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The crypto mining sector experienced a tumultuous first half of March despite Bitcoin itself reaching new all-time price highs, according to a JPMorgan Chase report.
What Happened: The report, led by analysts Reginald L. Smith and Charles Pearce, detailed complexities of the Bitcoin BTC/USD mining market and highlighted the improved profitability for miners.
Bitcoin’s average price soared to $67,500 in the early weeks of March, marking a 37% increase from February.
This surge in price significantly enhanced mining profitability, as the cost of mining did not rise at the same pace as Bitcoin’s value, according to the report.
The combined market capitalization of fourteen major U.S.-listed Bitcoin mining firms saw a 12% decline, totaling $17 billion by mid-March.
The report notes an all-time high network hashrate of 600 exahash per second, indicating heightened competition and mining difficulty.
Also Read: Bitcoin Investors Bet Big on 100K-150K BTC But Fall Out Of Love With This Major Coin
This increase, however, was modest compared to the rise in Bitcoin’s price, suggesting that miners enjoyed a more profitable margin during this period.
Stock performances of these mining companies varied significantly, with Bitdeer BTDR and Marathon Digital MARA highlighted as the best and worst performers, respectively.
Bitdeer’s stock rose by 21%, while Marathon’s fell by 25%.
This divergence underscores the volatile nature of mining stocks, which can be influenced by a range of factors beyond Bitcoin’s market price.
What’s Next: Looking ahead, JPMorgan’s analysis suggests that the recent pullback in mining stocks may present a buying opportunity for investors, particularly in companies like IREN IREN, which are seen as undervalued.
The report also points to the upcoming Bitcoin halving event in April 2024, which will reduce the block reward for miners, as a critical factor that could impact the mining landscape and profitability.
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Image: Shutterstock
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