North Carolina (NC) representative Neal Jackson introduced the North Carolina Digital Asset Freedom Act on April 10. The bill proposes that qualifying “digital assets” be accepted as a legally recognized form of payment and for taxes.

Although the language of the bill does not specifically mention Bitcoin (BTC), there are several provisions laid out that make BTC uniquely qualified under the bill’s definition of a “digital asset.”

These stipulations include a minimum market capitalization of $750 billion and a daily trading volume of over $10 billion, a market history of 10 years or more, proven censorship resistance, proof-of-work consensus, lack of a central authority, 99.98% or more network uptime, and a maximum supply cap. The bill read:

“The General Assembly further finds that decentralized digital assets, which are not governed by any central entity or foundation, align with the economic principles of limited, noninflationary money and are capable of ensuring the security and integrity of transactions.”

Jackson’s bill is merely the latest in state-led Bitcoin strategic reserve legislation in the United States amid inflation concerns, high US federal debt and a depreciating currency.

NC Digital Asset Freedom Act. Source: North Carolina Legislature

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North Carolina takes a firm stance against CBDCs

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed a bill banning a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in July 2024. At the time, Cooper characterized the bill as “premature, vague, and reactionary” to threats that have not yet materialized.

In August 2024, the North Carolina House of Representatives overrode Cooper’s veto in a definitive and bipartisan 73-41 vote.

The North Carolina Senate followed suit by overriding Cooper’s veto in a 27-17 vote and passed the anti-CBDC legislation into law in September 2024.

North Carolina’s anti-CBDC legislation. Source: North Carolina Legislature

Dan Spuller, the head of industry affairs at crypto advocacy organization the Blockchain Association, applauded the action taken by NC lawmakers to push back against the tide of CBDCs.

“This bill should have never been vetoed, and Governor Cooper blew an opportunity to send a strong message to the Federal Reserve that NC stands united against CBDCs,” Spuller wrote in a Sept. 9 X post.

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Bitcoin’s (BTC) four-year cycle, anchored around its halving events, is widely recognized as a key factor in BTC’s year-over-year price growth. Within this larger framework, traders have come to expect distinct phases: accumulation, parabolic rallies, and eventual crashes.

Throughout the four-year period, shorter-duration cycles also emerge, often driven by shifts in market sentiment and the behavior of long- and short-term holders. These cycles, shaped by the psychological patterns of market participants, can provide insights into Bitcoin’s next moves.

Bitcoin whales eat as markets retreat

Long-term Bitcoin holders — those holding for three to five years — are often considered the most seasoned participants. Typically wealthier and more experienced, they can weather extended bear markets and tend to sell near local tops. 

According to recent data from Glassnode, long-term holders distributed over 2 million BTC in two distinct waves during the current cycle. Both waves were followed by strong reaccumulation, which helped absorb sell-side pressure and contributed to a more stable price structure. Currently, long-term Bitcoin holders are in the new accumulation period. Since mid-February, this cohort’s wealth increased sharply by almost 363,000 BTC.

Total BTC supply held by long-term holders. Source: Glassnode

Another cohort of Bitcoin holders often seen as more seasoned than the average market participant are whales—addresses holding over 1,000 BTC. Many of them are also long-term holders. At the top of this group are the mega-whales holding more than 10,000 BTC. Currently, there are 93 such addresses, according to BitInfoCharts, and their recent activity points to ongoing accumulation.

Glassnode data shows that large whales briefly reached a perfect accumulation score (~1.0) in early April, indicating intense buying over a 15-day period. The score has since eased to ~0.65 but still reflects consistent accumulation. These large holders appear to be buying from smaller cohorts—specifically wallets with less than 1 BTC and those with under 100 BTC—whose accumulation scores have dipped toward 0.1–0.2. 

This divergence signals growing distribution from retail to large holders and marks potential for future price support (whales tend to hold long-time). Oftentimes, it also precedes bullish periods.

The last time mega-whales hit a perfect accumulation score was in August 2024, when Bitcoin was trading near $60,000. Two months later, BTC raced to $108,000.

BTC trend accumulation score by cohort. Source: Glassnode

Short-term holders are heavily impacted by market sentiment

Short-term holders, usually defined as those holding BTC for 3 to 6 months, behave differently. They’re more prone to selling during corrections or periods of uncertainty. 

This behavior also follows a pattern. Glassnode data shows that spending levels tend to rise and fall approximately every 8 to 12 months. 

Currently, short-term holders’ spending activity is at a historically low point despite the turbulent macro environment. This suggests that so far, many newer Bitcoin buyers are choosing to hold rather than panic-sell. However, if the Bitcoin price drops further, short-term holders may be the first to sell, potentially accelerating the decline.

BTC short-term holders’ spending activity. Source: Glassnode

Markets are driven by people. Emotions like fear, greed, denial, and euphoria don’t just influence individual decisions — they shape entire market moves. This is why we often see familiar patterns: bubbles inflate as greed takes hold, then collapse under the weight of panic selling. 

CoinMarketCap’s Fear & Greed Index illustrates this rhythm well. This metric, based on several market indicators, typically cycles every 3 to 5 months, swinging from neutral to either greed or fear.

Since February, market sentiment has remained in the fear and extreme fear territory, now worsened by US President Donald Trump’s trade war and the collapse in global stock market prices. However, human psychology is cyclical, and the market might see a potential return to a “neutral” sentiment within the next 1-3 months.

Fear & Greed Index chart. Source: CoinMarketCap

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of market cycles is how they can become self-fulfilling. When enough people believe in a pattern, they start acting on it, taking profits at expected peaks and buying dips at expected bottoms. This collective behavior reinforces the cycle and adds to its persistence.

Bitcoin is a prime example. Its cycles may not run on precise schedules, but they rhyme consistently enough to shape expectations — and, in turn, influence reality.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Escalating geopolitical tensions threaten to balkanize blockchain networks and restrict users’ access, crypto executives told Cointelegraph. 

On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced a pause in the rollout of tariffs imposed on certain countries — but the prospect of a global trade war still looms, especially because Trump still wants to charge a 125% levy on Chinese imports. 

Industry executives said they fear a litany of potential consequences if tensions worsen, including disruptions to blockchain networks’ physical infrastructure, regulatory fragmentation, and censorship. 

“Aggressive tariffs and retaliatory trade policies could create obstacles for node operators, validators, and other core participants in blockchain networks,” Nicholas Roberts-Huntley, CEO of Concrete & Glow Finance, told Cointelegraph. 

“In moments of global uncertainty, the infrastructure supporting crypto, not just the assets themselves, can become collateral damage.”

According to data from CoinMarketCap, cryptocurrency’s total market capitalization dropped approximately 4% on April 10 as traders weighed conflicting messages from the White House on tariffs amid a backdrop of macroeconomic unease. 

Crypto’s market cap retraced on April 10. Source: CoinMarketCap

Related: Trade tensions to speed institutional crypto adoption — Execs

Bitcoin’s vulnerabilities

Bitcoin (BTC) is especially vulnerable to a trade war since the network depends on specialized hardware for Bitcoin mining, such as the ASIC chips used to solve the network’s cryptographic proofs. 

“Tariffs disrupt established ASIC supply chains,” David Siemer, CEO of Wave Digital Assets, told Cointelegraph. Chinese manufacturers such as Bitmain are key suppliers for miners.

However, “the greater threat is the erosion of blockchain’s core value proposition—its global, permissionless infrastructure,” Siemer said. This could be especially problematic for everyday crypto holders. 

“If global trade breaks down and capital controls tighten, it may become harder for citizens in restrictive countries to acquire bitcoin,” said Joe Kelly, CEO of Unchained. “Governments could crack down on exchanges and on-ramps, making accumulation and usage more difficult,” Kelly added.

Bitcoin’s performance versus stocks. Source: 21Shares

Ironically, these types of fears also underscore the importance of cryptocurrencies and decentralized blockchain networks, the executives said. 

Bitcoin has already shown “signs of resilience” amid the market turbulence, highlighting the coin’s role in hedging against geopolitical risks. 

“While the environment is challenging, it also creates an opening for crypto to prove its long-term value and utility on the global stage,” noted Fireblocks’ executive Neil Chopra.

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