Bitcoin Sellers Challenge $100,000 Milestone Amid Market Manipulation Concerns

• As Bitcoin (BTC) grapples with significant selling pressure, the $100,000 price point remains a critical battleground for traders and investors.

• Data indicates that despite recent gains, BTC is facing formidable resistance, which could lead to a pivotal market correction.

• According to popular trader Skew, the market has seen manipulative practices such as spoofing, which adds a layer of complexity to ongoing price movements.

Explore the latest Bitcoin market dynamics as it confronts resistance at $100,000 and what analysts predict for its future trajectory.

Bitcoin faces stiff opposition around $100,000

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC price action heading closer to $97,000. Following intense struggles to overcome the $100,000 threshold, fluctuations in the trading environment have re-introduced order book spoofing to exchanges over the weekend.

This tactic manifests through the placement of ask liquidity walls designed to lure the market downward, encouraging it to test stronger support levels. Popular trader Skew provided insights through his recent market analysis on X, noting:

“Ask liquidity moving lower with price $99.5K – $99K (ask walls). Fresh ask wall right above price here which likely was removed already ~ Spoofing on the ask,”

He elaborated that “this spoofing, often occurring in illiquid trading hours, forces bots to sell, leading to lower prices.” Such market maneuvers complicate the landscape as traders navigate volatility.

According to Skew, while bid liquidity stands firm at $95,000, significant activity at $97,300 has established a crucial support level. He expressed a keen interest in identifying signs of passive buying in the current market.

On a notable day, longtime holders and sellers experienced a surge in realized profits as Bitcoin approached its latest all-time high of $99,800 on November 22. Maartunn, a key analyst at the on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant, reported that the total realized profits for the day hit an impressive $443 million.

“Unrealized profit levels are elevated, currently sitting at 57%,” Maartunn stated in a follow-up post on November 23. He cautioned that these figures are nearing March 2024 levels, which heightened the likelihood of a price correction.

Earlier, Cointelegraph highlighted traders’ targets for potential BTC pullbacks, setting sights on $90,000 and lower.

Analyst retains $175,000 BTC price target

Offering a contrasting bullish perspective amidst the tumultuous market is Caleb Franzen, the creator of the financial research platform Cubic Analytics. As the crypto market has surged nearly 50% in the fourth quarter, Franzen maintains an optimistic outlook with a $175,000 price target for Bitcoin by 2025.

In his most recent blog post on November 23, he articulated that the current Bitcoin bull market remains “right on schedule.” He acknowledged,

“Sure, we’re tracking towards my target… But Bitcoin still needs to gain +77% to get there. As an FYI, BTC is up +77% since September 9th, 2024,”

He accompanied his analysis with a chart comparing 2023’s bull market performance to prior cycles in Bitcoin’s history. This contextual data provides invaluable insight into the current market trajectory and investor sentiment.

Market Sentiments and Future Outlook

As market participants weigh their options, the ongoing resistance at $100,000 will likely dictate short-term trends. Traders are advised to monitor liquidity movements and sentiment shifts closely, as these factors could influence volatility and price dynamics moving forward.

Conclusion

In summary, Bitcoin’s struggle around the pivotal $100,000 mark underscores a complex interplay of market forces, from selling pressure to manipulative trading practices. With analysts divided in their forecasts, maintaining a watchful eye on market movements remains essential. Investors must prepare for potential corrections while also considering bullish scenarios that could unfold in the coming months. The crypto landscape is ever-evolving, and strategic navigation will be key in the face of uncertainty.