As Bitcoin (BTC) continues to hover in the high $110,000 range, on-chain data suggests that a short-term price pullback may be imminent. That said, the broader market structure remains firmly bullish. Bitcoin Exchange Reserves Hit Near-Month High According to a recent CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor ShayanMarkets, BTC reserves on centralized exchanges have risen to their highest level since June 25. This surge in exchange-held Bitcoin may signal increasing profit-taking activity among investors. Related Reading: Bitcoin Set To Soar? Analyst Sees Fresh $2 Billion Liquidity Triggering Next Leg Up A rise in BTC inflows to exchanges typically precedes distribution phases, as more coins become available for potential sale. This shift is often interpreted as a weakening in buy-side pressure, which could lead to a short-term price decline. ShayanMarkets commented: Historically, rising exchange reserves are associated with local market tops, as more BTC becomes available for potential sale. However, this metric alone should not be seen as a definitive trigger for immediate price drops. Broader market liquidity, sentiment, and demand dynamics remain key. The analyst emphasized that while higher reserves may suggest short-term selling pressure, they don’t necessarily indicate a reversal in trend. Any correction should be evaluated in context, unless accompanied by a significant change in macroeconomic or technical indicators. In a separate CryptoQuant post, analyst Darkfost pointed out a sharp uptick in Bitcoin whale activity. Notably, the last two Bitcoin local tops occurred when monthly average inflows from whales exceeded $75 billion. Between July 14 and July 18, average monthly inflows from whale wallets surged from $28 billion to $45 billion – a $17 billion jump. This pattern suggests that some whales may be taking profits following Bitcoin’s recent all-time high of $123,218 on Binance. What Does On-Chain Data Suggest? On-chain data also shows that long-term holders are distributing their BTC, while short-term holders are increasingly accumulating. This kind of rotation is often associated with late-stage rally behavior and potential exhaustion. Related Reading: Bitcoin Set To Soar? Analyst Sees Fresh $2 Billion Liquidity Triggering Next Leg Up Still, the short-term holder Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio currently sits at 1.15, well below the typical profit-taking threshold of 1.35. This suggests that there may still be room for further price appreciation before a broader selloff begins. However, not all indicators are reassuring. The Bitcoin NVT Golden Cross – a metric that compares network value to transaction volume – is trending higher, which may point to growing market froth. Likewise, exchange data from Binance indicates that BTC could be facing a near-term pullback. At press time, Bitcoin trades at $118,052, down 0.4% over the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)

Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,750 zone. ETH is now showing bullish signs and might continue to rise toward the $3,950 zone. Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $3,750 level. The price is trading above $3,650 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $3,720 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it remains supported above the $3,650 zone in the near term. Ethereum Price Rises Further Above $3,800 Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,650 zone, outperforming Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above the $3,750 resistance zone to remain in a positive zone. The bulls even pumped the price above $3,800. Finally, it tested the $3,860 zone. A high was formed at $3,859 and the price is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $3,031 swing low to the $3,859 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $3,700 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support at $3,720 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. On the upside, the price could face resistance near the $3,800 level. The next key resistance is near the $3,860 level. The first major resistance is near the $3,920 level. A clear move above the $3,920 resistance might send the price toward the $3,950 resistance. An upside break above the $3,950 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $4,000 resistance zone or even $4,200 in the near term. Are Downsides Limited In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,800 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,720 level. The first major support sits near the $3,650 zone. A clear move below the $3,620 support might push the price toward the $3,550 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,450 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,320. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $3,650 Major Resistance Level – $3,860 Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)

Bitcoin price is consolidating gains below the $118,000 resistance. BTC could start a downside correction if it breaks the $116,200 support zone. Bitcoin started a fresh decline after it failed to clear the $120,000 zone. The price is trading below $118,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $118,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might start another increase if it clears the $120,000 resistance zone. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price started a correction after the bulls failed to clear the $120,000 resistance. BTC dipped below the $118,000 level and tested the $116,200 zone. A low was formed at $116,260 and the price is now attempting a fresh increase. The bulls were above to push the price above the $117,000 resistance level. There was a move toward the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $119,630 swing high to the $116,260 low. Bitcoin is now trading below $118,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $118,000 level. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $118,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The first key resistance is near the $118,400 level. It is close to the 61.8% Fib level of the downward move from the $119,630 swing high to the $116,260 low. The next resistance could be $119,150. A close above the $119,150 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $120,500 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $122,000 level. The main target could be $123,200. Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $118,400 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $116,200 level. The first major support is near the $115,500 level. The next support is now near the $115,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $112,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $111,200, below which BTC might continue to move down. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $116,200, followed by $115,500. Major Resistance Levels – $118,000 and $120,500. Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)

Bitcoin’s upward price trajectory has slightly cooled, with the asset now trading just below the $119,000 mark, reflecting a 3% decline over the past week. The dip follows a sustained upward trend that has seen significant interest from both institutional and retail participants in recent months. The current pause in momentum may suggest a temporary rebalancing, with market participants potentially reassessing their positions. As price movement stabilizes, on-chain analysts have begun to highlight deeper structural shifts within Bitcoin’s blockchain activity. According to CryptoQuant contributor Avocado onchain, one key trend gaining attention is the continued decline in Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) count. While at first glance this might seem related to falling transaction volumes, the underlying cause points to a more strategic restructuring by institutional participants. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whale Metrics Flash Mixed Signals: Monthly Inflows Rise And Daily Outflows Start Slowing Institutional Consolidation Reshaping On-Chain Structure Avocado explained that since December 2024, Bitcoin’s UTXO count has steadily decreased, a development he attributes to growing over-the-counter (OTC) activity and consolidation efforts by large holders. These entities, primarily whales and institutional investors, are reportedly merging multiple UTXOs into fewer addresses, a process that increases on-chain efficiency and reflects a preference for long-term custody. “The post-ETF approval environment has driven more assets into secure wallets, moving funds off exchanges into institutional-grade custody,” he wrote. This structural shift suggests that long-term holders are preparing for extended exposure rather than immediate market participation. Instead of dispersing funds for frequent trades, these institutions are consolidating their Bitcoin holdings into larger ones, indicating reduced near-term liquidity but possibly greater long-term market stability. The impact is visible in the on-chain footprint, where the number of active UTXOs has not kept pace with prior bull cycles. Bitcoin Muted Retail Activity and Future Market Signals While institutional activity appears to be solidifying, retail investor behavior remains subdued. Avocado noted that, unlike previous cycles where retail-driven volume increases contributed to UTXO growth, the current rally lacks that widespread grassroots engagement. The number of newly created UTXOs has remained relatively flat, reinforcing the view that retail participation is yet to catch up. Looking ahead, the analyst suggests that any renewed wave of short-term speculation, often sparked by sharp price movements, could reignite retail interest. This would be reflected in increased UTXO creation, exchange activity, and possibly greater volatility. Until then, the market appears to be led primarily by long-term strategic accumulation. Related Reading: The Final Bitcoin Act: Here’s What To Expect As BTC Trends Sideways Despite the current slowdown in price, underlying metrics remain constructive. Exchange inflows are moderate, long-term holders continue to accumulate, and institutional capital flows persist. These factors suggest that the market is still in a consolidative phase, rather than signaling a reversal. Should retail participation return and on-chain activity broaden, Bitcoin could see renewed upside supported by both foundational demand and speculative inflows. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)