Crypto Today: Bitcoin Defies Gravity at $115,000 as Steady Accumulation Continues - Ethereum and XRP Lock In Gains

Digital assets flex strength as institutional accumulation meets retail FOMO.

Bitcoin's Bullish Foundation

The flagship cryptocurrency isn't just holding $115,000—it's building a fortress around it. Steady accumulation from both whales and retail investors creates a support floor that's looking increasingly bulletproof. This isn't speculation; it's a calculated positioning for what comes next.

Ethereum's Silent Outperformance

While Bitcoin grabs headlines, Ethereum continues its methodical climb. The network's transition to proof-of-stake keeps paying dividends—literally and figuratively. Smart contract activity isn't just recovering; it's evolving into something institutional money can't ignore anymore.

XRP's Unexpected Resilience

Once written off by traditional finance, XRP's holding pattern suggests something brewing beneath the surface. The token's legal clarity finally lets its technology speak for itself—and institutions are actually listening for once.

The real story? Crypto's not just back—it's growing up. While traditional finance still debates whether digital assets are 'real,' smart money already moved on to calculating ROI. Some things never change—wall Street's always late to the party they claim to be hosting.

Data spotlight: Bitcoin whales support price recovery as institutional demand steadies 

Bitcoin wallets holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC are steadily accumulating, adding more than 65,000 BTC in the past seven days, bringing the cohort's total holdings to 3.65 million BTC. According to XWIN Research Japan's post on CryptoQuant, demand for Bitcoin has picked up pace, with the price hovering around $112,000.

Bitcoin Long-Term Holder Net Position | Source: CryptoQuant

"Exchange Netflow data provides additional evidence. Net outflows—BTC withdrawn from exchanges – have dominated recently, signaling that investors are moving coins into cold storage rather than keeping them liquid for trading," XWIN Research Japan' highlighted.

Bitcoin Exchange Netflow | Source: CryptoQuant 

If this trend remains intact, it could create a supply squeeze – the recipe for higher prices. Still, short-term corrections can be expected, especially if derivatives leverage overheats.

Apart from large volume holders, demand for bitcoin spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the United States (US) has surged this week, totaling $1.7 billion so far. According to SoSoValue data, inflows into all 12 BTC ETFs totaled $553 million on Thursday. 

Bitcoin ETF stats | Source: SoSoValue

As risk-on sentiment improves ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest-rate decision next week, demand for Bitcoin and related financial products has the potential to grow, steadying the uptrend toward the psychological $120,000 level.

Ethereum spot ETFs in the US have now experienced their third consecutive day of inflows, following six days of outflows, which reflects a significant shift in sentiment. The chart below shows that ETH ETFs saw $113 million in total daily inflows on Thursday, bringing the cumulative net inflow to $12.96 billion and the total net assets to $28.51 billion.

Ethereum ETF stats | Source: SoSoValue

Meanwhile, retail interest in XRP remains relatively high compared to last week. CoinGlass data shows the XRP futures Open Interest (OI) averaging $8.51 billion on Thursday, up from $7.37 billion on Sunday. 

The rising OI trend suggests that investors bet in XRP's ability to sustain its recovery to the record high of $3.66 reached on July 18.

XRP Futures Open Interest | Source: CoinGlass

Chart of the day: Can Bitcoin sustain uptrend toward $120,000?

Bitcoin holds slightly above $115,000 after correcting from an intraday high of $116,331. The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has, in the last two weeks, flipped several key levels into support, including the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $111,012, the 50-day EMA at $113,117 and the round-number level at $114,500, underscoring positive market sentiment.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator reinforces the bullish outlook with a buy signal that has been sustained since Sunday on the daily chart, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) position at 57 indicates steady bullish momentum.

Traders will look for a daily close above $116,000 to ascertain the strength of the uptrend toward the $120,000 level. Still, market participants should be cautious as the RSI shows signs of declining toward the 50 midline, which could mean a reduction in buying pressure .

BTC/USDT daily chart

Altcoins update: Ethereum, XRP uphold recovery 

Ethereum price holds above $4,500 at the time of writing on Friday. Its short-term outlook is bullish, supported by a steadily rising RSI at 58 on the daily chart. Higher RSI readings toward overbought territory suggest that mean buying pressure is increasing in support of the uptrend, eyeing a breakout to the $4,956 all-time high.

Traders will consider increasing exposure if the blue MACD line crosses above the red signal line. A buy signal encourages investors to position themselves ahead of a potential price increase.

If short-term profit-taking takes centre stage, a reversal could ensue as ethereum trims recent gains. The 50-day EMA at $4,126 and the 100-day EMA at $3,680 are in line to provide support.

ETH/USDT daily chart 

As for XRP, the path of least resistance appears to be upward, bolstered by a break above a three-month descending trendline on the daily chart. The cross-border money remittance token also holds above its key moving averages, including the 50-day EMA at $2.92, the 100-day EMA $2.79 and the 200-day EMA at $2.54, affirming bullish sentiment in crypto markets.

XRP/USDT daily chart

With the MACD sustaining a buy signal from Monday, also on the daily chart, XRP has the potential to steady the recovery toward resistance at $3.35, which was previously tested in mid-August. An extended break WOULD likely drive XRP closer to its record high of $3.66.

Open Interest, funding rate FAQs

How does Open Interest affect cryptocurrency prices?

Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.

How does Funding rates affect cryptocurrency prices?

Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.