Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Dances with $100,000 as Crypto Industry Waits to See What’s Next

Bitcoin price slipped below $100,000 this week for the first time since June, down more than 20% from its all-time highs above $120,000 last month. 

The decline comes after weeks of steady spot-market selling, profit-taking by long-term holders, and a cautious macro environment. ETF outflows, a stronger dollar, and broader risk-off sentiment have added to pressure. 

Bitcoin traded back above $102,000 today, showing some resilience, but volatility remains elevated, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro.

Analysts point to ongoing accumulation by new buyers, though long-time holders are reactivating coins at a notable pace. 

Vetle Lunde of K33 Research noted that over 319,000 Bitcoin held for six to twelve months have moved in recent weeks, much of it real selling. 

Markus Thielen of 10x Research said mega whales — entities holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC — have been offloading significant amounts, while mid-size holders have largely stopped buying. 

He estimates that roughly 400,000 Bitcoin, about $45 billion, has exited the market in the last month.

Rebel money to institutional asset

Bitcoin’s rise over the past decade and a half has been punctuated and marked by identity shifts. In the early years, enthusiasts felt part of a secret movement to build better money for a better world. 

Critics were loud but often misinformed, and debates over privacy, environmental impact, and financial sovereignty energized the community. The vibes were high, and the project felt meaningful beyond mere price.

Now, according to Troy Cross, With the entry of Wall Street and ETFs, Bitcoin’s brand evolved. It became a hedge, a retirement asset, a component in treasury strategies. Its revolutionary appeal — as a tool to bank the unbanked and resist centralized control — is still technically intact, but the narrative has shifted. 

The focus moved from being a rebellion against fiat to being a corporate- and finance-friendly instrument. 

Michael Saylor and other institutional adopters have accelerated this trend. Bitcoin now shares the limelight with gold and equities, often framed in risk-adjusted portfolios rather than as a movement for financial empowerment.

Despite this, the core of Bitcoin remains unchanged. It is still global, permissionless, and censorship-resistant. Anyone can participate. Transactions remain verifiable and final. 

Bitcoin price action over the past month

Price action highlights this duality, as seen over the past month. On October 10, U.S. President Trump’s threat to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imports triggered widespread panic, sparking the largest single-day liquidation in cryptocurrency history — over $19 billion in leveraged positions were wiped out within 24 hours.

Some traders anticipate a retest of $92,000, tied to CME futures gaps, while others see support around $98,000–$100,000. Other analysts expect a push to $170,000. 

History suggests that these pauses are not the end of Bitcoin’s story. Each cycle has included phases of distribution, consolidation, and renewed growth. What is changing is not the network itself but the surrounding culture — the shift from a secret movement to an accepted, institutional asset.

This post Bitcoin Price Dances with $100,000 as Crypto Industry Waits to See What’s Next first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Ethereum is attempting to regain stability after the sharp selloff on Tuesday that sent its price plunging below $3,100. The drop triggered widespread liquidations across the crypto market, with ETH briefly touching multi-week lows before finding support. As of today, bulls are trying to reclaim the $3,350 level, a short-term resistance zone that could determine whether the asset stages a broader recovery or faces another leg down.

Despite the volatility, on-chain data reveals a different story beneath the surface. Large investors — often referred to as whales — have continued to accumulate ETH, signaling long-term confidence in the network’s fundamentals. Their steady buying activity stands in stark contrast to the broader market’s fear-driven behavior, suggesting that major holders view the recent correction as a buying opportunity rather than a reversal.

Historically, whale accumulation during deep pullbacks has often preceded strong rebounds, as institutional and long-term capital step in while retail sentiment weakens. The challenge now lies in whether Ethereum can maintain momentum above key technical levels, especially as overall market confidence remains fragile. If buying pressure continues to build, ETH could find the foundation for a sustained recovery heading into mid-November.

Whales Accumulate ETH, Hinting at Impulsive Move Ahead

According to Lookonchain, Ethereum whales have collectively accumulated 394,682 ETH, worth approximately $1.37 billion, over the past three days. This wave of large-scale buying comes as prices consolidate below $3,400, signaling that deep-pocketed investors are positioning ahead of a potential market rebound.

Such aggressive accumulation often indicates smart money confidence in future upside potential. Historically, when whales buy during periods of widespread fear and weak price action, it suggests they are anticipating an impulsive phase — a sharp move driven by renewed liquidity and market sentiment recovery. The scale and speed of this accumulation reinforce the idea that these entities expect Ethereum to outperform once selling pressure fades.

This trend also aligns with broader market behavior seen after major liquidations, where institutional players tend to absorb supply from shaken-out traders. If ETH holds above its key support around $3,100, the combination of whale accumulation, improving on-chain inflows, and reduced leverage could act as the catalyst for a breakout toward the $3,600–$3,800 range.

ETH Finds Support at 200-Day MA

Ethereum’s daily chart shows that the asset has found temporary relief after Tuesday’s sharp selloff, which dragged prices below $3,100 for the first time in weeks. The decline brought ETH down to test its 200-day moving average (red line) — a key long-term dynamic support that historically acts as a springboard during corrective phases.

Currently, Ethereum is trading around $3,380, showing signs of a modest rebound. However, bulls face immediate resistance near the $3,500–$3,600 range, where the 50-day (blue) and 100-day (green) moving averages converge. This area has repeatedly rejected upward moves since late October and will likely define short-term direction.

A decisive break above these averages could shift momentum back in favor of the bulls, opening the door for a recovery toward $3,800. On the downside, a failure to hold above the 200-day MA may trigger further weakness toward $3,000 or even $2,850, where previous demand zones exist.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

The crypto market faced a violent downturn, with Ethereum breaking below the $3,100 level while Bitcoin lost the critical $100,000 mark, triggering widespread liquidation and fear-driven selling. Panic quickly rippled across the market, and sentiment flipped sharply bearish as traders rushed to reduce exposure, price targets vanished from social media, and risk assets saw a cascade of exits. In moments like these, emotions often outweigh fundamentals — and this week was a clear reminder of that dynamic.

However, even in periods of sharp fear, not all market participants behave the same. Some notable players have begun shifting their stance, hinting that strategic positioning may already be underway beneath the panic. Among them is the well-known Anti-CZ Whale — a trader who gained attention after aggressively shorting ASTER immediately following Changpeng Zhao’s public post announcing he bought ASTER. That trade paid off massively as ASTER surged briefly and then retraced sharply, delivering this whale tens of millions in unrealized profit.

Now, in a notable shift, this trader has flipped from shorting Ethereum to going long, signaling renewed conviction despite the market’s emotional breakdown. As fear peaks, sophisticated players may already be preparing for the next phase — raising the question: is this capitulation… or opportunity?

Whale Rotates Into ETH Long as Market Panic Peaks

According to Lookonchain, the well-known Anti-CZ Whale has executed a notable portfolio shift, flipping from shorting Ethereum to taking a long position worth 32,802 ETH (~$109 million). Now, the whale is maintaining a 58.27M ASTER short (~$59.7M), signaling conviction that ASTER’s weakness may continue despite recent volatility.

Alongside this, the whale holds a 1.99B kPEPE short (~$11.3M), a bet against speculative memecoin flows during uncertainty. Meanwhile, a small 130,566 DOGE long (~$21.5K) appears more symbolic than directional, likely serving as a hedge or sentiment gauge rather than a major conviction play.

The standout move is clearly the ETH long, signaling the whale views Ethereum’s drop below $3,100 as oversold rather than structurally bearish. Taking such a position during peak fear suggests an expectation of recovery once forced liquidations cool and liquidity stabilizes. While broader sentiment remains fragile, this shift implies sophisticated capital may already be positioning for an eventual rebound — reinforcing ETH’s role as a core asset even amid aggressive market stress.

ETH Price Technical Outlook: Testing Key Support as Panic Selling Eases

Ethereum is attempting to stabilize after a steep breakdown below the $3,500 region, with price now reacting around the $3,300 zone. This level aligns closely with the 200-day moving average (red line), making it a critical support area for bulls to defend. The recent candle structure shows heavy volatility and high sell-side volume, confirming panic-driven liquidations as the primary force behind the move — rather than a fundamental shift in trend.

The aggressive flush followed a series of lower highs throughout October, signaling weakening momentum before the breakdown. The 50-day and 100-day moving averages (blue and green) are trending down and currently overhead, adding pressure and reinforcing the short-term bearish structure. A recovery above the 50-day MA would be an early sign of strength, but Ethereum must reclaim the $3,500 zone to regain bullish control.

Volume has spiked dramatically, suggesting capitulation behavior — often near cycle pivot points. The wick near $3,150 hints that buyers stepped in aggressively at lows, consistent with accumulation dynamics observed among sophisticated traders. If ETH holds above the 200-day MA and builds a base here, it could set up a relief rally. A sustained break below $3,150, however, risks further downside toward $2,900 as liquidity pockets remain thin below current levels.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Aster has come under heavy selling pressure after an abrupt price spike triggered by Changpeng Zhao’s comment on Sunday, in which the Binance founder publicly stated he bought ASTER with his personal funds. The comment initially sent the token sharply higher as traders reacted to the endorsement, but the rally was short-lived. As broader market weakness intensified and Bitcoin and Ethereum led a widespread downturn, ASTER retraced aggressively, erasing most of its post-announcement gains.

The reversal has fueled speculation that speculative flows are unwinding just as risk appetite evaporates across crypto. Major assets are under pressure, with BTC losing key support zones and ETH sliding alongside broader altcoins, creating a challenging environment for any token attempting to sustain upside momentum.

At the same time, on-chain data from Lookonchain reveals a striking development: the Anti-CZ Whale — a trader who aggressively shorted ASTER immediately after CZ’s post — is now sitting on over $21 million in unrealized profit across two wallets.

The whale continued adding to their position as retail excitement peaked, and with the price now sharply lower, the trade is paying off dramatically. The dynamic underscores elevated volatility and uncertainty, reinforcing that market sentiment remains fragile despite isolated bullish triggers.

Whale Expands Winning Bet Across Majors as Market Stress Deepens

According to Lookonchain, the Anti-CZ Whale’s aggressive positioning extends far beyond Aster. The same trader who built a large ASTER short immediately after Changpeng Zhao’s post is also shorting DOGE, ETH, XRP, and PEPE — and every single position is currently in profit.

On Hyperliquid, his combined unrealized gains now sit close to $100 million, making this one of the cycle’s most profitable orchestrated short campaigns. The scale and accuracy of these trades highlight a sophisticated strategy targeting momentum shifts across major assets, not just isolated tokens reacting to social sentiment.

This development arrives at a fragile moment for the broader crypto market. Bitcoin has broken below key support zones, Ethereum continues to slide, and altcoins are selling off aggressively as liquidity withdraws and sentiment turns defensive. In this environment, leveraged traders and forced sellers are adding fuel to downside volatility, creating an environment where outsized short positions can thrive.

The whale’s gains underscore the market’s critical phase — a period where speculative excess is being flushed out and only disciplined positioning is rewarded. Whether this marks the prelude to a deeper capitulation or the final shakeout before recovery will depend on how quickly market demand returns to absorb selling pressure.

ASTER Price Analysis: Weak Structure Persists as Sellers Maintain Control

Aster continues to trade under heavy pressure, and the 8-hour chart reinforces a clear bearish structure despite brief spikes in volatility. Following CZ’s comment and the initial price reaction, ASTER saw a sharp spike higher, but that move quickly faded as sellers regained control. The token failed to break above the short-term moving average trend line, signaling that momentum remains firmly to the downside.

The rejection near the $1.20 region and the subsequent selloff back toward the $0.90 zone highlight how fragile bullish attempts currently are. Every bounce is being met with distribution, suggesting that short-term participants are using strength to exit rather than accumulate. Volume also confirms this narrative — the strongest bars appear on red candles, showing aggressive selling dominance.

The price is now hovering just above a key support area formed in late September. Losing this level could open the door for a deeper retrace toward the mid-$0.80 and potentially $0.70 support zones if market weakness persists. For ASTER to reclaim any bullish structure, it needs to recover above the 50-period moving average and establish higher lows — something it has failed to do for weeks.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com