The next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is fast approaching, and the bets are already pouring in as to what it would mean for the Bitcoin and crypto industry. The last FOMC meeting took place in September, when the Federal Reserve ended up cutting rates down to 4-4.25% after months of no rate cuts. With this setting the tone, the expectations that another rate cut could be on the way are getting louder, with the FedWatch Tool showing a high percentage.
Market Expects Another Rate Cut To 3.75-4%
The next FOMC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and there is already a major clamor around what the Fed is planning on doing. The current market headwinds point to a favorable outcome for risk assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, with expected rate cuts.
Currently, the CME FedWatch Tool is showing that the probability of a rate cut has risen to 98.3% as of the time of this writing. This leaves only a 1.7% chance that the Federal Reserve will actually leave rates at their current levels, and there is zero chance that there will be a rate hike.
A reduction in the rate cuts is good for businesses all around, as lower interest rates mean better loan terms and increased spending and borrowing. Thus, it will increase the participation in the markets, from consumer goods to the stock market, and then make its way into newer markets such as Bitcoin and crypto.
Expectations For Bitcoin And Crypto Are Getting Higher
A rate cut by the Federal Reserve aligns with the more pro-crypto stance that the United States has been moving in since President Donald Trump was elected. Last week, the president pardoned the Founder and former CEO of the Binance crypto exchange, Changpeng Zhao, after he previously pled guilty to money laundering violations back in 2024. Zhao has since served a 4-month stint before the pardon from Trump came.
With the US embracing Bitcoin and crypto again, a rate cut will only further the ascent, allowing more investors to get into the market as liquidity frees up. The initial announcement has been known to trigger a rapid increase in the market. But as the news settles, the crypto market is expected to continue to rise in response.
However, nothing is certain until the FOMC meeting is complete and the announcement is made. For the Bitcoin and crypto market to remain bullish, inflation will also have to be reduced, as an increase could trigger more conservative stances from investors.
The crypto market, despite experiencing throughout the year major price fluctuations, security incidents, and legal hurdles, has experienced remarkable growth.
This can be attributed to the expansion of digital asset treasuries (DATs), increased institutional adoption, and new initiatives aimed at integrating digital assets, particularly stablecoins, into traditional financial sectors.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) recently shared their projections for the crypto landscape for the remainder of the year and years to come, highlighting nine key trends expected to be major catalysts for the industry.
Key Legislative Changes And Institutional Adoption
Firstly, market structure legislation in the US is expected to emerge as a critical priority for policymakers and Congress, establishing a clear regulatory framework that supports crypto developers.
The passage of the GENIUS Act in July of this year also marked a pivotal moment, garnering bipartisan support and providing builders with much-needed certainty in their endeavors.
Secondly, the adoption of stablecoins is set to accelerate as network effects take hold among financial institutions, merchants, and consumers, thereby enhancing the global standing of the US dollar.
Furthermore, major players like JPMorgan, Citi, BlackRock, and Fidelity are amplifying their crypto offerings through new product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions.
The infrastructure supporting blockchain technology is also advancing rapidly. Current networks can process over 3,400 transactions per second, marking a 100-fold increase over the past five years.
Moreover, a new wave of real-world assets (RWAs) is transitioning onto the blockchain as the worlds of crypto and traditional finance converge. The market for tokenized real-world assets has expanded to nearly $30 billion, with significant contributions from Treasuries, money market funds, and private credit.
The Future Of Crypto
In parallel, the crypto sector is attracting a growing pool of talent, driven by a more favorable regulatory environment and the emergence of new opportunities for developers.
The focus on revenue generation is also shifting within the token ecosystem. More tokens are implementing fee mechanisms, redirecting attention toward fundamental value. In the past year, users have paid $33 billion in fees, resulting in $18 billion for projects and $4 billion for token holders.
Innovative consumer products are also expected to drive the next wave of crypto adoption. Although approximately 716 million people now own cryptocurrency, only 40 to 70 million are considered active users.
Ultimately, 2025 is poised to lay the groundwork and establish the foundations for the years to come. It is expected to be a transformative year for the crypto industry, characterized by widespread institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and tangible utility.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Despite facing criticism for lagging behind the United States in creating a more accommodating environment for cryptocurrency growth and adoption, China reaffirmed its stringent stance on crypto once again this week.
Authorities issued warnings about the alleged risks posed by stablecoins, particularly amid concerns that the US may have solidified its dollar dominance through these digital assets.
US GENIUS Act Vs. China’s Crypto Caution
According to local media reports, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, announced plans to expand the use of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as the “e-CNY.”
He remarked, “[Stablecoins] are still in their early stages of development,” emphasizing that financial regulators globally remain cautious about these assets, which are typically pegged to other currencies.
In the United States, however, Trump’s policies toward digital assets have resulted in the passage of the GENIUS Act, as the first crypto bill aimed at laying the framework for the adoption of these dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies.
Yet, Pan highlighted that stablecoins currently fail to meet essential requirements such as customer identification and anti-money laundering (AML) measures, which could allegedly exacerbate gaps in global financial regulation.
He expressed concern that these issues foster a “speculative market atmosphere,” increasing vulnerabilities in the global financial system and affecting the monetary sovereignty of less developed economies.
The central bank plans to collaborate with law enforcement to continue cracking down on domestic operations and speculation related to crypto. “The policies and measures implemented since 2017 to address risks associated with virtual currencies remain in effect,” he stated.
Regulatory Revisions Ahead
Despite China’s continuous crypto crackdown, research on stablecoins is progressing within China. The country’s largest government-backed research fund recently opened applications for studies focused on stablecoins and their cross-border monitoring systems, offering grants ranging from 200,000 yuan (approximately $28,083) to 300,000 yuan ($42,126).
The central bank also plans to optimize the positioning of the digital yuan, allowing more commercial banks to participate in the pilot program that has been running in over two dozen cities since 2019, accumulating a transaction value exceeding 14 trillion yuan.
Zhu Hexin, director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, indicated that nine new policy measures would soon be introduced to promote trade innovation and development, with the potential to bring positive developments for the growth of the crypto ecosystem in the Asian country.
Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, also hinted at the possibility of such measures, stating that the regulator would review listing standards on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s ChiNext board to better align with the characteristics of emerging fields and future industries.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
After months of growing uncertainty and anticipation, the debut of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Hedera (HBAR) and Litecoin (LTC) is set to commence tomorrow, as confirmed by Canary Capital’s CEO Steven McClurg on Monday.
Hedera And Litecoin ETF Launches Imminent
Crypto reporter Eleanor Terret shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that the ETF launches for Litecoin and Hedera are imminent, with a statement from McClurg underscoring the excitement for the upcoming launch.
Notably, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has also made significant moves in the ETF sector by certifying 8-A filings and issuing listing notices for Bitwise Invest’s spot Solana (SOL) ETF launch tomorrow and Grayscale’s GSOL conversion slated for Wednesday.
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, these ETF debuts are proceeding smoothly, Terret confirmed. The legal processes behind ETF launches, including the crucial 8-A filings, have been completed successfully, paving the way for the launch of these investment vehicles.
ETF Listings Confirmed
Addressing concerns about Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval during the shutdown, a key detail emerged: the issuers strategically included provisions in their amended S-1 filings, enabling automatic effectiveness 20 days post-filing. This ensures a seamless transition to trading without manual SEC approval.
Bloomberg’s ETF expert, Eric Balchunas, further corroborated this development on social media, confirming the listing notices for Bitwise, Canary, to launch imminently, with grayscale Solana’s conversion scheduled shortly after. Balchunas stated, “Assuming there’s not some last min SEC intervention, looks like this is happening.”
The news has sparked a recovery in HBAR and LTC prices. Litecoin has regained the key $100 mark with a 2% surge in the 24-hour time frame, while Hedera has seen similar gains of 2.1% during the same period.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
When market experts, watchers and enthusiasts speak of bull market in crypto, wild rallies, retail joy and altcoins mooning, are easily brought to mind . However, this cycle seems different. For many, the term crypto bull market no longer means euphoric highs, it feels like a grind.
The blockchains are active, big-name institutions are all in and the charts are up. But the energy and optimism of past cycles is missing. This is the backdrop that is making experts question why this crypto bull market grind has emerged, what’s shaping it and how it’s different from 2017 and 2021.
Institutions Took Over the Room
The tale around this cycle starts with institutions. Certain market reports call 2025 the year the “world went on-chain”, highlighting institutional adoption and stablecoins as the main themes. Traditional banking, asset management, and fintech firms have dabbled and built infrastructure, custody networks, and tokenization platforms.
As a recent sources put it, they say financial institutions have embraced crypto after years of watching from the sidelines.
This has changed the market. Instead of chasing altcoin hype, many big players are focused on regulated corridors, institutional custody and real-world asset tokenization.
In effect; they own the pipes through which retail traders must flow. The result therefore is that the cycle looks more like the maturation of crypto’s financial plumbing and less like the wild west of earlier years.
Memecoins Became the Culture Engine and the Drain
While institutions professionalized the space, the opposite force roared from the grassroots which are meme coins. Humor, irony and community tokens exploded across chains, changing the tone of the cycle. According to sources, what began as satire became the dominant narrative of 2024 and 2025.
Data shows meme coin market is still growing but in a weird way. In 2025, it is estimated to be 5-7% of global crypto market-cap, or $80-90 billion.
Platforms like Pump.fun on Solana enabled millions of tokens to launch, but most traders lost money while infrastructure owners made the money.
That changed the psychology of the cycle. Retail that once chased broad altcoin seasons found themselves playing mini-token launches and the odds were stacked against the individual.
The meme coin culture thrived but the era of alt-season joy became harder to sustain.
Macro Pressures Squeezed Risk Appetite
Beyond institutions and meme culture, the macro environment has had a big impact on this crypto bull market grind. High interest rates, risk-off sentiment and liquidity constraints reportedly killed speculative flows. And indeed in 2025, capital seems more expensive and speculative asset classes (many altcoins included) have fewer positive developments.
As a result, even though Bitcoin is at new highs, the rest of the market feels flat, lethargic or brutally repressed.
The interplay of institutional adoption which favors big, regulated assets, and macro caution which limits speculative leverage has created a cycle where growth exists but feels thin, incremental and far less exciting than previous bull runs.
Bitcoin’s Role in a Changing Narrative
Bitcoin on its own stays as the anchor. According to multiple market sources, Bitcoin price appreciation and growing legitimacy are backed by macro- and regulatory-driven forces not just hype. Reports say Bitcoin is core to crypto’s maturation.
This means the crypto bull market grind is less about risk-on altcoin explosions and more about consolidation, institutional ingress and standards of infrastructure.
For many in crypto, that is less exciting, but arguably more sustainable. The sentiment has shifted as this cycle is reinforcing the system rather than igniting wild outsized alts.
Conclusion
Combining these threads, a clearer picture of why the crypto bull market grind feels so different is obtained.
Institutional adoption has increased legitimacy but also anchored expectations around regulated assets rather than speculative up-swings.
Meme coins dominate cultural narratives but the upside is skewed and the environment is highly competitive and treacherous.
Macro conditions has restrained speculative flows and forced the market into a slower growth mode.
Bitcoin’s dominance means the broader market is less about wild rallies and more about incremental infrastructure growth and asset re-classification.
In short, this bull cycle is about transition from frontier experimentation to a more integrated, regulated, infrastructure-led phase of crypto.
This removes some of the fireworks but replaces them with the architecture of a financial system. For many who came for the “number goes up” style ride, the word “grind” feels apt.
Glossary
Altcoin: Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.
Institutional adoption: The participation of big financial firms (banks; asset managers); in crypto assets and infrastructure.
Meme coin: A cryptocurrency built around internet memes; jokes or viral culture, with little underlying use.
Macro: Broad economic factors like interest rates, liquidity; inflation and risk appetite that affect asset markets.
Tokenization: Creating digital tokens to represent ownership of real-world assets; on a blockchain.
Bull: A market where prices are up everyone is positive and more people are buying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crypto Bull Market Grind
Why does the 2025 crypto bull market feel different from past cycles?
Because the market is being shaped by institutional infrastructure; meme coin culture and macro constraints rather than widespread retail frenzy and broad alt-season surges.
Are meme coins still important in this cycle?
Yes, they are still culturally prominent and active, but their value dynamics are different. The infrastructure around them captures most of the returns and the environment is more competitive and less favorable for the average retail trader.
Is Bitcoin dominating because of maturity rather than hype?
Exactly. Bitcoin’s increasing institutional support; regulatory clarity and role as a foundational asset means it’s less subject to wild swings and more aligned with long-term finance systems.
Does this mean altcoins are dead?
Not dead, but altcoins face a tougher environment. With less speculative capital, more scrutiny and higher expectations for utility, only those with strong fundamentals and product-market fit are likely to perform.
The Dogecoin price shows quiet strength as retail sentiment stays weak. Dormant whales accumulated 15.1 million DOGE, worth about $2.95 million, signaling renewed long-term confidence.
The move contrasts sharply with soft trading activity among small investors. Many retail holders continue to sell into every minor rally, showing limited confidence in short-term gains. The cautious behavior reflects broader market uncertainty and hesitation to buy at current levels.
Whales Reactivate as DOGE Accumulation Rises
On-chain data reveals a steady accumulation of DOGE by high-value wallets. One whale address reactivated after months of dormancy, adding 15.1 million DOGE to its holdings.
It later sold 7,473 DOGE for about $1,450, leaving 15.19 million DOGE valued near $12.96 million. Analysts view this as a strong signal that institutional or early adopters are positioning ahead of the next market phase.
While retail traders appear cautious, large wallets are quietly adding exposure. This split in behavior highlights an ongoing tug-of-war between speculative exit and long-term accumulation.
Whale Accumulation Signals Faith
Dormant whale accumulation often precedes renewed confidence among experienced holders. These “smart money” actors typically buy when the Dogecoin price trades near historical support zones. Their activity indicates belief in a medium- to long-term recovery, even when short-term metrics appear bearish.
Whale wallets moving after long silence also suggest that value recognition is returning to the meme-coin sector. Despite a weak broader market, their actions may mark early groundwork for the next uptrend.
Weak Retail Sentiment Persists
Despite whale optimism, retail traders are doing the opposite. CryptoQuant data shows that the Spot Taker CVD remained negative through October, signaling sustained selling pressure. This metric reveals that most traders continue to execute aggressive sell orders rather than buy into dips.
SourceL CryptoQuant
Supporting this, Coinalyze data reports a persistent negative Buy–Sell Delta. Over the past 30 days, Dogecoin recorded 156.67 million in sell volume versus 154.88 million in buy volume — a net negative of 1.79 million DOGE. This imbalance confirms that retail enthusiasm has yet to return.
Source: Coinalyze
Technical Setup Remains Bearish
The DOGE USD price is still hovering below the main moving averages. It is bellow the 20,50,100 and 200 EMA lines which are pointing down. The Directional Movement Index supports this view, as the Positive Index is very close to 12 and the Negative was near 39.
Month
Minimum Price
Average Price
Maximum Price
Potential ROI
October
$0.192
$0.195
$0.198
-2.6%
November
$0.224
$0.237
$0.250
23%
December
$0.225
$0.232
$0.238
17.1%
Buyers need to break more than $0.20 (20 EMA level) for the Dogecoin price trend to become bullish. A follow-through recovery back above the 50–100 EMA zone.
Source: TradingView
Around $0.21 is likely to pave the way for an extension of the up-move towards the $0.22 intermediate hurdle in the near-term. If it does not, the price can remain range-bound between $0.17 and $0.20 for an extended period.
Market Momentum Building Slowly
Despite the present soft performance, Dogecoin price exhibits superior resilience when compared to larger altcoins. It was up more than 2% this week compared with the CD5 index. Trading volume was 9.8% above the seven-day average, a sign of institutional participation.
The pattern suggests “early-cycle momentum building,” says market strategist Rishi Patel of Bluepool Digital. “DOGE’s resilience while Bitcoin and Ethereum consolidate suggests rotation flows are returning to higher-beta assets,” Patel said.
Chart Indicators Show Stability
Technical charts indicate that dogecoin is supported by an uptrendline, drawn from $0.1949 low on the hourly chart. Steady re-tests at $0.2060–$0.2070 support indicate buyers remain in the market daily. RSI is sitting at around 58 on the 4-hour — just like you’d expect early in a trend.
The MACD indicator remains in the positive area but starts to narrow, indicating light consolidation following an attempt to break out. This action suggests re-accumulation, not exhaustion, analysts said. The bias remains bullish with sustained closes above $0.2085.
What Lies Ahead for Dogecoin Price
But if buyers take over, Dogecoin price may rise towards $0.22 and then at the end of this week or next, to $0.25 ahead of new conditions next month. But an inability to take out the resistance levels may extend sluggishness.
Although most long-term holders still talk about DOGE as a speculative — yet resiliently decentralized– digital asset. Its strong community and growing whale interest keeps its story running even in slow markets.
Conclusion
The Dogecoin price narrative today is emblematic of the quiet confidence beneath the surface. Whales that were previously dormant are accruing millions, while retail traders are even hopping out.
Technicals are still cautious, momentum indicates slow-building recovery. If DOGE can break above $0.20 and maintain, that will signify its next leg. For the time being, the whales seemed to be gambling that patience would pay.
Whale: A name for someone holding a large quantity of cryptocurrency who is able to manipulate the market.
Dormant Wallet: A cryptocurrency or blockchain wallet that has gone dormant, and is either empty or contains an insignificant sum of cryptocurrency.
On-Chain Data: Information written to a blockchain itself, which can be utilized to track wallet movements, transactions and the general health of network.
Retail Traders: Small, individual investors usually trading in small quantities who generally follow the short-term market favourite.
Spot Taker CVD: A measure of trading that compares volumes of buying and selling in the spot market, with negative values indicating pressure to sell.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dogecoin Price
1- Is the Dogecoin price bullish or bearish?
Short-term signals remain bearish, but whale accumulation hints at early bullish positioning.
2- Why are whales buying Dogecoin?
Dormant wallets suggest long-term investors see value at current levels and expect gradual recovery.
3- What price levels should traders watch?
Key resistance sits at $0.20 and $0.21. A breakout above $0.2085 could confirm new upside momentum.
4- Are retail traders supporting the move?
Not yet. Retail sentiment remains weak, with net selling pressure persisting for most of October.
Over the years, a number of indicators have emerged that have often helped to pinpoint the Bitcoin bull market peak. These indicators have been triggered in previous cycles, and their triggers have often been a signal that it was time to get out of the market, as a new bear market is underway. However, this time around, even with the Bitcoin price hitting multiple new all-time highs, none of these cycle peak indicators have been triggered, suggesting that the market top has yet to be reached.
0 Out Of 30 Bull Market Peak Indicators Triggered
The Bull Market Peak Indicator tracker on the Coinglass website follows a total of 30 indicators that follow 30 indicators that show the progress of the Bitcoin bull market toward reaching a top. Some major ones include the Bitcoin Bubble Index, the Puell Multiple, the Bitcoin Rainbow Chart, and the Altcoin Season Index, among others.
Usually, these indicators are tracked on a scale of 0-100%, with 0% meaning that it is far from being triggered and 100% showing that an indicator has been triggered. If only a few of these get to the 100% mark and are triggered, it usually doesn’t mean that the Bitcoin peak has been reached.
However, even now, not one of these indicators has been triggered. Most continue to remain quite low, while the likes of the Bitcoin dominance are high, but still have not been triggered. For there to be a definite progress toward the Bitcoin market peak, at least half of these would have to be triggered.
What This Means For Investors
Since none of the bull market peak indicators have been triggered, it means that the Bitcoin price might actually be far away from its all-time high. With the score still being 0 out of 30, it points to this being a time to hold, despite the declines that the market has suffered recently.
According to a previous report from Bitcoinist, this was the case a few months ago, and now two months later, the tracker remains the same. Thus, it could be that $126,000 is not the all-time high for Bitcoin, and that the market could end up getting an altcoin season after all.
In the case that more than half of the bull market peak indicators do get triggered, then it means that the top of the market is getting close. Once it gets to 30/30, then it signals the start of the next bear market, and this is when selling is at its highest in the market, leading to rapid price declines across the board.
The XRP/BTC monthly chart has finally snapped the long diagonal that’s capped XRP since 2018, and one analyst on X thinks that shift could rewrite the pecking order. Posting under the handle X Finance Bull (XFB), the analyst argued that XRP will soon start to outperform Bitcoin.
This is because the XRP/BTC pair has not only broken out but also retested the trendline as support, and this has certified the start of a new buildup of momentum.
Retest Of A Six-Year Breakout Trendline
The mid-October flash crash that rippled through the crypto market left a visible mark on the XRP/BTC chart, creating a deep downward wick that momentarily dipped below the long-standing resistance trendline. However, as Bitcoin started to recover to above $110,000, XRP struggled to keep up and lost ground relative to Bitcoin.
Interestingly, price action shows that this move was short-lived, and XRP has started to recover against Bitcoin in recent trading sessions. As shown on the monthly candlestick timeframe chart below, the wick fell to the exact level of the breakout retest, a point where former resistance turned into new support.
This breakout occurred in late 2024/early 2025, when XRP outperformed Bitcoin for three consecutive months. From there, the XRP/Bitcoin pair was able to break out of a downward-sloping resistance trendline of lower highs spanning over six years.
Since then, however, 2025 has been characterized by more months of Bitcoin outperforming XRP than months of XRP outperforming Bitcoin, with October falling into the former group of months. Particularly, during the flash crash, the XRP/BTC pair plunged to around 0.000007 before rebounding almost immediately, a move that, according to XFB, represents the long-awaited retest of the broken trendline.
Since that retest, XRP has recovered impressively, with the pair maintaining a monthly close above the diagonal that once acted as a ceiling. This technical confirmation signals the completion of the breakout from the 2018 to 2024 downtrend that had defined XRP’s multi-year underperformance against Bitcoin. The monthly structure is now displaying the early signs of an upward shift, with the pair trading around 0.00002258 BTC.
XRP To Decouple And Outperform Bitcoin?
According to the analyst, XRP is about to undergo a rally that massively outperforms Bitcoin and melts the face of many Bitcoin maximalists. XFB’s chart outlines two target zones ahead for XRP: 0.00014688 BTC and 0.00023009 BTC. The first target corresponds to the consolidation area seen between 2018 and 2019, while the second represents a major resistance cluster from the earlier phase of XRP’s creation. If XRP/BTC rallies to those levels, it would amount to approximately a 6x and 10x gain relative to Bitcoin, respectively.
The analyst also connects the technical setup to Ripple’s growing institutional ecosystem. He pointed to Ripple Prime, GTreasury, Metaco, Standard Custody, and Rail as part of the infrastructure that’s setting up XRP as a bridge asset for global finance. These partnerships give XRP an edge heading into the coming months, as it moves into real institutional utility and starts outperforming Bitcoin.
If these developments continue, the incoming decoupling of the XRP/BTC pair could become one of the most significant events for XRP. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $3.63, up by 3.5% in the past 24 hours.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Ethereum’s largest non-exchange holders are tiptoeing back into accumulation. On-chain analytics platform Santiment reported that wallets holding between 100 and 10,000 ETH, also known as whales and sharks, have begun to rebuild positions after unloading roughly 1.36 million ETH between October 5 and 16.
Notably, the Ethereum collective holdings chart shows that nearly one-sixth of those coins have already been clawed back, as some confidence starts to return to the second-largest crypto asset.
Whales Reverse Course After Early-October Capitulation
The first half of October was highlighted by one of Ethereum’s most pronounced periods of capitulation this year. Macroeconomic fears due to US tariffs saw the Bitcoin price undergo a flash crash that dragged many altcoins to the downside. During this move, Ethereum’s price also fell very quickly, dropping from highs around $4,740 on October 7 to as low as $3,680 on October 11.
Interestingly, on-chain data shows that the selling pressure from large holders amplified this move, as the chart from Santiment shows a steep decline in their cumulative holdings from about 24.5 million ETH to roughly 22.6 million ETH. This 1.9 million ETH drop reflected clear risk-off behavior among whales and sharks, who had been net buyers since August.
However, once selling momentum began to fade, accumulation started to return. Institutional inflows started to return into Spot Ethereum ETFs, and whale/shark trades started accumulating Ethereum. Since October 16, the same cohort that contributed to the liquidation has begun adding back to their positions. Santiment noted that these holders are finally showing some signs of confidence, demonstrating an incoming extended recovery phase following the shakeout.
218,470 ETH Added In Last 7 Days
According to Santiment’s data, the collective holdings of addresses with 100 to 10,000 ETH have rebounded to approximately 23.05 million ETH after bottoming out in mid-October. A highlighted annotation on the chart shows that 218,470 ETH were accumulated in just the past week, signaling a tangible shift in on-chain behavior.
This increase represents roughly one-sixth of the coins previously dumped, a sign that major investors are gradually re-entering the market after what appeared to be an exhaustion phase. Similar accumulation trends have often preceded a broader recovery in Ethereum’s price, especially when accompanied by stabilization in the ETH/BTC trading pair.
As it stands, the Ethereum price appears to be building a firmer base for the next phase of its recovery heading into November. When whale wallets accumulate, it reduces the circulating supply available on exchanges and reduces selling pressure.
At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,940 and is on track to break and close above $4,000 again. Both Ethereum and Bitcoin have risen a bit in recent days after inflation report showed US inflation cooling to 3% in September, below the 3.1% forecasted by economists.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Updated on 25th October, 2025
This article was first published onThe Bit Journal.
Bull and bear traps in crypto are deceptive price patterns that can catch traders in volatile markets. These traps lure traders into false breakouts or breakdowns, causing big losses.
In crypto with thin liquidity and high volatility; spotting bull and bear traps early is essential to protecting one’s capital.
A bull trap is a fake breakout above resistance that reverses sharply down. A bear trap is the opposite; a fake breakdown below support that snaps back up.
Why Do Bull and Bear Traps in Crypto Happen?
Market psychology and manipulation are the main culprits. Whales or institutions can move crypto prices with big orders that create fake trends. Sudden news or events can also trigger temporary moves that look like real breakouts. Fear and greed play big roles. FOMO can get traders to buy into a fake rally, while panic can get them to sell into a fake dip.
The crypto market’s 24/7 nature and often-low liquidity amplify traps. For example, an altcoin with a small market cap can drop on one big sell order (a bear trap) or spike on a big buy (a bull trap).
Traders have noted that these engineered moves often serve to calm the bears or rack up stop losses. In other words, what looks like a new trend may be an attempt by insiders to feed on retail traders’ emotions.
Cryptos often swing 10-20% in a day and big players known as whales sometimes exploit this. Whales can push price above a key resistance, in other words, create a bull trap and then dump their holdings, forcing price down.
Conversely, whales can engineer a quick sell-off below support (a bear trap) to trigger panic selling, then buy the dip as price bounces back.
These maneuvers capture stop-loss liquidity and prey on FOMO (fear of missing out) or panic. Real crypto market examples show this. In June 2023, Solana (SOL) dropped 42% before a sudden rally caught shorts off-guard.
Likewise, Bitcoin had a false breakout in April 2021; briefly topped $54K then dropped 17%, trapping late buyers.
How to Spot Bull and Bear Traps in Crypto
These bull and bear traps in crypto can be spotted by watching technicals and context. Key signs include:
False Breakouts/Breakdowns: If price pops above resistance and then quickly drops, it’s a bull trap; if it drops below support and then bounces; it’s a bear trap. These fake moves often don’t hold.
Volume Divergence: Real breakouts have big volume. A breakout on low volume is to be suspected.
Indicator Divergence: Check RSI or MACD. If price makes a new high but RSI is flat or falling, that could be a bearish divergence and a bull trap. If RSI is oversold on a fake breakdown, it’s a bear trap.
No Retest: Real breakouts retest the broken level as new support or resistance on breakdowns. If price breaks a level and never comes back, it is important to be cautious. No retest can mean the breakout isn’t real.
Whale/On-Chain Signals: Watch on-chain data and large transfers. Unusual crypto inflows or outflows to exchanges may precede traps. For example, a large withdrawal or whale accumulation before price dips can be a bull trap, while a massive exchange inflow before a bounce can be a bear trap.
Advanced traders also use indicators like VWAP, On-Balance Volume (OBV) and on-chain analytics to confirm moves. If price goes far above the volume-weighted average price (VWAP), it may be an overbought move (bull trap).
How to Avoid Bull and Bear Traps in Crypto
Trade with Confirmation: Don’t act on a breakout immediately. Wait for the price to hold above resistance or below support and ideally retest the level as new support/resistance before entering.
Smart Stop-Losses: Place stop orders outside obvious trap zones. For example; set a stop just beyond a second support level rather than right at the first breakdown to avoid stop hunts.
Multiple Indicators: Don’t rely on one signal. Cross-check breakouts with volume; RSI/MACD, VWAP and on-chain data. Only go with moves that line up across several analyses.
Risk and Emotions: Trade smaller positions or go 50% size when in doubt. Avoid chasing breakouts driven by hype (FOMO) or panic. Use conservative leverage; since traps can trigger liquidations.
Stay Informed: Monitor crypto news and social media. If a price move lacks solid news or follows hype cycles; be cautious. Sometimes pausing trading for a bit after big news and watching how price behaves can prevent falling for a trap.
Learn from Experience: Keep a trading journal of setups. Reviewing past bull and bear traps in crypto helps train recognition skills and discipline when these patterns reappear in the market.
Signal/Indicator
Bull Trap
Bear Trap
Price Action
Spike above resistance then quickly fall
Drop below support then rapidly bounce up
Volume
Breakout on low volume (weak rally)
Breakdown on low selling volume
RSI/Indicators
Overbought reading, bearish RSI divergence
Oversold reading, bullish RSI divergence
Trader Psychology
FOMO-driven buying at highs
Panic-driven selling at lows
Crypto Example
Altcoin hype peak followed by crash
Sharp crypto dip that’s swiftly bought back
Expert Insights on Bull and Bear Traps in Crypto
Market analysts emphasize vigilance and context. A crypto strategist had previously said there could be a 2024-style bear trap in Bitcoin, when local highs aren’t broken, market makers might be setting shorts up for a squeeze.
His analysis had suggested traders should be skeptical of quick dips without fundamentals, as price can calm the bears with a sudden bounce.
Other experts also agree. Traders say bull/bear traps are all about herd behavior. Whales sometimes pump or dump prices to lure retail traders into buying at highs or selling at lows.
Experts advise waiting for confirmations such as a retest or multiple green indicators; before assuming a breakout is real.
Crypto trader Tokoni Uti suggests combining chart analysis with sentiment and on-chain data; since crypto can move on rumors. If a price move has no support, be it volume or on-chain activity, then it most likely a trap.
Conclusion
Bull and bear traps in crypto require caution from traders. By knowing what these traps look like and using multiple confirmation signals; investors can avoid being fooled by false breakouts or breakdowns.
Vigilance; strong risk management like stop-losses and small position sizes, and waiting for confirmation are really needed to surviving these unpredictable crypto moves. Remember; no strategy is foolproof; always be prepared to cut losses if a trap is suspected.
Glossary
Bull Trap: A deceptive breakout to the upside that reverses swiftly; catching the late buyers at the peak.
Bear Trap: A deceptive move downwards below support that reverses fast; catching the late sellers at the dip.
FOMO: “Fear Of Missing Out”; hype-induced buying; very frequent in bull traps, buyers are quite aggressive.
Liquidity: The degree of ease in buying/selling an asset.
Whales: The big players in the crypto market whose huge trades can influence the market direction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bull and Bear Traps in Crypto
What is a bull trap in crypto?
A bull trap in crypto is when the price breaks above a resistance level; it looks like an uptrend but then reverses hard down; trapping traders who bought into the breakout.
What is a bear trap in crypto?
A bear trap in crypto is when the price breaks below a support level; it looks like a downtrend; then reverses up, trapping traders who sold or shorted expecting more down.
How do traders know if a breakout is a bull trap?
Look for low volume and no momentum. If price breaks resistance but on low volume, or if indicators like RSI don’t confirm the move, be suspicious. A quick reversal back below the breakout point is a bull trap.
How do whales create traps in crypto?
Whales create traps by placing big buy/sell orders. In a bull trap, they buy heavy to push price above resistance to lure buyers; then sell off, and price collapses. In a bear trap, they sell to push price below support to lure sellers; then buy back on the bounce.
Can news events cause bull and bear traps?
Yes. Sudden news or announcements often trigger quick; temporary moves. Traders may jump in on a headline-driven breakout; which then fizzes. It is important to wait and see if the move is supported by volume and price action before acting.
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