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Decoding Bitcoin Halvings: A Historical Look at Price Patterns

Published On May 13, 2024 By ThinkMarkets
Decoding Bitcoin Halvings: A Historical Look at Price Patterns

Table of contents

  • First Halving (November 2012) 
  • Second Halving (July 2016) 
  • Third Halving (May 2020) 

The Bitcoin Halving event is a scheduled protocol that occurs every 4 years in the Bitcoin blockchain system that cuts a miner’s rewards by half, effectively controlling the supply inflation. 

 

The first three Bitcoin Halving events had a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market’s history. If you’re looking to trade the 2024 Bitcoin Halving event, it’s crucial to look at historical data and identify any similar patterns. 

 
Halving Event Date Block Reward Before Halving Block Reward After Halving
1st Halving November 2012 50 BTC 25 BTC
2nd Halving July 2016 25 BTC 12.5 BTC
3rd Halving May 2020 12.5 BTC 6.25 BTC
 

Here, we’ve outlined the historical price movements of Bitcoin. We’ll be looking at the average closing price of BTC 3 months before and after the Halving event. 

 

All data is from StatMuse. 

 

First Halving (November 2012) 

 

Leading up to the first Halving, Bitcoin's price saw gradual increases. In the months that followed, the price experienced significant growth, marking the beginning of a prolonged bullish phase. 

 
August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013
$10.91 $12.36 $11.77 $12.45 $13.33 $15.38 $25.58
 

The initial Halving event set a precedent for how Bitcoin's price could respond to reduced block rewards. In the short term, volatility was evident, with price fluctuations leading up to and immediately following the Halving. 

 

However, the long-term effect was a substantial increase in Bitcoin's price. This trend was attributed to the reduced rate of new Bitcoin entering the market, creating a scarcity that, alongside growing awareness and adoption of Bitcoin, drove prices up significantly over the following year. 

 

Second Halving (July 2016) 

 

The period before the second Halving was characterised by steady growth. Post-Halving, the price initially remained stable before embarking on a notable upward trajectory, eventually leading to unprecedented highs in late 2017. 

 
April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016
$448.32 $461.95 $642.87 $661.36 $579.59 $605.85 $700.97
 

Similar to the first, the second Halving event was followed by a period of short-term volatility. However, the long-term trend was overwhelmingly positive. The year following the Halving saw a remarkable bull run, culminating in a then-all-time high towards the end of 2017 ($4,006.03).  

 

This surge was fueled by increased investor interest, the growing utility of Bitcoin, and broader market speculation. 

 

Third Halving (May 2020) 

 

Prior to the third Halving, Bitcoin's price was recovering from a market downturn, presumably due to the COVID lockdowns. Following the Halving, the price stabilised and then surged, contributing to a bull market that peaked in early 2021. 

 
February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020
$9,663.64 $6,884.03 $7,240.84 $9,268.51 $9,501.01 $9,501.01 $11,653.75
 

The most recent Halving event occurred during a year marked by global economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 virus. Despite initial concerns, Bitcoin's price not only remained stable but also began a significant upward trend in the months following the Halving. 

 

This growth continued into 2021, reaching new all-time highs, with BTC peaking at $69k. The third Halving solidified the notion that such events are a precursor to bullish market cycles for Bitcoin, driven by a combination of scarcity and increasing demand. 

 

These analyses highlight a pattern of increasing interest and investment in Bitcoin around Halving events, often resulting in significant price movements. Market sentiment and investor behaviour play critical roles in shaping the price movements of Bitcoin around Halving events. 

 

Each Halving has been accompanied by a mix of speculative anticipation and strategic investment, influencing short-term volatility and long-term price trends. 

 

In conclusion, the last three Halving events have demonstrated a pattern of volatility followed by a long-term bullish trend. It’s essential that traders looking to follow the Bitcoin Halving event do extensive market research before opening short or long positions. 

 

Trade the 2024 Bitcoin Halving Event with a safe and secure broker now. Experience 24/7 trading, instant execution, and high leverage. Portal.thinkmarkets.com  

Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices or other information contained on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. ThinkMarkets will not accept liability for any loss or damage including, without limitation, to any loss of profit which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information.

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