The Dead Cat Bounce meaning in cryptocurrency and blockchain

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In the cryptocurrency and blockchain world, a wide array of terms and jargon have emerged to describe various market trends, technologies, and investment strategies. One such term is “dead cat bounce,” initially used in traditional financial markets to describe a specific commodity or stock price pattern. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dead cat bounce phenomenon in the context of cryptocurrency and blockchain, its implications for traders and investors, and how to recognize and respond to it.

The Origin of Dead Cat Bounce

The term “dead cat bounce” is derived from the old saying, “Even a dead cat will bounce if it falls from a great height.” Although a morbid metaphor, it is meant to capture the idea that even a worthless or dying asset can experience a temporary recovery or rally. First used in stock markets, the dead cat bounce concept has now made its way into the cryptocurrency world, where it is applied to the price fluctuations of digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins.

Understanding the Dead Cat Bounce in Cryptocurrency

A ‘dead cat bounce’ in the crypto market occurs when the price action of a digital asset experiences a temporary recovery after a significant and prolonged decline. This brief market reversal can be misleading for an analyst, as it may lead investors to become bullish, thinking the asset has reached its bottom and is now on the path to recovery. However, the dead cat bounce is typically short-lived, and the asset’s price often resumes its downward trend shortly afterwards.

Three distinct phases characterize the dead cat bounce chart pattern:

1. Steep decline: A significant and prolonged plummet in the price of a cryptocurrency, often driven by negative news, regulatory crackdowns, or other factors that undermine investor confidence in the asset and let investors become bearish.
2. Brief recovery: A temporary increase in the asset’s price, which may be fueled by short-covering, bargain hunting, or an oversold condition in the market. This recovery can create false optimism, leading investors to believe the worst is over.
3. Resumption of the downtrend: The cryptocurrency price continues to decline, often reaching new lows, as the market realizes that the brief recovery was just a dead cat bounce and not a genuine reversal in the asset’s fortunes.

Example of a dead cat bounce

Above is the chart of First Republic Bank. Just before the sharp decline, the price was around 16$ per share (1). The price bottomed out at around 4.50$ per share. Just after the low of 4.50$ (2), the price gains value again to the top at around 6.90$. 

There are multiple reasons why the stock tends to go up after a sudden sharp decline. For one reason, short-term traders see a good opportunity in a short-lived recovery. There is also a more technical explanation. It could be that before the decline, many investors were already shorting the stock. When you go “short”, you are actually loaning stocks from one investor and selling the stocks on the market. When the stock declines in price, you repurchase the stock and gif the loaned stocks back to the loaner. Therefore you made a profit on the price movement. But you have to buy the stock back on the market. While doing so, you drive up the price.

Implications for Investors

The dead cat bounce phenomenon can have significant consequences for investors in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. For those unfamiliar with the concept, the temporary recovery in price may lead to hasty and ill-advised decisions, such as buying into a digital asset at a high price in the hope that it will continue to recover. When the downtrend resumes, these investors may suffer significant losses.

However, more experienced investors who can recognize the signs of a dead cat bounce can potentially use this knowledge to their advantage. For instance, they can implement a short-selling strategy, selling the cryptocurrency at a higher price during the brief recovery. Then they repurchase it at a lower price once the downtrend resumes. This strategy allows them to profit from the falling price of the asset.

Identifying a Dead Cat Bounce Pattern

Identifying a dead cat bounce in the cryptocurrency market can be challenging, as it requires a thorough understanding of market trends, technical analysis, and the factors influencing the price of digital assets. Some key indicators that may suggest a dead cat bounce include:

1. Low trading volume: During a dead cat bounce, the trading volume is often lower than during the initial decline, indicating a lack of genuine buying interest.
2. Overbought technical indicators: Technical indicators, such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), can help identify when an asset is overbought and likely to experience a price reversal.
3. Resistance levels: If the price recovery fails to breach significant resistance levels or Fibonacci retracement levels, it may indicate that the uptrend is not strong enough to sustain itself and a dead cat bounce is underway.
4. Lack of positive news or catalysts: If the price increase is not accompanied by positive news, developments, or catalysts, it may be a sign that the recovery is temporary and driven primarily by technical factors rather than a change in market sentiment.

How to respond effectively to a dead cat bounce?

Investors should consider the following strategies:

1. Stay informed: Keeping up-to-date with news, market analysis, and expert opinions can help investors make better decisions and spot the signs of a dead cat bounce.
2. Use stop-loss orders: Placing these order types at strategic price points can help limit losses if the cryptocurrency’s price resumes its downward trend after a brief recovery.
3. Consider short-selling: As mentioned earlier, experienced investors can use a short position to profit from the dead cat bounce phenomenon. However, it is essential to remember that short-selling carries its own risks and should only be attempted by those with a thorough understanding of the market and the specific asset in question.
4. Diversify investments: Diversifying one’s investment portfolio across different digital assets and sectors can help mitigate the impact of dead cat bounces and other market fluctuations.

Conclusion

The dead cat bounce is a common phenomenon in the cryptocurrency and blockchain world that can have significant implications for investors. By understanding what it is, how to recognize it, and how to respond effectively, investors can potentially minimize losses and profit from this market dynamic. However, it is crucial to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies carries inherent risks. Individuals should always exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and consider their risk tolerance before making investment decisions.