Bitcoin is once again trading at a critical juncture as it flirts with an all-time high (ATH), yet this time, the usual euphoria is missing. The asset has surged more than 40% since early April, pushing toward the $109K mark, but market sentiment feels unusually cautious. Rather than the typical wave of hype and FOMO that tends to accompany such rallies, investors appear more reserved, suggesting underlying uncertainty and fear of a potential pullback.
Despite the quiet tone, on-chain signals point to something more constructive. According to recent insights from CryptoQuant, Bitcoin’s current rally is showing characteristics of a healthier bull market. This rebound, unlike previous ones, is not accompanied by an overheated funding rate. More importantly, Binance’s market buy volume is trending downward, a sign that price growth is not being fueled by excessive leverage or short-term speculation.
This divergence between price strength and market sentiment has analysts divided. While some expect a breakout and continuation into price discovery, others warn that a retrace may be near. One thing is clear: Bitcoin is coiling for a major move—and whether that means new highs or a shakeout, the next few days will be decisive.
Bitcoin Testing Resistance As Signs Point To A Healthier Rally
Bitcoin is currently battling key supply levels after a volatile weekend that saw the price surge to $107,000 before quickly retracing over 4% into lower demand zones. This sharp move triggered caution across the market, with many analysts now calling for a potential pullback. With Bitcoin hovering near the psychologically important $100K level, bulls must defend this zone to maintain the current bullish structure and avoid further downside.
Resistance remains strong between $105K and the previous ATH near $109K, where liquidity clusters could either absorb buying pressure or trigger an explosive breakout. However, according to new insights from CryptoQuant, the nature of this rally is notably different from prior cycles.
In previous bull runs, each new ATH was followed by overheated funding rates and aggressive market buy volume, both indicators of short-term speculative excess. These surges were consistently followed by corrections that reset the market. This time, however, funding rates remain moderate, and Binance’s buy volume is trending downward. While this may appear as weak momentum on the surface, it could actually be a sign of a more stable and sustainable rally.
Unlike past overheated phases, the market now appears lighter and more cautious. Despite short-term volatility, buy volume has shown a steady uptrend since 2023, indicating continued interest from long-term participants. This underlying strength suggests that Bitcoin still has room to grow and may be gearing up for a more durable move into price discovery, so long as $100K holds.
Price Action Showing Volatility Amid Breakout Attempts
Bitcoin is currently trading near $105,000, consolidating after a volatile push that briefly tapped $107,000. On the 4-hour chart, BTC is forming a tight range between $103,600 and $105,500, with visible support resting at $103,600 — a level that has acted as a springboard for multiple bounces in recent days. The price structure suggests a potential breakout attempt, but failure to hold current levels could lead to a retest of $100,000.
The 200-period simple and exponential moving averages (SMA and EMA) continue sloping upward, reflecting the strength of the ongoing uptrend. Notably, BTC remains well above both indicators — the SMA near $96,600 and the EMA around $97,600 — showing that the macro trend remains intact for now.
Volume has declined slightly during the consolidation, hinting that traders are waiting for confirmation before positioning. A breakout above the local highs near $107,000 could open the door to price discovery and a run toward the all-time high near $109,000. However, if BTC loses $103,600 support, bearish momentum could quickly build.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
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