I have no conclusive evidence of course, but the volume of the dips on the way up from $14 to now are significantly(several times) smaller than those at $2-$4, $7.22 and $15.4, if the driving force behind the dips is rational people who bought at low prices taking profits, there doesn't seem to be any reason why they should sell more at low prices, and less at high prices. So my guess is that most of those who participated in the selloff actually bought at prices close to then current prices, as the price went up, these small-time buyers were able to buy less and less, and sell less and less, with most of the coins held either by bulls with strong convictions since the low price or people with deep pockets, thus the smaller downward volume. that's what I would call "elimination of the weaker hands".
Can be, but you can also measure volume in USD, in which case it is now at ATH.
IF I were a large early hand, say starting with 25 000 BTC in January 2011, I would have 2 options:
- Gradual selling to the strength in order to diversify and/or pay for living
- Strategic position to ripple out at certain time/price intervals
The choice would be according to my fiat wealth. If BTC is my only asset, I would sell parts of it when I have a chance. If I have $1 million other assets, I would play strategic, determined to be one of the top players in the coming cryptocurrency world, perhaps acquiring more in dips.
NOW, the former is a weak hand, because he has no intention to ever buy. The only question is when to sell.
The latter is a strong hand. He has no intention to sell except when he feels the greater good (eg. bitcoin adaptation or orderly price appreciation) requires it. He may even buy, and can buy, significant volumes if that is required.
I feel that there has been rather many opportunities for weak hands to sell during the runup. This I why I believe now is the time for strong hands to terminate the upleg, for the greater good (also making fiat in the progress that can be deployed back later or used for other purposes during the following months). It is healthy that we do not go into extreme to a bubble.
I tend to think, weak hands alone cannot yet make the price crash. The strong ones need to be willing to sell also. I think they should, even if they only profit from $40->$30, stabilising the value of bitcoin around the previous ATH is a service to all. After 2 months we can start a new, healthy rise where everybody smiles.