support resistance levels,” “crypto market volatility,” “Bitcoin technical analysis”)
Bitcoin is once again approaching the $100,000 threshold, a level that’s become a psychological anchor for traders. After peaking near $126,000 earlier this month, the digital asset has shed nearly 20%, dragged down by ETF outflows, macroeconomic uncertainty, and fading safe-haven narratives. The current slide reflects a broader risk-off sentiment as investors reassess exposure to volatile assets.
Technically, Bitcoin is hovering near a confluence of support: the lower trendline of its three-month trading range and the rising 200-day moving average. If bulls defend this zone, a bounce toward $117,000 is possible. But if selling pressure intensifies, a breakdown toward $93,000 could follow, marking a deeper correction phase.
So much for “Uptober.” Bitcoin is now teetering near the edge of erasing all its 2025 gains, dragged down by renewed U.S. China trade tensions that triggered a sharp reversal in the digital asset market. BTCUSD has dropped roughly 7% since Monday, according to Messari, as investors rotate out of risk assets amid macro uncertainty.
The selloff has spilled into crypto-linked equities. Shares of Bitcoin Treasury Strategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN), and Circle (CRCL) have each fallen more than 5% over the past five days. With Bitcoin now trading around $107,000, its year-to-date return sits at 14% roughly matching the S&P 500, a stark contrast to its earlier outperformance.
Last week’s trade shock sparked a historic purge in crypto markets, dismantling the narrative that Bitcoin could act as a safe-haven asset. The correlation with gold has broken down, and as Ed Yardeni put it, “Gold is the new Bitcoin” a sentiment echoed by retail investors chasing record highs in precious metals.
Rising U.S. China trade tensions have deflated Bitcoin’s momentum, dragging the price down from recent highs and challenging its reputation as a hedge against market volatility. The simultaneous surge in gold prices reinforces the idea that investors are once again treating Bitcoin more like a speculative risk asset than a digital safe haven.
Still, not all hope is lost for bulls. Some crypto analysts point to strong on-chain metrics, institutional inflows, and resilient support levels as signs that Bitcoin’s uptrend could resume if macro conditions stabilize or regulatory clarity improves.
Bitcoin’s retreat from its recent all-time high isn’t surprising to seasoned traders. Historically, major rallies have often been followed by sharp corrections, and this latest pullback fits that pattern. Despite the dip, many analysts remain optimistic about the broader trend.
With Bitcoin once again behaving more like a high-volatility risk asset than a safe-haven hedge, experts are shifting focus to crypto-native signals. Ben Cowen of Into the Cryptoverse is watching the 50-week moving average currently near $100,000 as a key support level. He believes BTC could notch another peak before a potential bear cycle in 2026, as long as it holds that technical floor.
Institutional players are also signaling confidence. Ark Invest and Fidelity, issuers of ARKB and FBTC respectively, released bullish quarterly updates. Ark highlighted a 40% increase in public company crypto holdings and healthy derivatives activity. Fidelity echoed that sentiment, citing strong on-chain metrics and macro tailwinds as reasons to expect more upside even amid short-term volatility.
Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise Asset Management and issuer of the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), believes the recent crypto market selloff won’t derail long-term momentum. According to Hougan, the absence of major collapses among key players and the seamless performance of blockchain infrastructure during the volatility are signs of growing maturity in the space.
He also noted that professional investors have “largely ignored” the downturn, suggesting that institutional conviction remains intact. This resilience could help stabilize sentiment and support a rebound, especially as macro conditions evolve and regulatory clarity improves.