Bitcoin hovered around $102,000 on Thursday, as traders struggled to push the price beyond the $105,000 resistance level amid rising sell pressure.
Selling Pressure Builds Around $105,000
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed Bitcoin’s rebound losing steam following the daily open.
Analyst Skew noted that Bitcoin’s price appeared capped by a cluster of sell orders just above $105,000, adding that this was “not surprising.”
He warned that the increase in sell-side liquidity could be a deliberate attempt to suppress prices during Asian trading hours.
Trading analytics platform Material Indicators highlighted that the significant ask liquidity had not yet caused a price correction, suggesting the seller could be trying to drive Bitcoin down toward the $98,000 to $93,000 range.
“If price hits $105k, I’d expect part if not all of those asks to get pulled,” the group said, noting that Bitcoin’s bounce from its 50-week simple moving average still carries “macro bullish implications.”
Traders Eye Potential Dip
Market commentator Exitpump described the $105,000 sell wall as “insane,” while other analysts suggested the liquidity might not be genuine.
Meanwhile, veteran investor Kyle Chasse cautioned that another short-term price drop could occur, pointing to a buildup of bid liquidity below current levels.
“Confidence could get wiped in a heartbeat,” he said, referencing CoinGlass data showing clusters of liquidations awaiting lower price zones.
External Market Factors at Play
Bitcoin’s latest movements also coincided with cooling momentum in U.S. equities, which have been retreating from all-time highs.
Speculation around the Supreme Court possibly overturning international trade tariffs added uncertainty to broader markets.
Analysts believe that if the Court strikes down the tariffs, it could trigger a rally in equities — but potentially divert short-term liquidity away from Bitcoin.
As of Thursday afternoon, Bitcoin remained volatile, trading narrowly between $101,500 and $103,500, with traders keeping a close watch on the critical $105,000 resistance zone.
Spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) extended their losing streak on Tuesday, posting their fifth straight day of outflows amid broader market uncertainty.
Data from Farside Investors showed that spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $578 million in net outflows — the steepest daily withdrawal since mid-October.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity’s FBTC led the exodus, signaling a pause in institutional accumulation.
Ether ETFs saw similar pressure, with $219 million in redemptions. Fidelity’s FETH and BlackRock’s ETHA were hit hardest, pushing total Ether ETF outflows close to $1 billion since late October.
Solana Defies Trend With Six Days of Inflows
While Bitcoin and Ether funds struggled, Solana-based ETFs continued to attract capital.
Spot Solana ETFs logged $14.83 million in net inflows on Tuesday — their sixth consecutive day of gains.
Bitwise’s BSOL and Grayscale’s GSOL led the charge, suggesting that investors are rotating toward newer, yield-generating assets despite the risk-off environment.
Institutions Reduce Exposure Amid Macro Uncertainty
Vincent Liu, chief investment officer at Kronos Research, told Cointelegraph the outflows are more about macroeconomic stress than fading belief in crypto.
“Straight days of redemptions show institutions are trimming risk as leverage unwinds and macro jitters rise,” Liu said. “Until liquidity conditions stabilize, capital rotation will keep the ETF bleed alive.”
He added that a stronger U.S. dollar and tightening liquidity have triggered broad risk aversion.
Solana’s Story Gains Momentum
Liu noted that Solana’s continued inflows represent a mix of curiosity and opportunity.
“Solana’s strength is partly fresh flow meets fresh story, a new ETF with yield appeal pulling in curious capital,” he explained. “Its speed, staking, and story keep momentum tilted upward.”
However, Liu warned that Solana’s growth remains niche. “It’s a narrative-driven move by early adopters chasing yield and growth. The broader market is still in risk-off mode,” he cautioned.
Bitcoin’s onchain data is signaling renewed investor demand, with both institutional buyers and miners increasing their holdings despite a sluggish market backdrop following October’s $19 billion crypto crash.
Over the past week, Bitcoin’s realized capitalization — which measures the aggregate value of all coins based on their last moved price — rose by more than $8 billion to surpass $1.1 trillion.
BTC’s realized price also climbed above $110,000, indicating growing accumulation across the network.
The uptick is being driven primarily by Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and corporate holders such as MicroStrategy, according to Ki Young Ju, CEO of analytics platform CryptoQuant.
ETF and Institutional Momentum Slows, But Could Rebound
Ju noted on X (formerly Twitter) that “demand is now driven mostly by ETFs and MicroStrategy, both slowing buys recently. If these two channels recover, market momentum likely returns.”
He added that the slowdown in ETF inflows and corporate purchases has temporarily capped Bitcoin’s price recovery, even as onchain metrics show consistent inflows.
Miners Expand Operations Amid Hashrate Growth
Bitcoin’s rising hashrate — the measure of total computational power securing the network — also points to optimism among miners.
Ju described this trend as a “clear long-term bullish signal,” emphasizing that miner expansion indicates confidence in the cryptocurrency’s future profitability.
Major mining companies, including American Bitcoin, which has ties to the Trump family, have recently announced large-scale hardware purchases.
In August, the firm acquired 17,280 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mining units worth approximately $314 million.
Analysts See Potential for $140K Bitcoin
Despite the positive onchain data, broader market sentiment remains cautious, with the crypto fear index still in “fear” territory since the early October sell-off.
However, analysts from Bitfinex believe the next catalyst could come from macroeconomic factors, including potential monetary easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
“Our base case sees Bitcoin rising towards $140,000, with total ETF inflows between $10 and $15 billion not being surprising,” Bitfinex analysts said.
They added that possible Fed rate cuts, combined with renewed ETF demand and typical Q4 seasonal strength, could help Bitcoin reach new all-time highs by November.
Still, risks remain tied to global trade tensions and the lingering effects of Trump’s tariff policies, they warned.
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has expanded its investment in Bullish, the digital asset exchange that recently made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BLSH.
According to trade disclosures filed Friday, ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) purchased 72,537 Bullish shares, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) acquired 21,354 shares, and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) bought an additional 11,122 shares.
The combined purchases amount to over $5 million in new exposure to Bullish, further strengthening ARK’s position in the exchange. This move follows an earlier $8.27 million investment made in mid-October across ARK’s funds.
Since Bullish’s $1.1 billion listing, ARK has accumulated roughly $172 million worth of shares across multiple ETFs, underscoring its growing confidence in the platform’s long-term potential.
Bullish Shares Rebound After Market Volatility
Bullish stock closed at $50.57 on Friday, marking a 1.24% increase and a recovery from recent market turbulence.
The exchange, founded by Block.one and led by CEO Tom Farley, has quickly become one of the most watched digital asset platforms following its NYSE debut.
Farley, the former president of the New York Stock Exchange, has been steering Bullish’s expansion strategy to position it as a leader in regulated crypto trading.
Celebrating the U.S. Expansion
The timing of ARK’s latest purchase coincides with Bullish’s U.S. launch celebration in New York, where the firm hosted an event featuring leading figures in the digital asset industry.
“The energy in the room said it all — the future is Bullish,” the company posted on X following the event.
Earlier in October, Bullish officially began operations in 20 U.S. states after securing both a BitLicense and a money transmission license from New York regulators.
Its first U.S. clients include BitGo and Nonco, which began spot trading on the platform as part of Bullish’s initial market rollout.
Global Growth and Trading Volume
Since its international launch in 2021, Bullish has processed more than $1.5 trillion in trading volume and now ranks among the top 10 exchanges globally for Bitcoin and Ether transactions.
The exchange’s rapid growth and its regulatory approval in the U.S. suggest that it could become a major player in bridging traditional finance with the digital asset ecosystem.
Bitcoin’s price slipped to $109,200 on Wednesday, falling more than 6% from its Monday peak of $116,400, as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s widely anticipated 25 basis point interest rate cut.
The drop surprised some analysts, given that most expected the rate decision to be priced into markets.
Despite the modest policy shift, risk appetite weakened as investors grew cautious about the Fed’s future trajectory and broader economic conditions.
Fed Signals End of Balance Sheet Reduction
The Fed’s statement confirmed that quantitative tightening would end on December 1, marking a significant policy shift after months of balance sheet contraction.
This change, often viewed as supportive for markets, did little to immediately lift crypto sentiment.
The central bank’s updated “dot plot” now points to three interest rate cuts in 2025, with Goldman Sachs analysts forecasting two more 25 basis point cuts by March and June 2026.
If realized, the Fed’s benchmark rate would settle between 3% and 3.25%, suggesting a gradual easing cycle ahead.
Analysts Expect Short-Term Volatility
According to Hyblock, a crypto analytics platform, Bitcoin’s post-FOMC reactions often follow a familiar pattern: short-term declines followed by recovery.
“Recent history has shown that the FOMC leads to a price drop in BTC, followed by a move up,” the firm noted.
“If price does dip post-FOMC and signs of bullish confluence emerge, such as bid-heavy orderbooks, it would likely present good opportunities for investors.”
Despite that, sentiment remains cautious.
Traders are looking beyond the rate cuts to evaluate the broader economic landscape—especially the impact of U.S. layoffs, ongoing trade tensions under President Trump’s renewed tariff push, and questions surrounding the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom.
Broader Economic Concerns Cloud Bitcoin Outlook
While Wednesday’s rate cut was fully expected, the market is now focused on Powell’s upcoming remarks at the FOMC press conference.
Investors hope for clarity on how the Fed plans to navigate slowing growth, lingering inflation risks, and market liquidity conditions heading into 2026.
For now, Bitcoin’s reaction underscores continued sensitivity to macroeconomic developments, particularly as the Fed transitions from tightening to a more accommodative stance.
Bitcoin’s price dipped to $109,200 on Wednesday, marking a notable decline ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest policy announcement.
The Fed confirmed a 25-basis-point interest rate cut, aligning with market expectations, but Bitcoin’s 6% slide from its Monday rally to $116,400 caught traders off guard.
Analysts attributed the drop to short-term risk aversion before Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference, despite the anticipated cut.
Market Expectations vs. Reality
According to the Fed’s latest dot plot, policymakers expect three additional cuts in 2025.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs project at least two more 25-basis-point cuts by mid-2026, potentially bringing the benchmark rate down to the 3–3.25% range.
This outlook should theoretically support risk assets like Bitcoin, yet the crypto’s near-term movements diverged from expectations.
“Recent history has shown that the FOMC leads to a price drop in BTC, followed by a move up,” said analysts at Hyblock, a crypto analytics firm. “If price does dip post-FOMC and signs of bullish confluence emerge, such as bid-heavy orderbooks, it would likely present good opportunities for investors.”
Investors Eye Broader Economic Concerns
With rate cuts largely priced in, traders are now focusing on broader macroeconomic risks.
These include the rise in U.S. layoffs, the potential long-term impact of President Trump’s tariff measures, and uncertainty around whether the booming artificial intelligence sector represents a sustainable trend or a speculative bubble.
These factors could play a more significant role in shaping Bitcoin’s medium-term trajectory than Wednesday’s Fed decision itself.
End of Quantitative Tightening
One key takeaway from the FOMC’s statement was confirmation that the Fed will end its balance sheet reduction on December 1, marking the conclusion of its quantitative tightening program.
This policy shift may inject additional liquidity into markets over the coming months, potentially supporting risk assets like Bitcoin — though near-term volatility is expected to remain high.
Citigroup is reportedly preparing to become one of Wall Street’s first major banks to offer stablecoin payment services, signaling a major step toward mainstream adoption of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
According to Bloomberg, Citi has partnered with Coinbase to expand its digital asset operations, starting with solutions to streamline fund transfers between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies.
Debopama Sen, Citi’s head of payments, said that corporate clients increasingly seek faster, programmable, and more efficient payment options available around the clock.
“We’re exploring solutions to enable onchain stablecoin payments for our clients,” Sen said.
“Stablecoins will be another enabler in the digital payment ecosystem and it’ll help grow the space, it’ll help grow functionality for our clients.”
Stablecoins Becoming Central to Wall Street Strategy
The move comes just months after the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act, which established a legal framework for stablecoin issuance and operations, effective in 2027.
Citi is joining other major financial institutions — including JPMorgan and Bank of America — that are developing or testing their own stablecoin-related services.
Even JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, long critical of cryptocurrencies, recently confirmed that the bank “plans to be involved” in the stablecoin sector.
Citi’s Market Forecast Reflects Rapid Growth
In September, Citigroup sharply raised its projection for the stablecoin industry, forecasting a market size of up to $4 trillion by 2030 — a dramatic increase from the current valuation of around $315 billion.
The stablecoin market’s growth has been explosive, expanding from less than $5 billion in 2020 to more than $315 billion today, according to DefiLlama data.
Investor Enthusiasm Grows After Circle’s IPO
Investor interest in the sector has surged following Circle’s public listing earlier this year.
The USDC issuer’s shares jumped 167% on their debut, pushing its market capitalization to approximately $35 billion.
With regulatory clarity and growing institutional participation, Citigroup’s upcoming stablecoin payment platform could mark the beginning of a new era for global finance — one where traditional banking and blockchain technology converge.
U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to nominate Michael Selig as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), following the withdrawal of Brian Quintenz’s nomination.
Bloomberg first reported the development, citing an unnamed official within the Trump administration.
An official announcement has not yet been made.
Selig’s Crypto Background and Role at SEC
Michael Selig currently serves as chief counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) crypto task force and senior adviser to SEC Chair Paul Atkins.
He has earned a reputation as a “pro-crypto” regulator, a label welcomed by many in the digital asset community.
Selig’s potential appointment is being viewed by industry participants as a sign of continuity in Trump’s growing focus on cryptocurrency regulation.
Analysts believe that his experience bridging financial regulation and crypto innovation could help define the next phase of U.S. digital asset policy.
Nomination Shift After Quintenz Withdrawal
The CFTC nomination process has faced delays since September.
Brian Quintenz, Trump’s initial pick, withdrew his name following reported pressure from the Gemini crypto exchange co-founders, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
Quintenz later confirmed he would return to the private sector, ending speculation about his role in the administration.
Trump has considered transferring greater responsibility for cryptocurrency oversight to the CFTC since early 2024.
Under his administration’s “Working Group on Digital Assets,” the CFTC and SEC are expected to share joint responsibility for regulating various types of crypto assets.
Policy Framework for Digital Assets
The Working Group’s July report recommended assigning oversight of spot crypto markets to the CFTC, recognizing most cryptocurrencies as commodities rather than securities.
In contrast, digital assets categorized as securities — such as tokenized bonds or stock-like instruments — will remain under SEC jurisdiction.
This split aims to clarify how different types of tokens are regulated and prevent overlapping mandates.
Joint SEC–CFTC Cooperation Intensifies
In September, the two agencies issued a joint statement pledging to “harmonize” their crypto regulatory frameworks.
Legal experts described the move as a major step toward reducing uncertainty and building a more cohesive approach to U.S. crypto oversight.
The CFTC also launched a “crypto sprint” in August to fast-track policy actions based on the White House Working Group’s recommendations.
These initiatives have fueled speculation that the SEC and CFTC could eventually merge into a single body.
However, SEC Chair Paul Atkins dismissed that notion, clarifying that only Congress or the U.S. president has the authority to merge the agencies.
Bitcoin slipped back to its lowest levels of the week on Tuesday, as traders closely watched an open gap in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures market.
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed Bitcoin dropping to $107,460 on Bitstamp, marking a 2.5% decline for the day.
The move halted Bitcoin’s early-week rebound but stopped just short of completely filling the latest CME futures gap.
Understanding the CME Futures Gap
CME Bitcoin futures often create “gaps” when trading closes on Fridays and reopens on Mondays at different price points, typically due to weekend volatility in the spot market.
These gaps tend to fill relatively quickly as prices move back into the missing range between the prior close and the new open.
“$BTC opened with a small CME gap below this week. Price did come down to close some of it, but there’s still a bit left. So good to keep that in mind if price were to trade close to it,” trader Daan Crypto Trades said on X.
He added that Bitcoin had already filled a larger gap at $110,000 last week — one that had persisted since late September before Bitcoin rallied to record highs.
Market Eyes $107,000 as Key Level
For now, the remaining unfilled portion of the current CME gap sits near $107,390.
Last week’s market turbulence saw Bitcoin futures drop as low as $103,750, increasing concerns that further downside could occur if momentum fails to return.
“The bulls would want to hold $107K going forward,” Daan Crypto Trades said.
“If this were to start grinding back down, and get close to last Friday’s wick, then that’d just show a lot of weakness to me.”
Traders Warn of Potential Dip Below $100,000
Some traders believe the $100,000 support zone could soon be tested again.
Analyst Roman pointed out that Bitcoin’s recent rebound lacked sufficient trading volume to confirm a sustainable recovery.
“Didn’t trust the low volume ‘breakout’ as volume never validated a true reclaim of support. 100-98k here we come!” Roman posted.
Similarly, investor and trader Crypto Tony shared a bearish short-term outlook, noting, “Overall I expect $100,000 to hit with a possible smack lower to $95,000.”
Crypto investor Ted Pillows echoed that view, suggesting that if Bitcoin fails to find a new floor, the correction could deepen toward those lower ranges.
While Bitcoin remains above the critical $100,000 threshold for now, traders appear increasingly cautious as the market looks to determine whether recent highs were a temporary surge or the start of renewed volatility.
Bitcoin held around $107,000 on Saturday, as traders signaled caution and warned of possible new lows in the near term.
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView indicated subdued volatility heading into the weekend, providing a short break after a turbulent week that saw BTC drop roughly 7%.
At its lowest levels in months, the cryptocurrency remains under pressure due to weak buyer demand and shifting macroeconomic conditions.
“It all lines up nicely across the board for another wave down,” trader Crypto Tony said in an X post.
“Bitcoin I see us dropping to $95,000, possibly testing the $91,000 region before we find a bottom.”
Short-Term Sentiment Divided
While some traders anticipate further declines, others expect price stability over the weekend.
“BTC did a good job recovering some ground on Friday before the CME close,” said trader Daan Crypto Trades.
“This makes it so we’re likely to stick around this ~$107K level during the weekend.”
He identified $105,000 as a crucial support level, suggesting a potential rebound if global stock markets continue to strengthen.
Equities ended the week on a more optimistic note, with the S&P 500 closing at 6,664 — recovering roughly half of its previous losses.
Analysts attributed the rebound partly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments that recent tariff increases on China may not last, easing investor concerns.
Gold prices, which recently reached record highs, also moderated slightly.
RSI Suggests a Potential Reversal
Some technical indicators point to possible relief for Bitcoin bulls.
Analysts have noted that Bitcoin’s relative strength index (RSI) is at its lowest level since April, when BTC briefly fell to $75,000 before rebounding.
On the four-hour chart, RSI is forming a bullish divergence — with price reaching lower lows while RSI moves higher, suggesting selling pressure is beginning to ease below $110,000.
However, market sentiment remains cautious.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 22 out of 100 on Friday, its first time entering “extreme fear” territory since April, indicating heightened bearishness across the market.