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Bitcoin bulls look to push price above $45K to validate bullish trend reversal

Bitcoin reclaims support at $44,000, prompting some analysts to suggest closing out longs while looking for a close above $45,000.

The mood across the cryptocurrency ecosystem has shifted to cautious optimism on Feb. 7, as Bitcoin (BTC) bulls managed to bid its price back above support at $44,000 with the help of several positive developments, including the announcement that “Big Four” auditor KPMG has added BTC and Ether (ETH) to its corporate treasury. 

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows that, after hovering around $42,500 during the early morning on Feb. 7, a midday wave of buying lifted the BTC price to a high of $44,500 as short traders scrambled to close their positions.

BTC/USDT 1-day chart. Source: TradingView

Here’s a look at what several analysts are saying about Feb. 7’s move from Bitcoin and what could possibly come next as traders look to capitalize on the sudden spike in price and momentum.

“Good spot to close longs out”

The sudden move up in BTC has led to a plethora of up-only bullish proclamations by crypto holders, while more seasoned traders, including pseudonymous Twitter user Pentoshi, are using this opportunity to secure some profits and reposition themselves for what comes next.

BTC/USD 4-hour chart. Source: Twitter

Pentoshi said:

“Taking the last highs now. Looking for one last spike up but $44,000–$46,300. In my opinion, good spot to close longs out and re-evaluate.”

Traders remain bearish on BTC

Insight into how active traders are perceiving this latest BTC price move was provided by Bitcoin analyst and Twitter user Allen Au, who posted the following graphic outlining how the futures markets were impacted by Feb. 7’s price action.

Total liquidations and perpetual futures funding rates. Source: Twitter

As shown in the graphic, $71 million in Bitcoin shorts were liquidated in the move to go along with a decrease in open interest, which Au suggested is a “short squeeze” that “could continue to fuel a price rise.” He further explained:

“Perpetual futures funding rates are negative despite BTC breaking above $44K. Traders are still bearish about BTC.”

Au highlighted the next major resistance levels for Bitcon at $44,500, $46,500 and $47,500.

Related: Global crypto adoption could 'soon hit a hyper-inflection point': Wells Fargo report

$45,000 signals a possible trend reversal

A look at the long-term price action for Bitcoin was provided by crypto analyst and pseudonymous Twitter user Sheldon the Sniper, who posted the following chart showing that BTC has climbed back into the upward trend it's been on since late 2020.

BTC/USDT 1-day chart. Source: Twitter

Sheldon said:

“$45,000 will give us the first major higher high and will be a great indication of possible trend reversal.”

A slightly different perspective of the long-term BTC price action was offered by crypto analyst and pseudonymous Twitter user TechDev, who posted the following chart and suggested that “Bitcoin has been correcting/consolidating for nearly a year.”

BTC/USD 1-month chart. Source: Twitter

TechDev explained:

“Likely in a running flat, which could turn into a running triangle. The next impulse is poised to be a big one.”

The overall cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $2.024 trillion and Bitcoin’s dominance rate is 41.5%, according to CoinMarketCap.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should conduct your own research when making a decision.

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KPMG in Canada adds BTC and ETH to its treasury

In an inflationary environment, assets like Bitcoin are becoming more attractive to corporations looking to diversify their cash holdings.

Big Four auditor KPMG’s Canadian operation has officially added Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) to its corporate treasury, joining other major companies in converting a portion of its fiat holdings into digital assets. 

The decision to add Bitcoin and Ether to its balance sheet reflects KPMG Canada’s belief that cryptocurrencies are a “maturing asset class,” says Benjie Thomas, a managing partner for the firm. KPMG in Canada is following in the footsteps of hedge funds, family offices and pension funds in gaining exposure to crypto.

In addition to its newly acquired BTC and ETH holdings, KPMG in Canada said it also purchased carbon offsets as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) mandate.

The company's treasury policy is overseen by a governance committee that includes stakeholders from several divisions, including finance, risk management and tax. KPMG said it "completed a rigorous risk assessment," including evaluating tax implications, before deciding to add digital assets to its holdings.

KPMG dipped its toes in the crypto sector as far back as 2020 when the firm unveiled a blockchain-based Climate Accounting Infrastructure Solution. As Cointelegraph reported at the time, the new initiative was designed to assist companies in meeting their ESG targets.

Several major corporations have sought exposure to crypto over the past year in an effort to diversify their holdings and hedge against inflation. The most famous example is business intelligence firm MicroStrategy, which has adopted a full-on Bitcoin standard by converting all of its cash reserves into BTC and even raising debt to fund additional purchases.

Related: MicroStrategy buys the dip by purchasing 660 Bitcoin for $25M

Meanwhile, electric vehicle maker Tesla was holding nearly $2 billion worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet at the end of 2021, according to official records that were released on Monday. Forty publicly-listed companies currently hold BTC, according to Bitcoin Treasuries.

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Crypto and blockchain investments have already doubled 2020: KPMG report

Investors now have a better understanding not only about crypto assets but also the operational and procedural side of crypto, a new report states.

Crypto and blockchain investments continue to grow thanks to the ever-rising investor interest, according to a new report from Big Four accounting firm KPMG.

Titled “Pulse of Fintech H1 2021,” the study covers global investment activities in different financial technology verticals for the first half of the year. It details 2,456 investment deals worth $98 billion made between January and June. One of the top fintech trends for 2021 is the explosive growth in the crypto and blockchain investments, the report reads.

The first six months of 2021 saw 548 investments activities, including venture capitals, private equities, and mergers and acquisitions in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. The total value of investments during the first half of the year is $8.7 billion, already doubling the total value of 580 investment deals made during 2020, worth $4.3 billion.

Companies that raised more than $100 million in funding rounds, including BlockFi, Paxos, Blockchain.com and Bitso, led the growth in investment volume.

“Cryptocurrency and blockchain are exploding globally,” said KPMG Global Fintech co-leader Anton Ruddenklau, adding:

“There’s so much happening in the space right now, between the eCNY project running in China, Facebook’s Diem, a number of ecosystem initiatives — not to mention all the different trading platforms raising money. Digital currencies and virtual assets are a big, big topic of conversation. I think for the rest of this year at least, crypto will be a very hot ticket for investors.”

The study points to rising investor awareness as a key driver of the growth in investment. Investors now have “a better understanding not only about crypto assets, but also the operational and procedural side of crypto — from custody and storage to storekeeping and the competitiveness and maturity of service providers.”

Related: What bear market? Investors throw record cash behind blockchain firms in 2021

KPMG predicted in the report that the cryptocurrency space would continue to mature while the distinction between cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies would get stronger. Nonfungible tokens (NFTs), a key focus during the first half, would contribute to the evolution of crypto exchanges in the form of NFT-focused trading platforms.

The report expects a further focus on regulatory frameworks for the rest of the year. One specific case, India, would impact the whole ecosystem should it regulate cryptocurrencies as an asset class in the second half of 2021.

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Aussie state government blockchain platform may prevent a tower block inferno

The platform will track the material resources, subcontractors and construction process used to build Aussie homes.

Big Four accounting firm KPMG has partnered with Australian property developers Mirvac to develop a blockchain-based platform to track the provenance of buildings. 

The platform was commissioned by the New South Wales state government.

Taking inspiration from supply chain initiatives to track beef products using blockchain, the platform will allow property insurers, investors, and owners to access verified data on the resources, subcontractors and building processes employed during a property’s construction.

A working model is slated to go live within six months and will be piloted on existing buildings that are undergoing rectification amid the recent flammable cladding crisis, in addition to an upcoming development from Mirvac.

The integrity and trustworthiness of Australian property construction has emerged as a major concern after the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster in the United Kingdom prompted a national investigation into the safety of materials used in Australian buildings during 2019.

The subsequent report estimated that it would cost roughly $4.2 billion to fix thousands of homes that are fitted with dangerously combustible cladding. As of February 2021, it was estimated that just 11 of the more than 3,400 affected buildings had been fixed.

William Payne, Mirvac’s chief digital officer, emphasized the challenge faced by consumers seeking to access certification and detailed records about the safety of the materials and processes used while building a property:

“The more insight you have into what has gone into a building and understanding not just the physical materials but also who has been involved in installing them and so on, the more confidence that all parties will have in the quality of the building.”

Related: Senator warns lack of regulations could harm Australian crypto innovation

Australia has recently emerged as a leader for blockchain provenance projects, with the federal government announcing two grants of $3 million each to blockchain teams targeting minerals certification and excise taxation solutions.

At the start of 2020, the government also unveiled its five-year National Blockchain Roadmap, citing supply chain tracking for agriculture and wine exports alongside certifying educational qualifications and identity verification for the finance industry as the three most promising use cases for DLT.

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