappear entirely.

Reports from the CFTC indicate that over $1 billion in crypto was lost to scams in 2024 alone, yet in select cases, forensic tracing and legal action have successfully recovered up to 20% of stolen funds. Acting quickly is crucial – the first 48 hours after a loss are often the most critical.

Crypto recovery generally falls into three broad categories. First, there’s wallet access recovery, where experts can help you regain control of a hardware wallet or reconstruct lost credentials without compromising security. Second, there’s theft tracing and seizure, where stolen crypto laundered through mixers or obscure platforms is traced to real-world identities. Finally, scam reversal attempts focus on legal avenues, such as civil suits or collaboration with regulators, to reclaim funds from rogue platforms.

No matter your situation – whether you’re a newcomer holding USDT in India or a veteran navigating a pump-and-dump in Canada – understanding these processes helps separate real recovery opportunities from hype.

The Dark Side: Why Most  Crypto Recovery Services  Are Scams

up to 90% of services advertising crypto recovery are scams themselves. Fraudsters prey on desperation. You’ve just lost $5,000 to a fake NFT drop on OpenSea, and a  bitcoin recovery expert  promises to hack the funds back for $500 upfront. You pay, and suddenly, both your original investment and the recovery fee are gone.

These scams often employ fake testimonials, purchased BBB ratings, and press releases claiming  miracle recoveries.  Common red flags include upfront fees, requests for your seed phrase (never share it!), or guarantees of results – impossible in crypto’s decentralized and unpredictable world. Even large, trusted platforms like Blockchain.com explicitly warn that they cannot reverse transactions, and neither can shady  recovery services.

The FTC reports indicate that these  recovery room  scams defrauded victims out of an additional $100 million in 2024 alone. So, as someone who may not have years of crypto experience, how do you distinguish legitimate services from predators? A good rule of thumb is that legitimate firms will never cold-call you, charge fees only after successful recovery, and work with regulators when necessary. Anything guaranteeing results should be treated as a red flag.

How to Spot Legitimate Crypto Recovery Services

Finding a trustworthy crypto recovery company can feel like mining for gold, but there are signals that separate legitimate firms from scams. True recovery experts are transparent about their fees and processes, offer free consultations, and never ask for private keys. Reputable firms like Crypto Asset Recovery work on a contingency basis, taking a percentage only from funds successfully recovered.

Other examples include Dynamis LLP, which combines legal expertise with blockchain forensics to handle cross-border recovery cases without ever asking clients for their private credentials, and Wallet Recovery Services, which specializes in hardware wallet access issues and has over a decade of experience.

For tracing stolen funds across blockchains, CNC Intelligence has recovered millions by tracking transactions and collaborating with law enforcement. Similarly, Rexxfield excels in investigating crypto scams, while Crypto Recovers specializes in reconstructing lost or corrupted seed phrases for wallets, even older apps like Jaxx.

Platforms like BYDFi also play a crucial role for users who want a secure and regulated space to store recovered crypto. With BYDFi, investors can manage, trade, and protect their digital assets while reducing exposure to risky exchanges or phishing attacks.

How to Launch Your Own Crypto Recovery Effort

Recovering lost crypto isn’t about magic; it’s a structured process that requires immediate action. The moment you notice a loss, secure your digital environment. Change all passwords, enable two-factor authentication on every account, and scan your devices for malware. Contact your exchange immediately – they might be able to flag or freeze suspicious transactions.

Document everything. Take screenshots of transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and any scam-related communications. Free blockchain explorers like Etherscan or Blockchair can help trace funds, building a record for potential recovery.

Report incidents to authorities. In the U.S., this means filing with the FBI’s IC3; in the U.K., report to Action Fraud. Providing blockchain data significantly improves the odds of professional recovery.

Engage experts for evaluations. For theft cases, tracing software such as Elliptic can identify where funds have moved. For wallet access issues, specialized recovery tools may reconstruct lost credentials. Legal leverage can also help; if stolen funds are on a centralized exchange, courts can sometimes freeze the assets.

Once recovery is complete, fortify your assets. Use hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor, consider crypto insurance through platforms like Nexus Mutual, and diversify your holdings across multiple chains. For long-term trading and storage, platforms like BYDFi offer added security while keeping your crypto accessible and manageable.

Prevention: Protect Your Crypto Before Disaster Strikes

The best recovery is prevention. Treat your crypto like a vault, not a piggy bank. Hardware wallets, offline backups of seed phrases, and careful URL verification can save you from most scams. Avoid putting all your funds in one chain or platform, and stay educated on red flags like unsolicited investment tips via social media or messaging apps. Tools such as Have I Been Pwned? can alert you to compromised accounts before trouble strikes.

For beginners, start small. Test your trading or transfers with modest amounts to build experience without risking significant losses. Over time, you’ll develop the habits and instincts needed to navigate this complex ecosystem safely.

Realistic Expectations: Can You Actually Get Your Money Back?

Yes, recoveries happen, but they require speed, diligence, and expertise. Take Sarah, a Canadian teacher who lost 2 BTC ($120K) to a fake trading bot in 2024. By partnering with CNC Intelligence, her funds were traced to a Korean exchange, frozen, and 80% recovered through legal action. Mike, a U.S. freelancer, lost ETH in a DeFi rug pull; Crypto Recovers reconstructed his corrupted seed, restoring $15K in just a few weeks.

These examples are not anomalies. Swift, informed action can yield partial or full recovery in 15-25% of cases. Your story could be next, especially when you combine vigilance with professional support.

Final Verdict: Take Control of Your Crypto Fate

Losing crypto hurts – it’s not just money, it’s trust in a system you believed in. But legitimate crypto recovery services, paired with regulated platforms like BYDFi, can bridge the gap between loss and recovery. If you’re asking “what is crypto recovery?” or hunting for trustworthy services, start with a free consultation. No hype, no upfront fees, just clarity and a chance to reclaim what’s rightfully yours.

To start your altcoin journey on a platform that offers deep liquidity and a wide variety of trading pairs, you need a partner you can trust. Join BYDFi today to explore the most exciting assets in the crypto market.

To track crypto whales, you use specialized on-chain analysis tools. These platforms monitor the public ledger in real-time and alert you to unusually large transactions. The most famous tool for this is Whale Alert, a service that automatically posts alerts about large crypto movements on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

Why Should You Bother Tracking Whales?

Before we get into the "how," let's cover the "why." Tracking whale movements can give you clues about potential market shifts:

• Gauging Sentiment: If you see multiple whales suddenly moving their assets off exchanges into cold storage, it can be a bullish signal, suggesting they are accumulating for the long term.
• Spotting Potential Sell-Offs: Conversely, if a large number of dormant coins suddenly move onto an exchange, it might signal that a whale is preparing to sell, which could be a bearish sign.
• Confirming a Trend: Whale activity can sometimes confirm a trend you've already identified through other types of analysis.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Tracking Whale Activity

Ready to become a whale watcher? Here’s a simple process to get started.

Step 1: Follow a Real-Time Alert Service

The easiest way to start is by following a free, automated service.

• Whale Alert (@whale_alert on X): This is non-negotiable for anyone interested in whale activity. It provides real-time alerts on large transactions across multiple blockchains.

Step 2: Use a Block Explorer to Investigate

When you see an interesting alert, don't just take it at face value. A block explorer (like Blockchain.com for Bitcoin or Etherscan for Ethereum) allows you to be a detective. You can click on the wallet addresses from the alert to see:

• Their transaction history.
• How long they've held the assets.
• What other assets they hold.
  

This helps you distinguish between an exchange's internal wallet transfer and a genuine whale moving their personal funds.

Step 3: Learn to Interpret the Data

This is the most important skill. Here are the two most common patterns to look for:

• Whale to Exchange: A whale is moving crypto onto a trading platform. Potential Intent: To sell.
• Exchange to Whale: A whale is moving crypto off a trading platform. Potential Intent: To hold for the long term (HODL).

A Crucial Word of Warning

While tracking whales is a powerful tool, it is not a perfect predictor.

• Correlation is not causation. A whale moving funds doesn't guarantee a price move.
• You don't know their full strategy. They could be hedging, rebalancing, or  simply moving funds for security.
• Never blindly copy a whale's trade. Use their activity as one data point among many in your own research.

Tracking whales is an advanced tactic that builds on a foundational understanding of how crypto markets work.

[To learn the basics, read our full guide: What Is a Crypto Whale and Who Are the Biggest Players?]

When your analysis gives you a signal, you need a platform that lets you act on it quickly. Explore the deep liquidity and advanced trading tools on BYDFi to put your insights into action.

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost explained that falling open interest typically indicates that traders are closing leveraged positions, either voluntarily or through liquidations. This helps eliminate unstable leverage that can amplify volatility and trigger sharp market crashes.

Historically, similar drops in open interest have coincided with major local bottoms in Bitcoin’s price cycle. By flushing out overextended positions, the market effectively resets itself, creating a healthier base for future upward movement. However, Darkfost cautioned that if Bitcoin were to slide decisively into a prolonged bear market, open interest could decline further, signaling a deeper correction phase.

Bitcoin open interest represents the total value of unsettled derivatives contracts across futures and options markets. When this figure falls, it generally means fewer traders are using borrowed funds, lowering the risk of cascading liquidations like those seen during sudden market crashes earlier this cycle.

From Speculative Frenzy to Market Reset

The current contraction follows an intense period of derivatives-driven speculation throughout 2025. During that rally, Bitcoin open interest surged to record levels, exceeding $15 billion in early October. For comparison, during the peak of the 2021 bull market, open interest on major exchanges such as Binance topped out at around $5.7 billion.

This means derivatives exposure nearly tripled compared to the previous cycle, underscoring how overheated the market had become. The recent pullback, therefore, is viewed by many analysts as a necessary correction rather than a sign of structural weakness.

Price Strength With Falling Open Interest Sends a Bullish Signal

One of the more constructive signals emerging from current data is that Bitcoin prices have continued to rise even as open interest declines. Since the start of the year, BTC has gained close to 10%, suggesting that the rally is being driven more by spot market demand than by excessive leverage.

When prices rise while open interest falls, it often indicates that short sellers are being forced out of the market. As traders who bet against Bitcoin close their positions at a loss, selling pressure diminishes. This dynamic can contribute to a short squeeze effect, reinforcing upward momentum and making price advances more resilient.

Such conditions are often considered healthier than rallies fueled purely by leveraged speculation, which tend to be fragile and prone to abrupt reversals.

Derivatives Activity Remains Below Full Bull Market Conditions

Despite the improving market structure, derivatives data suggests that Bitcoin has not yet entered a fully bullish phase. Aggregate open interest across all exchanges currently stands at approximately $65 billion, down from more than $90 billion in early October, according to CoinGlass data.

Options markets reveal a cautiously optimistic outlook. On Deribit, the $100,000 strike price currently holds the largest concentration of open interest, with more call options than puts. This indicates that many traders are positioning for higher prices over the medium term.

However, derivatives analytics firm Greeks Live noted that current trading behavior appears reactive rather than conviction-driven. In their assessment, the market has not yet transitioned into a structurally bullish regime, and longer-term sentiment remains mixed.

Trading Bitcoin Derivatives on BYDFi

As traders navigate this evolving market environment, platforms like BYDFi have gained attention for offering advanced derivatives tools alongside strong risk management features. BYDFi provides access to Bitcoin futures, perpetual contracts, and spot trading, catering to both professional traders and newcomers seeking exposure with controlled leverage.

With growing emphasis on responsible trading and capital efficiency, exchanges that prioritize transparency, liquidity, and user protection are becoming increasingly relevant as the market matures.

Outlook: Reset Today, Opportunity Tomorrow

The sharp decline in Bitcoin open interest marks a critical transition point for the market. While uncertainty remains, the reduction in leverage has historically been a precursor to more stable and sustainable uptrends. If spot demand continues to strengthen and macro conditions remain supportive, Bitcoin could be positioned for a renewed bullish phase built on a healthier foundation.

For now, analysts agree on one point: the excesses of the previous speculative wave have largely been flushed out, and the next major move is more likely to be shaped by genuine demand rather than leverage-fueled hype.