Bitcoin is struggling to reclaim the $90,000 level as it continues to test critical demand around the $86,000 zone. After weeks of corrective price action, bulls are finding it increasingly difficult to build a convincing case for trend continuation. Related Reading: XRP Liquidity Dries Up: Futures Buy Volume On Binance Falls from $5.8B to $250M Momentum has faded, upside attempts have been rejected, and market confidence is weakening. As a result, a growing number of analysts are beginning to openly discuss the possibility that Bitcoin is transitioning into a broader bear market phase rather than a temporary pullback within a larger uptrend. This shift in narrative is supported by structural data. In a recent analysis, Axel Adler highlights that Bitcoin’s price action is now aligned with a clear deterioration in market structure. His chart, which combines a composite Structure Shift signal with a Donchian Channel, shows that the indicator has decisively moved into negative territory. The Structure Shift composite ranges from -1 to +1, with values below zero signaling bearish regime dominance. Currently, the signal sits near -0.5, a level historically associated with sustained downside pressure rather than short-lived corrections. At the same time, Bitcoin price has dropped to the lower boundary of the 21-day Donchian Channel and is hovering just above the $85,000 support area. Together, these signals suggest that the market is operating in a risk-off environment, where downside risks remain elevated unless structure improves meaningfully. Bitcoin Structure Confirms Bearish Regime Adler notes that the current position of the Structure Shift composite signal confirms Bitcoin has firmly established itself within a bearish structural zone. With the indicator sitting below zero, the market is no longer in a neutral or transitional phase but operating under sustained downside conditions. According to this framework, the primary trigger for improvement would be a decisive recovery of the composite signal back above the zero threshold, ideally while price continues to hold support within the Donchian Channel. Without that shift, any short-term bounce risks remaining corrective rather than trend-changing. This bearish structure is reinforced by Bitcoin’s Bull-Bear market structure index, which focuses on derivatives dynamics through fast and slow regime components. The latest data shows the bullish component collapsing to just 5%, an extremely low reading that reflects the near absence of constructive long-side momentum. At the same time, the fast bearish component has moved deeper into negative territory, signaling rising seller pressure driven primarily by the futures market. This configuration highlights a critical imbalance. Short-term momentum is firmly controlled by bears, while spot demand has so far proven insufficient to absorb derivatives-led selling pressure. For conditions to improve, the bullish component of the index would need to recover meaningfully, signaling renewed participation from buyers. Taken together, both indicators point to the same conclusion: Bitcoin has undergone a local structural shift into bearish territory. The dominant risk remains continued downside pressure driven by derivatives, especially in the absence of strong spot accumulation. Related Reading: Who Really Sold The Dip? On-Chain Data Exposes Bitcoin’s True Sellers Bitcoin Price Tests Critical Support as Downtrend Persists Bitcoin continues to trade under clear downside pressure. The price now hovers around the $86,500 level after failing to reclaim higher resistance zones. The chart highlights a decisive breakdown below the short- and medium-term moving averages. With BTC trading well beneath the 50-day and 100-day averages. These levels, which previously acted as dynamic support during the uptrend, have now flipped into resistance. Reinforcing the bearish market structure. The most notable technical development is Bitcoin’s interaction with the 200-day moving average, shown in red. Price has briefly tested this long-term support but remains fragile, with follow-through buying notably absent. Historically, sustained trading below faster-moving averages while compressing near the 200-day often signals either a prolonged consolidation phase or the risk of an additional leg lower if demand fails to appear. Related Reading: Why Bitcoin’s Quiet Price Action May Be ‘Dangerous’ – IFP Signals Rising Structural Risk Structurally, Bitcoin remains in a lower-high, lower-low sequence since the October peak near $125K. As long as price remains capped below the $90K–$95K resistance zone, downside risks persist. For bulls to regain control, BTC must first stabilize above current demand and reclaim key moving averages. Signaling that sellers are losing dominance. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin has reclaimed key levels above the $118,000 mark, shifting momentum back in favor of the bulls after weeks of uncertainty. The breakout has reinvigorated sentiment across the market, with traders increasingly confident that BTC could be on the verge of a major move. Historically, October has been one of the strongest months for Bitcoin performance, and some analysts are already calling for a massive impulse that could carry the asset toward new highs. Related Reading: Metaplanet Expands Bitcoin Holdings To Over 30K BTC – Details What makes this rally especially notable is the underlying stability reflected in market data. Top analyst Axel Adler shared insights showing that Bitcoin currently sits in equilibrium, where buying and selling pressure are balanced. This condition often signals a healthy market structure, creating a strong base for potential upside. If momentum holds, the combination of bullish seasonal patterns and a stable equilibrium could fuel an aggressive continuation of the cycle. Still, analysts caution that the next few days will be critical. Reclaiming $118,000 is a strong first step, but Bitcoin will need to build support above this threshold to confirm the breakout and sustain its trajectory. With volatility returning, October may once again prove to be a decisive month for Bitcoin. Bitcoin Dynamics Align With A Key Indicator In a CryptoQuant report, Adler explains that Bitcoin’s current price behavior aligns closely with the STH-MVRV pricing corridor, a metric designed to reflect the average profitability of recent buyers. This corridor provides a framework for evaluating when short-term holders are in profit and more likely to sell, versus when they are at a loss and likely to capitulate. At present, Bitcoin sits comfortably within this range, suggesting a healthy equilibrium in market dynamics. The upper boundary of the corridor, defined as +1σ, currently hovers around $130,000. Adler notes that this level represents a zone where short-term holders typically begin to lock in profits more aggressively. Historically, price approaches to this boundary have triggered waves of selling, providing a natural cap until stronger demand emerges. Nevertheless, the existence of this upper bound gives the market a clear target, and if current dynamics persist, a move toward $130K appears increasingly realistic. Equally important is the baseline of the corridor, which reflects the average realized price of short-term holders. Since the beginning of 2024, Bitcoin has consistently held above this level (marked by the yellow line on the chart). This persistent strength signals sustained bullish sentiment, as short-term drops below the baseline have been quickly bought up, reflecting robust demand. In effect, Bitcoin remains in a state of equilibrium—neither overheated nor oversold—within the established volatility corridor. This balance, combined with the historical seasonality of October rallies and strong institutional flows, positions the market favorably for potential upside. If buying pressure continues and volatility contracts, the probability of an advance toward the $130K zone becomes a tangible scenario in the weeks ahead. Related Reading: Galaxy’s Digital Bitcoin Sales Continue: 1,190 Bitcoin Moves To Binance Bitcoin Faces Resistance After A Rally Bitcoin is trading around $118,800 on the 12-hour chart, extending its breakout from earlier this week. Price has surged past the key $117,500 resistance, a level that capped rallies throughout September, and is now testing the $119,000–$120,000 area. This zone represents the final hurdle before a potential retest of summer highs near $125,000. The moving averages show improving momentum. BTC has reclaimed the 50-period (blue) and 100-period (green) moving averages with strong follow-through, turning them into short-term support zones around $114,000–$115,000. Meanwhile, the 200-period (red) moving average continues to rise from below, reinforcing the longer-term bullish trend. The decisive break above multiple averages in just a few sessions highlights the strength of buyer conviction. Related Reading: The Bitcoin Long: Bybit Traders Push BTC Taker Buy/Sell Ratio Above 24 However, the chart also suggests that Bitcoin is entering overextended territory in the short term. After four consecutive bullish candles, a period of consolidation around $118,000–$119,000 would not be surprising. A failure to hold above $117,500 could see a pullback toward $115,000, while sustained buying could confirm a path to $120,000 and beyond. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com