Bitcoin’s recent volatility has sparked concerns across cryptocurrency markets, with the price experiencing a significant downturn in recent months. As of , Bitcoin was trading at $89,369, marking its sixth consecutive day of declines – the longest losing streak since .
The sell-off began in , when Bitcoin plunged to $80,524, a level not seen since . This drop erased all year-to-date gains and triggered widespread risk aversion. While the price rebounded to around $84,000, the volatility remains high, and the market is exhibiting signs of stress reminiscent of the FTX-era collapse.
Outflows and Market Sentiment
Contributing to the downward pressure are substantial outflows from spot exchanges. Since , more than $3.6 billion has left exchanges, indicating a “risk-off” positioning among traders. On , alone, $233 million was withdrawn, following a $901 million withdrawal the previous day. These large outflows are often interpreted as capitulation – investors selling off assets in response to falling prices – rather than accumulation.
Market sentiment has also deteriorated sharply. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index plunged to 12 in , signaling “extreme fear.” Historically, such low levels of sentiment haven’t necessarily marked a market bottom. Analysis of past periods when the index fell below 10 reveals that the median 30-day return for Bitcoin was only 2.1%, with significant variations. Approximately 63% of those periods did end positively, but gains were modest and often followed by extended periods of sideways trading.
Technical Indicators Point to Downtrend
Technical analysis reinforces the bearish outlook. As of , Bitcoin had fallen below both the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $90,298 and the 200-day EMA at $105,731, a clear indication of a downtrend. Fibonacci extensions suggest potential downside targets of $84,000, with more bearish scenarios pointing to $50,000 – a 40% drop from current levels.
Bitcoin is currently trading more than 3.5 standard deviations below its 200-day moving average. This level of deviation has only occurred three times in the last decade: during the late 2018 bear market, the March 2020 crash, and the June 2022 collapse of Three Arrows Capital and Luna. These events were all characterized by extreme fear, forced selling, and market exhaustion.
Broader Market Pressures
External factors are also contributing to the pressure on Bitcoin. Renewed threats of tariffs, as of , are pulling down risk assets more broadly, impacting equity markets as well. Funding rates have collapsed, spot sellers have become more active, and momentum traders have largely disappeared, indicating a lack of buying support.
Recent Rebound and Analyst Views
Despite the prevailing bearish sentiment, Bitcoin experienced a rebound, rising above $78,500. However, analysts caution that there is currently no strong basis for a long-term rally. Glassnode data shows a spike in realized losses, reaching levels last seen during the FTX capitulation. Short-term holders, those who purchased Bitcoin within the last 90 days, are actively unwinding their positions, dominating the selling pressure. Realized-loss dominance has surged to levels typically associated with panic selling.
The current market environment is fragile, with on-chain data and price action both signaling weakness. The situation highlights the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market and the sensitivity of Bitcoin to both internal and external pressures.
