The price of Bitcoin has been relatively stable since the start of April, showing strong efforts to reclaim former highs. In its latest recovery attempt, the premier cryptocurrency finally returned above $80,000 for the first time since early February. Unsurprisingly, a relevant group of network participants, known as Bitcoin miners, appears to be taking advantage of the steady rise in BTC’s value over the past few weeks. Interestingly, a continuation of this profit-taking trend could pose an obstacle to the market leader’s recovery. Miners’ Profit-Taking Could Halt BTC’s Recovery In a May 8th post on the X platform, crypto analyst Ali Martinez shared that Bitcoin miners’ behavior has shifted in recent weeks. The latest on-chain data shows that this group of network participants has been booking profits, as the price of BTC steadily climbed to a local high. Related Reading: Analyst Predicts Bitcoin Price Will Top $320,000 After ‘Cleanest Signal’ Emerged Highlighting changes in the Miner Reserves metric, which measures the total Bitcoin held in miner-affiliated addresses, Martinez revealed that about 3,400 BTC have been sent from addresses associated with network validators since April 7. Interestingly, this period has coincided with the coin’s price rising from $72,000 to around $82,790, further supporting the profit-taking hypothesis. The analyst wrote on X: Back then, Bitcoin was trading near $72,000. Through the recent climb toward yesterday’s peak of $82,790, which represents a 15% price increase, miners have been steadily booking profits. On-chain data shows that miners have offloaded approximately 3,400 $BTC during this run, taking advantage of the recent price expansion to cover operational costs or lock in gains at multi-month highs. Typically, falling Miner Reserves indicate that miners are distributing their coin to take profit, often to cover costs. As seen with several firms pivoting toward AI data centers, the profitability of the Bitcoin mining industry has been under significant pressure over the past few years. More pertinently, the latest profit-taking and selling pressure can pose a threat to the ongoing recovery in Bitcoin’s price. The flagship cryptocurrency, which appears to have slowed down over the past day, would need uninterrupted bullish momentum to continue its current upside rally. Bitcoin Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $80,287, reflecting a mere 0.8% leap in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the market leader’s value has risen about 3% over the past seven days. Related Reading: Ethereum Sees Sharp Decline In High-Leverage Long Positions — See What Happens Next Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
The potential quantum threat to Bitcoin by 2030 underscores the urgent need for proactive cryptographic advancements and industry-wide collaboration.
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Bitcoin’s exchange-traded funds closed last week on a rough note — outflows hit $277 million on Thursday, followed by another $145 million on Friday. Yet when the dust settled, the week still ended in positive territory, extending a run that has now lasted six straight weeks. Related Reading: XRP Flashes Historic Rally Signal, Fueling $12 Price Speculation Inflows Total $3.4 Billion Since Early April US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded net inflows every week since April 2, pulling in a combined $3.4 billion over that stretch, according to data from SoSoValue. That makes it the longest consecutive inflow streak in more than nine months — the last time funds saw a run this long was a seven-week period between June 13 and July 18, 2025, which drew in roughly $7.57 billion. The current streak’s best week came in mid-April. For the week of April 17, inflows reached $996 million. The most recent week logged $622 million, while the streak’s weakest showing was its very first — just $22 million for the week of April 2. Last week’s numbers told a story of two halves. Monday and Tuesday alone brought in $532 million and $467 million respectively. Then Wednesday slowed sharply to $46 million, before Thursday and Friday swung into outflow territory, nearly erasing what had been a strong start. Macro Pressure Kept Traders On Edge Reports from Bitunix analysts point to broader market caution ahead of the US April Non-Farm Payrolls report. Consensus estimates called for payroll growth of just 62,000 — a steep drop from the prior reading of 178,000 — which reinforced expectations that the labor market was cooling. An ADP report earlier in the week showing 109,000 jobs added complicated that picture, leaving investors uncertain heading into the data release. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment. Reports indicate that the US and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides were said to be leaving room for negotiations. A partial understanding on maritime issues between the two countries was reportedly reached. Bitcoin slipped below $80,000 on Thursday. Analysts flagged heavy liquidity clustering around the $78,000 level, warning that a break below it could set off cascading liquidations. Dense short positioning between $82,000 and $83,000 kept the market caught between two forces. Related Reading: Altcoins Aren’t Going Anywhere — Even After Brutal Crashes: Arthur Hayes Ether ETFs Bounce Back After Prior Week’s Losses Ether ETFs also returned to positive ground. For the week ending May 8, they posted a little over $70 million in net inflows after recording $82 million in outflows the week before. The recovery followed a strong three-week run from April 10 to April 24, which brought in a combined $618 million, with the week of April 17 alone accounting for $276 million. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin’s brief drop below $80,000 during the last 24 hours has exposed a more fragile market after weeks of gains, but options traders are not yet treating the pullback as the start of a deeper breakdown. According to CryptoSlate data, the retreat erased part of a rally that had carried Bitcoin about 37% higher since […]
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As Bitcoin (BTC) defends a pivotal support level, Tom Lee has called for the end of the crypto winter, setting massive year-end outlooks for the flagship crypto and Ethereum (ETH). Related Reading: DeFi Platform TrustedVolumes Hit By $6.7M Hack As 2026 Exploits Surge Tom Lee Shares $200,000 Bitcoin Target Tom Lee, the chairman of Ethereum’s largest treasury firm, Bitmine Technology, shared bold end-of-year price predictions for the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. During a quick-fire round of questions at Consensus 2026, the executive affirmed that Bitcoin could soar “well past all-time highs” by year’s end, forecasting that its price may trade between $150,000 and $200,000 in late 2026. He also predicted that Ethereum could rally into year-end, potentially reaching new highs between $9,000 and $12,000. Lee said his bullish outlook is based on his belief that the crypto winter is over and that a recovery rally could unfold over the coming months. “Crypto Spring, in our view, has commenced, and like past cycles, investor sentiment and conviction are muted and bearish even as crypto prices strengthen,” he asserted earlier this week, adding that the potential passage, or even failure, of the crypto market structure bill confirms the arrival of crypto spring. The chairman’s bold predictions come as the flagship crypto defends a crucial support zone. Notably, Bitcoin had been trading between $74,000 and $79,000 since mid-April, finally breaking out of this range earlier this week. The flagship crypto soared past the $80,000 resistance on Monday for the first time since January. It then rallied during the first half of the week toward the key $82,500 resistance before rejecting on Thursday. Now, Bitcoin is trading between the $79,000-$80,000 area, which some analysts suggest could make or break BTC’s rally. BTC At Most Crucial Support Rekt Capital highlighted that Bitcoin has successfully held the 21-week EMA, around the $78,000 level. However, he warned that “this move through this resistance area hasn’t been very sustainable thus far, which opens up the possibility for yet another retest of the 21-week EMA going forward.” As a result, BTC needs to successfully retest the 21-week EMA again to avoid being completely rejected from the resistance area, between the 21-week EMA and the 50-week EMA, and dropping into the mid-$70,000s. Meanwhile, market analyst Ali Martinez affirmed that Bitcoin is currently trading around the most important resistance level as the average cost basis of new whales, the entities that bought in the last 155 days, currently sits at $80,300. He explained that “when Bitcoin trades below this average cost basis, these whales are holding at a loss,” which means that new whales will be “incentivized to sell just to break even and avoid further losses” if BTC fails to hold the $80,300 area as support. Related Reading: Solana Eyes New Leg Up After Triangle Breakout – Is $96 The Next Stop? Martinez warned that this panic to exit would create a wave of selling pressure that pushes prices much lower. On the contrary, if the flagship crypto turns this level into support, it’d signal that selling pressure has exhausted. “Once these whales are back in the green, they stop selling and start holding for higher targets, which is exactly how new uptrends begin,” he concluded. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
A 65,900% price surge. That’s what followed the last time XRP touched the trendline it’s sitting on right now — back in 2017, when the token was trading at less than a penny. Related Reading: Bitcoin Eyes $90K As Bears Get Burned Again Amid $30B Open Interest Surge Pattern Repeats At Key Support Market analyst Mikkybull flagged the development this week, pointing to a multi-year ascending parallel channel that has shaped XRP’s price movement since its early days. The channel has three trendlines running in parallel — lower, middle, and upper. XRP has now dropped to the lower trendline for only the third time in its history, a level Mikkybull describes as critical because of what has followed each of the previous two touches. The first came in February 2017, when XRP fell to $0.0050. Within roughly a year, the price climbed to $3.31 — a rise of over 65,000%. The second retest happened in November 2024, when XRP slid toward $0.50. From there, the token rallied to $3.40 by January 2025, a gain of about 500% in three months. Reports indicate that rally was partly driven by optimism surrounding US President Donald Trump’s election victory. $XRP is on a critical level that usually triggers a strong rebound Probably going to $12 the midpoint value pic.twitter.com/scRH3GqAxs — MikybullCrypto (@MikybullCrypto) May 7, 2026 Now XRP sits at approximately $1.38, having slipped from a recent high of $1.4567 following a broader market pullback. Bitcoin, which had briefly reclaimed $82,000, pulled back to around $79,700 in the same period. Altcoins followed. $12 Target Emerges From Channel Math Based on Mikkybull’s chart analysis, a recovery from the current level could send XRP toward $12 — a figure that represents the midpoint value within the ascending channel. That would mark a new all-time high for the asset, surpassing the $3.60 record set in January 2025, and would require a gain of roughly 760% from where XRP trades today. For that move to begin, XRP first needs to break above a descending trendline that has capped its price since January. The token has been trending downward within that structure for months, and Mikkybull says clearing that resistance is the trigger for any meaningful upside. Related Reading: Altcoins Aren’t Going Anywhere — Even After Brutal Crashes: Arthur Hayes A second analyst, Myles G, added weight to the bullish case from a different angle. According to his analysis, XRP has been forming a symmetrical triangle over the course of several months and is approaching a breakout point. He wrote simply that XRP is “about to launch.” Two Analysts, One Directional Call The timing of both analyses is not coincidental. XRP dropped 2.50% on Thursday, May 7 — its steepest single-day fall in nearly three weeks — before steadying near current levels. That dip is what pushed the price back into contact with the lower channel trendline Mikkybull has been tracking. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView
Coinbase revealed during its Q1 2026 earnings call that it purchased $88 million worth of Bitcoin in the first quarter, increasing its corporate reserves to 16,492 BTC. The exchange added 1,103 BTC since its previous disclosure, bringing the total value of its holdings to roughly $1.3 billion at current market prices. The move highlights continued …
The heaviest resistance sitting above Bitcoin’s current price isn’t a round number or a chart pattern — it’s the break-even point of millions of holders who bought in during the past year and are still underwater. Related Reading: Bitcoin Supply Shock: 100,000 BTC Vanish From Exchanges In Under 90 Days One Level Controls The Narrative A CryptoQuant market expert says the “bottom is in” crowd is getting ahead of the data. According to the analyst, Bitcoin must reclaim $88,880 and hold it before any bottom call can be treated as credible. Simply touching that level won’t cut it. The price needs to close above it and stay there — otherwise, the rally is just noise. The reasoning centers on realized price bands, a metric that tracks the average cost basis of different groups of holders. Three cohorts are currently sitting above Bitcoin’s spot price, meaning they bought in at higher levels and are waiting to get back to even. “The bottom is in.” Everyone’s saying it “For the bottom to be confirmed, price needs to clear 88.88K and hold – not wick through, not retest and fail. That puts the most recent cohort back in profit and removes the first layer of sell pressure.” – By @IT_Tech_PL pic.twitter.com/woRJLa6UTs — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) May 7, 2026 The first group — holders from three to six months ago — has a realized price of $88,880. Those who held for 12 to 18 months are sitting at $93,400. The largest and most worrying group, holders from six to 12 months ago, has a cost basis of $111,800 — close to 30% above where Bitcoin was trading when the analysis was published. When Bitcoin climbs back toward those levels, many of those holders are expected to sell. They’re not looking for profit. They just want out. Why The $60,000 Low Sparked Bottom Calls Earlier this year, Bitcoin fell to around $60,000 in February — a drop of roughly 52% from its all-time high of $126,200. Since then, the price has climbed more than 37% without setting a new low. That recovery is what fueled the bottom narrative. With no fresh lows on the chart, many market watchers concluded the worst was behind Bitcoin. The Fear and Greed Index backed up the improving mood. Reports show the index climbed from a near-maximum fear reading of five in February all the way to 47 — a neutral reading that signals the market has stabilized compared to its earlier panic state. Related Reading: XRP Market Now Controlled By Whales? Dominance Reaches 91% On Binance Data Over Sentiment IT Tech’s sharpest point came at the end of the analysis. Bottom calls, the analyst wrote, are narratives. Reclaiming and holding $88,880 is data. At the time of the analysis, Bitcoin was trading near $80,250. That puts the key confirmation level roughly $8,000 away. Until that gap closes — and holds — the analyst says the market structure still favors caution over confidence. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is facing resistance after weeks of upside that carried it significantly above the lows that defined the worst of the correction. The recovery had been building momentum — and today that momentum met a specific kind of obstacle that XWIN Research Japan has analyzed in detail, with findings that change how the decline should be read. Related Reading: Bitcoin Found Support Where Recent Buyers Can’t Afford to Lose: Discover the Mechanics Bitcoin briefly fell below $80,000 today. Ethereum dropped under $2,300. More than $90 billion was erased from the combined crypto market cap from recent highs, with approximately $331 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours — nearly $100 million of that occurring within a single two-hour window. The speed and scale of the move created the kind of alarm that typically accompanies a macro shock. But the macro environment did not produce this decline. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ remained near record highs throughout the same period. Traditional equities did not sell off. Risk appetite in broader markets did not deteriorate. The forces that drove Bitcoin below $80,000 were not external. According to XWIN Research Japan, the decline was driven primarily by internal crypto market structure — specifically the combination of leverage positioning that had accumulated during the recovery and profit realization from holders who had returned to profitability after weeks of recovery. The market did not break because of what was happening outside it. It broke because of what had been building inside it. The Rally Created the Conditions for Its Own Interruption The XWIN Research Japan report identifies the specific mechanism behind the decline with precision. On May 4, Bitcoin profit-taking reached 14,600 BTC in a single day — the highest level since December 2025. The 37% recovery from April lows had returned a significant cohort of investors to profitability, and many of them chose to act on that recovery simultaneously. The Short-Term Holder SOPR reaching 1.016 and remaining above 1.0 since mid-April confirmed the pattern: recent buyers were selling at a profit, and they had been doing so persistently rather than as a one-day event. The behavioral dynamic behind the selling adds the human dimension. Between February and March 2026, many short-term traders were sitting on losses of 20% to 30%. April’s rebound did not just recover prices — it recovered those participants’ financial positions. Historically, that recovery from loss to break-even or profit is one of the most reliable triggers for renewed selling pressure. Participants who endured weeks of losses tend to exit the moment the market gives them the opportunity. The leverage dimension accelerated what profit-taking started. Long liquidations intensified the downside momentum as derivatives positions unwound alongside spot selling, amplifying a move that began with profit realization into something considerably sharper. The constructive element XWIN Research Japan preserves is the exchange inflow data. Large holder deposits remain relatively muted — suggesting the participants with the most coins and the most strategic patience have not yet begun aggressive distribution. That distinction separates a leverage-driven correction from a structural top. Bitcoin is at a genuine crossroads: the data supports either an early-stage bullish recovery with leverage now cleared, or the late phase of a bear market rally approaching its natural exhaustion. Related Reading: XRP’s Biggest Holders Just Stopped Sending Tokens to Exchanges: Last Time Was November 2021 Bitcoin Stalls Below Resistance As Recovery Meets Supply Bitcoin is trading near $80,200 on the daily chart, holding just below a resistance zone that has repeatedly capped upside since the initial breakdown earlier this year. The recovery from the February low near $60,000 remains structurally intact, with price forming a sequence of higher lows and steadily reclaiming short- and mid-term moving averages. The 50-day and 100-day moving averages have both turned upward and are now acting as dynamic support in the $72,000–$75,000 region. This confirms that the trend has shifted from bearish to neutral-to-bullish in the short term. However, the 200-day moving average continues to slope downward above price, reinforcing the $80,000–$82,000 range as a critical supply zone. Related Reading: Bitcoin Reclaims $80K, And $93K Comes Into Focus — Discover The CME Gap Setup Recent price action shows slowing momentum. Candles are compressing beneath resistance, and volume has not expanded meaningfully during the latest push. This suggests that while buyers remain present, they are not yet strong enough to force a decisive breakout. If Bitcoin clears $82,000 with conviction, it would confirm continuation and open the path toward higher levels. If rejection persists, the market is likely to rotate back toward support, with $75,000 as the first level to watch and deeper demand forming closer to $70,000. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin holders are increasingly taking profits after the rally, though a correction may still take time to materialize, CryptoQuant said.
Ethereum is experiencing a notable shift in derivatives positioning as high-leverage long positions decline sharply across the market. The reduction suggests that many overly aggressive bullish trades have either been closed voluntarily or forced out through recent liquidation events. Could Ethereum Be Preparing For A Short Squeeze Next? Crypto investor and data analyst known as CW on X pointed out that Ethereum is going through a significant deleveraging phase as high-leverage long positions continue to decline significantly across the market. At the same time, short positions have increased slightly, indicating that the market is not yet heavily crowded on the bearish side. Related Reading: Ethereum Shows Strength With $1 Billion In Buying Despite Hawkish Fed The overall scale of high-leverage exposure remains relatively low, suggesting reduced systemic risk compared to earlier phases. Furthermore, most of the greedy long positions have already been liquidated, with the next attention now shifting toward short position liquidations. Amid this market phase, Ethereum whales are showing a behavior not seen in over a year, potentially signaling a major shift in market dynamics. An analyst known as Ali Charts has revealed that since October 6, 2025, wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH have undergone a significant regime change in their market behaviour. Before this shift, this cohort was in a steady accumulation regime. Between April and October 6, 2025, their holdings climbed from approximately 12.95 million ETH to nearly 15.95 million ETH. However, that trend has now reversed sharply. Since October 6, holdings for these mid-tier whales have decreased from 15.95 million ETH to roughly 12.52 million ETH, representing a 21.5% decline in their total position. With a sizable amount of supply entering the market through whale distribution, any sustained move toward the $3,000 level may now depend on a fresh wave of institutional or retail demand capable of absorbing that selling pressure. Ethereum Relative Weakness To Bitcoin Ethereum continues to show signs of weakness relative to Bitcoin, with recent market action reinforcing a more fragile short-term structure. Crypto trader KriptoHolder has also noted that selling pressure on ETH has intensified, pushing price action lower toward the $2,273 region. Related Reading: Ethereum Sees First SuperTrend Bullish Flip In Over A Year At the same time, retail traders remain heavily skewed to the long side, with approximately 73.19% positioned bullish, while short holding positions at around 26.80%, reflecting a crowded trade that often becomes vulnerable during downturns. However, the Whales vs Retail Delta currently sits at -22.01, showing that the whale-side continues to apply significant selling pressure. According to KriptoHolder, ETH would likely need to see two major shifts: a reduction in aggressive whale-side selling and the return of meaningful spot market buying support, before a stronger rebound to the upside becomes possible. For now, ETH appears stuck in a more vulnerable position, with market internals showing less resilience than BTC. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin’s climb back above $82,000 has led to bullish conviction among investors. However, an interesting technical analysis suggests that the rally may still be part of a corrective structure, not the start of a clean impulsive breakout. That difference is important, because the analysis shows that Bitcoin is now approaching a resistance band that could decide whether the rebound continues or turns into another trap for late buyers. Bitcoin Heads Into Major Resistance Zone The BTC price climbed back above $80,000 this week, with the move supported by strong inflows into Spot Bitcoin ETFs. However, crypto analyst Tara is not convinced this bullish move tells the full story. Related Reading: What The Aggressive Profit-Taking By Bitcoin Investors Means For The Price Tara’s outlook is built around Bitcoin’s reaction to the macro 0.382 retracement level. According to the analyst, the Bitcoin price broke above this level without first establishing stronger support below it. That has created a setup where the price action can still push higher, but the move may be vulnerable because the foundation below the rally is not as strong as bulls would want. Therefore, Bitcoin’s failure to establish solid support after breaking above a key macro Fibonacci level has left the asset exposed, now pressing into a major resistance zone spanning between $85,200 and $93,000. The short-term structure has clearly improved from the early February lows around $60,000, but Tara’s chart points to several overhead levels that now matter. The first major red resistance line is around $85,288, which corresponds with the 0.382 retracement on the projected structure. Above that, the 0.5 retracement level near $93,099 becomes the bigger test. Based on the analyst’s count, the current rally should be a counter Wave B move within a larger corrective ABC trend. The analyst described Wave B as one of the most deceptive phases of a market cycle because it can make traders believe the correction is already over. However, the range between $85,200 and $93,000 represents the region where the Wave B rally could start to lose strength. What Comes Next? The Crash Risk Now that the Bitcoin price is approaching resistance, the outlook is what to expect based on what could happen if it is rejected at that zone. The next phase can turn lower and punish buyers who entered too late. Related Reading: Mapping The Bitcoin Price Crash To $63,000: Why BTC Must Reclaim This Level The chart sketches this exact possibility with two projected downward paths from the upper resistance region. One begins around $85,000, and the other begins closer to the $93,000 level. Both paths suggest that a rejection from the resistance band could bring the Bitcoin price below $60,000. A sustained break above $85,200 would bring the $93,000 region into action. A clean move above $93,000 would then weaken the bearish corrective setup. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $79,742, down by 2% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
The Bitcoin price has once again entered the spotlight after a market analyst argued that a major cyclical signal has already appeared, potentially setting the stage for a move toward $320,000. According to a post by @CryptoTice on X, the recent market structure suggests that Bitcoin has already completed its latest cycle bottom, positioning it for another move toward the upper boundary of a long-term price channel. Bitcoin Price Channel Points Toward $320,000 The analyst’s view is based on a long-term upward channel that has guided Bitcoin’s price movement for years. In this pattern, major market bottoms tend to form near the lower boundary, while strong rallies eventually push the price toward the upper boundary before the cycle turns downward again. The structure suggests a repeating cycle where each decline creates a new base before the next major rise begins. Related Reading: Ripple’s $12.5 Trillion Claim: How Does XRP Fit Into 13,000 Banks? Past market cycles follow this same pattern. Bitcoin formed a major low near $2 in 2011, followed by another bottom around $170 in 2015. The next cycle low appeared near $3,800 during the 2020 market crash. The trend continued in later years, with Bitcoin dropping to around $15,000 in 2023 before starting another recovery. According to the analyst, the latest cycle bottom may have formed near $60,000 in 2026, once again aligning with the lower boundary of the long-term channel. In earlier cycles, rebounds from this lower level eventually pushed Bitcoin toward the top of the channel. If the same structure holds, the current path places the upper boundary near $320,000, which is where the analyst believes the next major peak could occur. ATH Retest Pattern Reappears As Bitcoin Holds Key Structure In a more recent post, the same analyst pointed to another historical pattern that strengthens Bitcoin’s bullish outlook. He compares Bitcoin’s 2017–2020 cycle with the current 2021–2026 structure, highlighting what he describes as a nearly identical sequence unfolding after Bitcoin broke above its previous all-time high (ATH). Related Reading: Ex-Ripple Exec Breaks Down The XRP To $10,000 Predictions, Is It Possible? According to the chart he posted, Bitcoin’s previous cycle saw the market break above the 2017 ATH before retesting that breakout zone as support. After holding that level, the market resumed its upward trend and rallied from roughly $17,000 to nearly $69,000. The analyst argues that a similar structure has appeared again. The latest setup shows Bitcoin revisiting its former ATH region in what is an “ATH retest.” Rather than breaking below the level, price action appears to be stabilizing around the former resistance zone, which the analyst interprets as confirmation that the broader bullish structure remains intact. He compares both cycles side by side, emphasizing the similarity between the earlier retest rally and the current formation. He further describes the development as “the launchpad” and believes that, if the historical relationship continues to play out similarly, the current structure could support another major upward move in Bitcoin’s price. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
XRP’s latest breakout attempt appears to be losing steam as bulls struggle to maintain price action above the key resistance zone near $1.45. The rejection has pushed XRP back toward an important support area despite ongoing bullish developments surrounding Ripple and the XRPL ecosystem. Failure To Hold Above $1.45 Resistance In a recent analysis, crypto analyst EllaWeb3 noted that XRP struggled to maintain momentum above the $1.45 level and has since started drifting back toward the same breakout zone that traders had been closely monitoring in recent sessions. The rejection near resistance has slowed bullish momentum and placed the market back into a wait-and-see phase. Related Reading: XRP Nears Triangle Apex—Will A Breakout To $1.80 Follow? What makes the situation more notable is that the pullback occurred despite Ripple continuing to expand institutional tokenization use cases on the XRPL network. Major names such as JPMorgan, Mastercard, and Ondo have reportedly been involved in this move. Yet, the market appears to be reacting more to technical structure than to bullish headlines. At the moment, traders are closely watching several key price levels. The $1.40–$1.41 range is currently acting as the primary support zone, while the $1.45–$1.47 area continues to cap upside attempts. Momentum weakened significantly following the rejection near $1.45, and thinner-than-usual liquidity conditions could lead to sharper price swings in either direction. Although the broader setup has not fully broken down, XRP has returned to an area where the market is once again seeking confirmation. A successful reclaim of the upper range could quickly improve sentiment. However, if support levels begin to fail, confidence in the breakout narrative may fade rapidly. XRP Continues To Lag Behind Bitcoin’s Recovery According to More Crypto Online, XRP continues to trade sideways even as Bitcoin has already produced stronger B-wave rallies during the current market phase. From a higher timeframe outlook, the overall structure has not changed significantly. Related Reading: XRP Compression Peaks: Symmetrical Triangle Signals Explosive Move Ahead The current price action continues to appear corrective and may still be unfolding as part of a broader ABC pattern. Rather than displaying impulsive upside behavior, XRP seems to be developing a B-wave range. At the moment, the key local range between $1.22 and $1.55 remains the main support and resistance zone. As long as XRP stays trapped within this region, the market structure continues to favor a corrective outlook over a bullish one. From an Elliott Wave standpoint, there is still no convincing evidence that XRP has begun a direct impulsive advance toward new all-time highs. The broader structure still leaves room for another C-wave decline into the larger support area between roughly $0.98 and $0.48. At the same time, a temporary rally toward the red resistance region between $1.78 and $2.87 remains possible and would still fit within a larger corrective B-wave scenario. For now, momentum remains the key issue for bulls, as XRP continues to struggle for a decisive breakout while Bitcoin trades near major resistance levels. Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com
Block's increased Bitcoin reserves and stock surge highlight the growing influence of cryptocurrency investments on fintech market dynamics.
The post Jack Dorsey’s Block pushes Bitcoin reserves above 9,000 BTC, stock surges 10% appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
A campaign pushing the Swiss National Bank to hold Bitcoin in its reserves is expected to lapse after supporters failed to gather the 100,000 signatures required for a national referendum. According to Reuters, crypto advocates collected only around half the needed signatures. The Swiss National Bank has repeatedly opposed the proposal, arguing that cryptocurrencies remain …
Bitcoin open interest has posted its strongest increase of 2026, surpassing levels seen during Bitcoin’s previous all-time high formation. The surge signals renewed trader activity in futures markets, despite funding rates remaining broadly negative in recent weeks. Binance continues to dominate derivatives trading with roughly 34% market share and $2.5 billion in average monthly open …
Buyers on Binance shifted decisively in recent weeks. The exchange’s seven-day net taker volume swung from roughly -$1 billion in late March — a period dominated by sellers — to around $2.6 billion by early May, signaling that demand had returned with some force. Related Reading: XRP Market Now Controlled By Whales? Dominance Reaches 91% On Binance Reserves Hit Levels Not Seen Since Late 2023 That shift in buyer behavior is playing out against a backdrop of shrinking Bitcoin supply on major exchanges. Combined outflows from Binance, OKX, and Gemini have reached nearly 100,000 BTC since February — worth over $8 billion at current prices — pushing reserves to their lowest point in roughly two and a half years. Binance recorded the steepest drop. Its holdings fell from about 670,000 BTC in late February to nearly 620,000 BTC by May 7, dipping below levels last seen in December 2023. OKX shed close to 30,000 BTC over a similar stretch, sliding from 132,000 BTC in early March to around 102,000 BTC. Gemini followed a similar path, declining from 114,800 BTC in early February to 95,000 BTC. According to a crypto analyst, a broad drawdown across multiple platforms carries more significance than outflows from a single exchange. When Bitcoin leaves several major venues at once, it points to a wider shift in how holders are managing their coins — not just routine transfers between wallets on the same platform. OTC Supply Tightens Alongside Exchange Withdrawals The supply crunch isn’t limited to exchange order books. Over-the-counter desk balances — used by large buyers and institutions to move Bitcoin privately, outside of public markets — have also tightened. The 30-day OTC balance change turned negative, posting a net decline of roughly 24,940 BTC. That’s a sharp contrast to early February, when the same measure stood at nearly +25,300 BTC following a dip in Bitcoin’s price toward $60,000. The reversal indicates that fresh Bitcoin supply flowing into OTC channels has slowed considerably since that earlier sell-off. Accumulation Picks Up Among Long-Term Holders Long-term holders stepped up their buying during Bitcoin’s recovery toward $82,800. Data from CryptoQuant shows demand from accumulator addresses climbed to 264,000 BTC on May 6, up 60% from 164,440 BTC just two weeks earlier on April 23. The metric had bottomed near 100,000 BTC in mid-March before rebounding. Related Reading: Bitcoin Eyes $90K As Bears Get Burned Again Amid $30B Open Interest Surge Accumulator addresses typically represent buyers who add to their holdings consistently and rarely sell — a cohort watched closely as a gauge of conviction among experienced market participants. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
On-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant has identified a significant divergence in the demand structures driving Bitcoin and Ethereum’s recoveries in 2026, with Bitcoin attracting sustained institutional spot buying while Ethereum’s price stability reflects reduced selling pressure rather than genuine new demand — a distinction that carries major implications for the broader market’s next move. Related Reading: Bitcoin Reclaims Short-Term Holder Cost Basis—What It Means According to CryptoQuant’s analysis of on-chain and exchange data covering April and early May 2026, Bitcoin and Ethereum are operating under fundamentally different demand regimes. Bitcoin’s recovery has been driven by real spot purchases — investors buying and withdrawing BTC from exchanges into long-term storage — a dynamic that removes available sell-side supply and creates a structural tailwind for price even during low-volume periods. Ethereum’s stabilization, by contrast, appears to be largely a function of sellers stepping back rather than buyers stepping in. Bitcoin v. Ethereum: Spot and Leverage Distinction The difference matters more than it may initially appear. When demand comes through spot ETFs or direct purchases, coins leave exchange inventories and are effectively taken off the market. When demand is primarily expressed through futures and perpetual contracts, coins stay on exchanges and positions can be unwound quickly — returning supply and amplifying volatility when sentiment shifts. CryptoQuant’s data makes the institutional gap between the two assets concrete. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $532 million in net inflows on May 4 alone, per the firm’s analysis, and $2.44 billion across the full month of April — the largest monthly institutional buying figure in nearly eight months. US Ethereum spot ETFs logged $61.29 million in net inflows on the same day, a positive data point, but the scale and consistency of ETH’s institutional flows have not matched Bitcoin’s trajectory, per CryptoQuant’s assessment as reported by Bitcoin.com News. The Bitcoin price follows the spike in fund holdings, while the Ethereum price remains stalled due to less institutional interest. Source: CryptoQuant What It Takes For ETH To Catch Up CryptoQuant’s central finding points toward a clear threshold: Bitcoin dominance — BTC’s share of total crypto market capitalization, which currently sits above 60% — is likely to hold until Ethereum demonstrates the kind of sustained spot buying that has underpinned Bitcoin’s recovery. Should ETH eventually mirror BTC’s spot demand pattern, the firm’s analysis suggests a broader altcoin rally could follow, as capital rotates outward from Bitcoin into the wider market. Until that rotation materializes, the current environment reflects capital concentration rather than broad-based recovery — a distinction the nascent sector’s most attentive observers are tracking closely heading into the second quarter. Related Reading: Dogecoin (DOGE) Back Under Pressure, Rebound Chances Face Big Test As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at around $81,500, consolidating above the critical $80,000 level as institutional accumulation continues to provide structural support for the asset’s near-term price floor. BTC's price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Cover image from Grok, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has turned one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence clusters into a commercial compute product, creating a new challenge for Bitcoin miners racing to recast themselves as AI infrastructure companies. Anthropic said it reached a deal to use the full computing power of SpaceX’s Colossus 1 facility in Memphis, Tennessee, giving the […]
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On-chain data shows the Bitcoin short-term holders are back in the green as the asset’s spot price has broken past the cohort’s Realized Price with the latest rally. Bitcoin Is Back Above The Short-Term Holder Realized Price According to data from BitcoinMagazinePro, the Bitcoin spot price has surpassed the short-term holder Realized Price. The “Realized Price” here refers to an on-chain indicator that keeps track of the cost basis of the average investor on the BTC network. Related Reading: XRP Nears Triangle Apex—Will A Breakout To $1.80 Follow? When the value of the cryptocurrency is above this metric, it means that the holders as a whole are in a state of net unrealized gain. On the other hand, the asset being below the indicator suggests the dominance of loss in the market. In the context of the current topic, the Realized Price of the entire userbase isn’t of interest, but rather that of a specific portion of it: the short-term holders (STHs). This cohort includes the BTC investors who purchased their coins within the past 155 days. Statistically, the longer an investor holds onto their coins, the less likely they become to sell them in the future. Since the STHs have a relatively low holding time, the group is generally considered to represent the weak-minded side of the sector. Below is a chart that shows the trend in the Bitcoin STH Realized Price over the last couple of years. As is visible in the graph, the Bitcoin spot price fell under the STH Realized Price during the price crash earlier in the year. This means that the recent buyers went into a state of net loss. The loss status maintained for this cohort during the next three months, with the indicator acting as a resistance barrier for the cryptocurrency. The line acting as resistance suggests that the STHs were selling at or near their break-even level, fearing that the surge back to their cost basis is only temporary. The metric also provided impedance to BTC during the rally at the end of April, but the trend has finally shifted in May. With the latest price surge, the coin has finally broken back above the line, sending the STHs into the green. Related Reading: Solana Sees Rising Social Hype, Yet Network Activity Is Falling In the past, Bitcoin being higher than this metric has usually corresponded to bullish phases. It only remains to be seen, however, whether BTC can maintain above the line, which is currently situated at $79,000. Clearly, the cryptocurrency hasn’t gained enough of a distance to the level yet. BTC Price Bitcoin approached the $83,000 mark on Wednesday, but the asset has since dropped to the $80,100 level. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
Around 20,000 Bitcoin options worth $1.6 billion and 182,000 Ethereum options worth $410 million are set to expire on May 8. Bitcoin’s put-call ratio stands at 0.73 with a max pain level of $79,500, while Ethereum’s ratio is 0.93 with max pain at $2,350. Despite Bitcoin’s rally toward $82,000 this week, implied volatility and options …
Fundstrat strategist Tom Lee says Ethereum remains undervalued despite its growing role in digital finance. Speaking at the Consensus conference in Miami, He said Ethereum could emerge as one of the biggest winners of the next crypto market rally, as artificial intelligence and tokenization increase demand for blockchain-based financial systems. As per Lee, the recent …
Bitcoin is trading above $80,000 as the market prepares for what is shaping up to be a decisive directional move. The recovery from the recent correction has been meaningful — but a CryptoQuant report has identified the specific mechanism that prevented the decline from becoming considerably worse, and understanding it changes how the current price level should be read. Related Reading: Retail Capitulation Hits AAVE, But Smart Money Starts Positioning: Here The Post-Crisis Market Structure The report examines the realized prices of different whale cohorts — the average cost basis of large Bitcoin holders segmented by how recently they have been active. When the spot price falls toward a whale cohort’s realized price, it approaches the level at which those holders would begin taking losses if they sold. That proximity to breakeven creates a natural support mechanism: large holders become increasingly reluctant to sell as they approach their cost basis, which reduces selling pressure precisely where the market needs it most. During the recent correction, two specific cohorts provided that support. Whales active within the last one to seven days held a realized price of approximately $66,000. Whales active within the last seven to thirty days held a realized price of approximately $70,600. The spot price dropped toward both of those levels during the correction — and rather than breaking through them into deeper losses for those holders, the price found support and reversed. The $66,000 to $70,600 range was not a random bounce zone. It was where billions of dollars in recent whale capital reached its breakeven — and where the behavioral dynamics of large holders created the floor that held. The Floor Held. But It Only Holds Until It Doesn’t The CryptoQuant report explains why the $66,000 to $70,600 range produced the price reaction it did. When Bitcoin’s spot price approaches the realized price of a major whale cohort, the selling dynamics change fundamentally. These are not participants who bought Bitcoin speculatively and will sell at the first sign of stress — they are large, recent buyers whose cost basis sits within the zone. The same zone that discourages selling also attracts buying. A price level where informed, recent capital bought Bitcoin and where those holders are defending their positions becomes a natural re-accumulation area — one where the buyers who were correct the first time tend to add rather than exit. The positive price reaction from the support range confirms that the zone performed its structural function. Bitcoin tested the breakeven levels of its most recently active large holders and bounced. A reaction that reflects genuine demand meeting reduced selling pressure in a specific, explainable price range. The CryptoQuant assessment of what comes next is honest in both directions. As long as Bitcoin remains above the $66,000 to $70,600 zone, the evidence supports the formation of a local bottom and the beginning of the next directional move. The recovery above $80,000 is consistent with that reading. The risk the report preserves is equally specific. A decisive breakdown below the lower boundary of the support zone — below $66,000 — would invalidate the bottom thesis entirely and represent a strong bearish signal for the broader market. The floor held. Whether it continues to hold defines everything that follows. Related Reading: Bitcoin Reclaims $80K, And $93K Comes Into Focus — Discover The CME Gap Setup Bitcoin Tests Resistance After Structured Recovery From February Lows Bitcoin is trading near $80,700 on the daily chart, pressing directly into a resistance zone that has rejected price multiple times since the breakdown earlier this year. The recovery from the February low near $60,000 has been technically clean, with price forming a sequence of higher lows and reclaiming the 50-day and 100-day moving averages along the way. That shift confirms a transition from a corrective phase into a developing uptrend. However, the current test is not occurring in a vacuum. The 200-day moving average is still trending downward and sits just above price, acting as dynamic resistance near the $82,000 region. This confluence — horizontal resistance plus a declining long-term average — explains why momentum has slowed as Bitcoin approaches this level. Related Reading: Ethereum Withdrawals From Exchanges Just Hit An 8-Month Low: Find Out What Investors Are Waiting For Volume has remained moderate during the latest push higher, which suggests the move is being driven more by controlled demand than aggressive breakout participation. This creates a fragile setup: structurally bullish, but not yet confirmed. If Bitcoin breaks and holds above $82,000, it would mark a decisive shift in market structure and likely trigger continuation. Failure here would expose the $74,000–$76,000 region as the first support, with deeper demand sitting closer to $70,000. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin price started a fresh decline below the $81,200 zone. BTC is correcting gains and might struggle to stay above the $78,800 support. Bitcoin failed to stay above $80,500 and extended losses. The price is trading below $81,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There was a break below a bullish trend line with support at $80,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might extend losses if it stays below the $81,200 and $80,800 levels. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price failed to stay above the $81,500 support zone. BTC started a downside correction below the $81,200 and $80,800 levels to enter a short-term bearish zone. There was a move below the 38.2% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $74,940 swing low to the $82,790 high. Besides, there was a break below a bullish trend line with support at $80,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. Bitcoin is now trading below $80,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $78,500, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $80,400 level. The first key resistance is near the $80,800 level. A close above the $80,800 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $81,250 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $82,000 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $82,500. Downside Extension In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $81,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $78,800 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $74,940 swing low to the $82,790 high. The first major support is near the $78,000 level. The next support is now near the $77,800 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $77,200 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $76,500, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $78,800, followed by $78,000. Major Resistance Levels – $81,200 and $81,500.
A crypto analyst has identified a multi-year Cup and Handle pattern on the Bitcoin (BTC) chart that he says has gone largely unnoticed by the broader market, despite its significance. The analyst believes this single formation signals a major bull trend ahead for Bitcoin, projecting a minimum price target of $220,000 once the cryptocurrency begins its parabolic move. Bitcoin’s Roadmap To A $220,000 Price Target Market analyst Crypto Tice has announced that Bitcoin has completed a Cup and Handle pattern that had been forming for years. In an X post, the expert clearly outlined the formation on a chart, displaying a rounded U-shaped curve that marks the Cup portion of the pattern. This is followed by a handle positioned just above it, defined by upper and lower trendlines that sit parallel to each other. Related Reading: Ripple’s $12.5 Trillion Claim: How Does XRP Fit Into 13,000 Banks? The emergence of a Cup and Handle pattern is often seen as a bullish indicator, as it signals that a cryptocurrency may be getting ready to break above resistance and extend its uptrend. Notably, Crypto Tice revealed that Bitcoin has already broken above a resistance zone of its Cup and Handle pattern, reinforcing his bullish stance. The analyst identified this key resistance between $62,000 and $74,000, noting that Bitcoin has also cleanly retested this area after its recent surge above $80,000. According to Crypto Tice, this successful retest has confirmed the overall structure, setting the stage for a potential continuation to the upside. Given the strength of these formations, Crypto Tice made clear that Cup and Handle patterns do not signal modest moves like a 20% rally. Rather, they have historically preceded gains in the hundreds of percent, suggesting that a massive price surge could be on the horizon for Bitcoin. The analyst predicts that Bitcoin’s next launch phase points toward a minimum upper price target of $220,000. This means he expects the cryptocurrency to rally even higher if its bullish momentum persists after it hits the initially projected high. From its current price above $80,000, this would represent a potential gain of more than 171% for Bitcoin. Analyst Maps Out Bitcoin’s Potential Rally To $500,000 In a separate analysis, Crypto Tice shared a longer-term outlook for Bitcoin, projecting a massive price surge to $500,000. He outlined a clear roadmap showing how the BTC price could reach this ambitious target. Related Reading: Bitcoin Has Entered Its ‘Most Dangerous Quarter,’ And This Expert Is Warning Investors The analyst pointed to an ascending channel on the Bitcoin chart, defined by two parallel straight lines. The channel shows that Bitcoin previously experienced a parabolic rally after completing three distinct moves, which Crypto Tice identified as a “first touch” of a support level, “a midrange rally,” and a “rejection back to support.” Now, the analyst believes that Bitcoin has completed the same three moves within the current channel, reinforcing his bullish stance. He added that Bitcoin is also currently sitting at the second support touch, likely preparing to launch its next bull trend, with a potential price target of $500,000 in sight. Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com
Strategy—formerly known as MicroStrategy—could meaningfully accelerate its Bitcoin-buying pace this year, according to analysts at JPMorgan. The firm, led by well-known Bitcoin bull Michael Saylor, is already one of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin treasury companies, and JPMorgan believes its next move may be a larger, faster round of acquisitions. Strategy Could Outpace Past Bitcoin Buying Strategy currently holds more than 818,000 Bitcoin, according to BitcoinTreasuries.net. Purchases have been active throughout 2026: the company reportedly added over 145,000 BTC in just five months, which is estimated at roughly $11 billion. JPMorgan analysts, however, said that amount could rise substantially. Under their view, Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases this year could reach $30 billion over the course of the year. At today’s implied annualized pace, that would put 2026 purchases far above the roughly $22 billion acquired across 2024 and 2025 combined. Related Reading: VanEck Forecast: Bitcoin Could Climb To $1,000,000 By 2031, Research Head Says JPMorgan pointed to a change in momentum in April, saying Strategy “appears to have re-accelerated its bitcoin purchases.” The analysts tied the behavior to what they described as an increasingly opportunistic buying pattern. The optimism around Strategy’s plan also showed up in analyst price targets. On Thursday, TD Cowen raised its target price for the company’s stock, MSTR, from $385 to $395. As of the time of writing, MSTR closed at $179, translating to an 18% gain since the beginning of the year. If TD Cowen’s forecast were to play out, the implied move would represent about a 120% jump from current levels. Net Loss Vs. Big Forecast Analysts also highlighted the financing approach by Strategy behind the acquisitions. They say the firm’s increased use of STRC (variable-rate perpetual preferred stock) to fund Bitcoin purchases could improve capital efficiency, making it more attractive relative to prevailing market pricing. Still, the company’s latest financial picture includes major losses. Strategy reported a net loss of $12.54 billion for the quarter, driven largely by an unrealized decline in Bitcoin fair value of $14.46 billion. Related Reading: This New Move Just Opened XRP To 44 Million New Users Looking ahead, the base case and scenarios for Strategy reflect a bullish outlook. The firm’s base case is that Bitcoin could reach approximately $140,000 by the end of 2026, with an upside scenario of about $175,000. Separately, Joseph Vafi at Canaccord Genuity reiterated a Buy rating on May 7, lifting his MSTR price target from $185 to $224. Canaccord noted that since Bitcoin has rebounded—moving up from its roughly $62,000 low to more than $80,000—Strategy has continued to “weather another perceived storm. Featured image created with OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Investors are increasingly choosing bitcoin over gold as a debasement trade since the Iran conflict began, JPMorgan analysts said.
Privacy concerns tied to artificial intelligence may be one of the strongest cases yet for owning certain altcoins or cryptocurrencies. That was one argument Arthur Hayes made at Consensus 2026, where the BitMEX co-founder laid out a broad defense of the altcoin market and named the specific tokens he’s betting on. Related Reading: Bitcoin Eyes $90K As Bears Get Burned Again Amid $30B Open Interest Surge Hayes Sees AI Surveillance Driving Demand For Privacy Coins Hayes said governments, major tech companies, and AI systems are becoming increasingly effective at tracking blockchain activity. As those tools grow more powerful, he argued, more people will want financial tools that shield their transactions from outside eyes. Zcash, a cryptocurrency built around transaction privacy, was singled out as one that stands to benefit. “There is a role for private cash on the internet,” Hayes said. The remarks came during a broader conversation about the future of alternative cryptocurrencies — assets that have repeatedly faced waves of skepticism, especially after sharp market downturns. Hayes pushed back against the idea that institutional money and tighter regulation will wipe out most of the market. His position was simple: altcoins will keep coming, and some will generate real, lasting value. Arthur Hayes says altcoins will never die… Respectfully… Some of them absolutely need to ???? There are 10 million+ tokens fighting for the same liquidity. At some point the market has to stop funding: AI Inu Elon Pepe GPT 4.0 The next alt season won’t save everything.… pic.twitter.com/pkx2C3jtt9 — MANDO CT ???????? ???????? ???????? (@XMaximist) May 6, 2026 Hyperliquid Tops His List Of Altcoin Bets Of all the tokens Hayes discussed, Hyperliquid drew the most detailed attention. He described decentralized trading platforms as among the most consistently profitable models in crypto history, pointing to the wealth they’ve created for early participants. Hyperliquid, in his view, represents the next step in that lineage — combining fast infrastructure with a token structure he finds genuinely attractive. One feature Hayes highlighted: roughly 97% of the platform’s protocol revenue flows back to token holders through buybacks. He also pointed out that no portion of the token supply was set aside for venture capital investors — an arrangement that distinguishes it from many other projects. Related Reading: David Schwartz Says Selling XRP Doesn’t Make Him The Villain The Stock Market Parallel Underpins His Case For Altcoins Hayes compared the altcoin space to the broader stock market, where most companies ultimately fail but a handful go on to produce outsized returns. Tokens, he said, should be thought of like software startups — high failure rate, but worth participating in because of what the winners can deliver. Based on reports from the event, Hayes framed crypto markets as efficient environments for experimentation and capital formation, where new ideas can be tested and funded outside traditional financial systems. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is approaching a critical juncture as market data reveals a massive long liquidation imbalance, with an estimated $15 billion in leveraged positions sitting below the current price. This concentration of downside liquidity creates a high-risk environment where even a modest drop could trigger cascading liquidations. How Bitcoin’s Liquidity Structure Suggests Volatility Ahead Bitcoin is developing one of the most extreme liquidation imbalances, as long liquidations currently outweigh short liquidations. A crypto trader known as Max Trades on X highlighted that the current liquidation data showed a massive concentration of long positions sitting below the market, with an estimated $15 billion in long liquidations. Related Reading: Bitcoin At $82K, But Metrics Don’t Smile: Network Activity Down, Spot Demand Negative—What’s Next? Meanwhile, only around $3 billion in short liquidations remains above current price levels. This creates a striking 5:1 imbalance, suggesting the market is heavily skewed toward downside liquidity. Despite this setup, BTC has continued grinding higher, with upward momentum largely driven by new short positions entering the market. However, if shorts stop providing fuel for the move and market makers turn their focus toward the dense liquidity below the price, the market may become vulnerable to a sharp liquidation cascade. Why Bitcoin’s Current Rally May Be Vulnerable To A Pullback Bitcoin continues to show strength, but several internal market signals suggest the current rally may be losing momentum in the short term. Analyst Kaz has stated that BTC is currently trading within a relatively tight range around the $81,500 level, while trading volume has started to fade. Related Reading: Here’s What Triggered The Bitcoin Price Decline Before The Recent Bounce At the same time, Open Interest (OI) remains stable and flat, indicating that large new leveraged positions are not entering the market. The perpetual futures CVD (Cumulative Volume Delta) is still climbing, showing that buyers remain active, but the pace of that momentum has slowed noticeably. Spot CVD is also trending higher, suggesting genuine spot demand is still supporting the move, but recent candles indicate that the strength has started to weaken. Meanwhile, shorts continue to get liquidated periodically, helping sustain the BTC upward grind, while the squeeze is becoming smaller. Despite these warning signs, the broader internals still favor the bulls for now. When price grinds higher on fading volume, the CVDs show slow momentum, and open interest is flat. Kaz noted that the move is weakening and is due for a pullback, and making a decision based on this move is not optimal. The focus now shifts to monitoring changes in open interest and spot CVD for clearer direction. With midweek volatility (Wednesday) in play, BTC can still turn bearish. If BTC price pushes higher before the New York Open (NYO), without meaningful support from open interest and spot demand, a dump during the NYO is likely. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com