On May 16th, Bitcoin briefly dipped to just above $101,000 before recovering to over $104,000. In contrast, altcoins faced a notable decline, showcasing weaker performance across the board. According to YouHodler’s Chief Market Officer, Ruslan Lienkha, this recent pullback is likely a mere retracement within an overarching mid-term uptrend. The stock market’s momentum has waned following the U.S.-China tariff postponement, prompting short-term traders to secure profits, which has similarly affected higher-risk assets such as Bitcoin.
As explained by CoinPanel’s Trading Automation Expert, Kirill Kretov, price movements under 5% are typically viewed as market noise. Much of this volatility can be attributed to profit-taking, as traders capitalize on gains from the recent bullish trend. The diminished liquidity means that even slight sell-offs can lead to substantial corrections. Nonetheless, while short-term fluctuations occur, the broader price trajectory remains robust, lacking indications of an imminent peak.
Furthermore, K33 Research’s Senior Analyst, Vetle Lunde, highlighted that Bitcoin has recently come out of one of the longest stretches of negative funding rates, indicating cautious market positioning. This scenario mirrors historical patterns from October 2023 and October 2024, which were notably distinct from prior price peaks. Lunde expresses optimism, suggesting that Bitcoin’s performance above $100,000 does not signify a bubble, but instead, sets the stage for potential new all-time highs.
Additionally, Steno Research notes that a significant driver for cryptocurrencies is the concealed expansion of private credit in the U.S. and Europe. Current leading indicators hint at an upcoming improvement in the global financial landscape, primarily fueled by the weakening U.S. dollar this summer.