Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline after reaching an all-time high of over $126,000 in early October, dropping back toward the $100,000 level and briefly entering bear-market territory [1][2] Group 1: Reasons for Bitcoin's Price Decline - Initial investor concerns attributed the price drop to fewer expected Federal Reserve rate cuts; however, Citigroup analysts suggest that the decline is primarily linked to falling liquidity in the US financial system [2][3] - Key factors influencing liquidity include bank reserves held at the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury's General Account (TGA), which typically move in opposite directions; as the TGA increased this year, bank reserves decreased [4][14] - Bitcoin is particularly sensitive to liquidity changes, with analysts noting that while falling reserves usually impact equities negatively, Bitcoin may react more strongly due to its liquidity sensitivity [6][14] Group 2: Future Outlook for Bitcoin - Despite the recent downturn, Citigroup remains optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term prospects, expecting liquidity pressures to ease as the Federal Reserve signals a halt to tapering its balance sheet in December [8][10] - The TGA has been replenished to over $940 billion as of November 5, which Citigroup considers a sufficient level, indicating potential stabilization in liquidity conditions [9][10] - Citigroup has set a 12-month price target of $181,000 for Bitcoin, driven by its increasing status as a store of value and the ongoing "digital gold" narrative [11][13]