Bitcoin Battles at $100K: Traders Pull Back as Crypto Market Holds Its Breath
Market jitters hit crypto as BTC tests critical support—will the bulls hold the line?
Key Levels in Play: Bitcoin's $100K test triggers risk-off sentiment across exchanges. Traders slash leverage while institutional players circle like vultures eyeing discounted entry points.
Liquidity Watch: Order books show thin support below $98K—a breakdown could trigger cascading liquidations. Meanwhile, perpetual funding rates flip negative for the first time since September.
The Street's Take: 'This is either the buying opportunity of the decade or proof that Wall Street's 'digital gold' narrative was just a way to sell more futures contracts,' quipped one sardonic analyst.
The crypto market is ending the week on a weaker note. Bitcoin price has slipped to around $99,984 and is struggling to hold the key psychological level of $100,000. Over the last 30 days, Bitcoin has dropped nearly 18%, ending what was earlier a strong bullish phase. The main reason behind this decline is the recent message from the US Federal Reserve. The Fed hinted that interest rate cuts may slow down, which immediately pushed the US dollar higher. When the dollar strengthens, investors tend to exit risky investments, and cryptocurrencies are usually the first to feel that impact.
Ethereum is also under selling pressure, trading NEAR $3,217. Market indexes such as the CoinDesk 5 Index and the CoinDesk 20 Index show a similar trend, both down around 3% in the last 24 hours. Overall, the market is cautious and traders are avoiding aggressive decisions.
Traders Reduce Risk in Futures Market
In the derivatives market, traders are lowering their exposure and reducing leverage. The total open interest in Bitcoin futures has dropped to around $24.9 billion, signaling that traders are closing positions and preparing for more volatility. More than $600 million in long positions were liquidated in just one day, meaning traders who expected prices to rise were forced out as Bitcoin fell.
However, the options market is showing a more hopeful tone. More traders are buying call options than put options, meaning some still believe a rebound could be on the way. The zone around $100,000 is becoming a strong support area, as many trades are concentrated around that price. If Bitcoin holds above this level, it could help stabilize the market in the short term.
Altcoins Drop, But AI Tokens Stand Out
Altcoins continue to feel heavier selling pressure than Bitcoin. XRP dropped by nearly 5%, and ethereum fell around 3.5%. The altcoin season index is now down to 22/100, signaling very low demand for altcoins and weak confidence among traders.
Yet, AI-related tokens are outperforming the rest of the market. Fetch AI (FET) surged more than 23%, and NEAR gained around 22%, supported by strong trading activity on exchanges like Binance and KuCoin. Investors appear to be shifting their funds into AI projects even while most tokens are declining.
Bitcoin Outlook
Bitcoin remains near $99,984, roughly 20% below its recent all-time high, but its long-term trend remains healthy. With 19.94 million BTC already in circulation out of a fixed supply of 21 million, Bitcoin’s scarcity continues to be a major value driver. Short-term indicators show weakness, and momentum looks bearish, but technical indicators like the RSI show bitcoin is close to an oversold zone, suggesting potential recovery. Long-term averages still point to strength, meaning the broader bullish outlook remains intact if Bitcoin can hold the $100,000 support level.
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FAQs
What is happening in the Bitcoin futures market?Traders are reducing leverage, with $600M in long positions liquidated and total open interest dropping to $24.9B, signaling caution ahead.
Are altcoins performing worse than Bitcoin?Yes, altcoins like XRP and Ethereum are down more than Bitcoin, with low demand reflected by an altcoin season index of 22/100.
Which crypto tokens are performing well despite market weakness?AI-related tokens such as Fetch AI (FET) and NEAR are outperforming, seeing gains of 20%+ due to strong trading activity and investor interest.
Is Bitcoin likely to recover soon?Bitcoin is near $100,000 support with RSI signaling oversold conditions. While short-term momentum is weak, long-term trends remain bullish if support holds.
