Definition ∞ “Price below cost” indicates a situation where the market value of a digital asset falls below the average expenditure incurred to produce or acquire it. This condition suggests that miners or holders are operating at a loss, potentially leading to reduced participation or forced selling. It often serves as a strong bearish signal, reflecting severe market pressure or oversupply. This metric is particularly relevant for proof-of-work cryptocurrencies where mining costs are a significant factor.
Context ∞ The concept of “price below cost” frequently arises in analyses of cryptocurrency mining profitability and the financial health of miners. Discussions often address the implications for network security, as unprofitable mining operations may cease, reducing hash rate. A critical future development involves monitoring energy costs and hardware efficiency, which directly impact the cost of production and thus the threshold for this condition. This provides important context for understanding supply-side pressures in digital asset markets.
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