Bitcoin has recently dropped 36% from its October high, igniting a heated discussion among investors: will the cryptocurrency manage to recover, or could further institutional selling worsen the decline? Experts suggest that
Bitcoin
needs to reclaim the $90,000 mark to avoid a surge of forced sales from ETFs and major stakeholders, as the market teeters on a delicate balance.
This wave of selling has highlighted significant differences in how investors are reacting. Major institutional players, those holding more than 1,000 BTC,
trimmed their positions by 1.5%
in October, while smaller retail wallets with less than 0.1 BTC experienced notable outflows. This split is reminiscent of redistribution periods seen in 2019 and 2020, which were followed by extended consolidation phases. Still,
a true recovery
will depend on steady ETF inflows and ongoing spot demand above $84,000. In derivatives, cautious optimism is evident: a $1.76 billion "call condor" strategy on Deribit
aims for a measured advance
to the $100,000–$112,000 range by December 2025, reflecting institutional hopes for a rebound rather than a dramatic surge.
Broader economic conditions remain crucial.
The Federal Reserve’s hints at a “hawkish cut” in December
have dampened risk appetite, with the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) slipping to 97.2 and Treasury yields staying close to 4%.
Bitcoin’s tendency to move in sync with riskier assets
—tracking the Nasdaq 100 with a 0.72 correlation—shows it acts more like a leveraged risk asset than a safe haven. Meanwhile, companies such as MicroStrategy (MSTR) could see over $11.6 billion in outflows if crypto indices remove them,
increasing institutional vulnerability
.
Technical signals point to possible support.
Experts identify important support zones
at $89,400 (Active Realized Price) and $82,400 (True Market Mean). In a worst-case outcome, the Cumulative Value Days Destroyed (CVDD) model suggests a floor near $45,500, though most analysts anticipate stabilization around $80,000.
Latest on-chain metrics indicate reduced selling pressure
as Bitcoin’s Risk-Off Signal drops and liquidations decrease.
Swissblock researchers observe
that a secondary, milder sell-off often marks a market bottom, with prices holding previous lows serving as a bullish indicator.
Shifts in macro liquidity could alter the outlook.
Odds of a Fed rate reduction
in December have risen to 69.3%, and analysts like Charles Edwards believe liquidity boosts are unavoidable to prevent systemic risks. Should the Fed adopt a more dovish stance, Bitcoin could benefit, as it has historically rallied during periods of quantitative easing. Nevertheless,
structural issues remain
: ETF redemptions are still negative, and Bitcoin’s Sharpe Ratio hovering near zero signals poor risk-adjusted performance.
Large holder activity adds another layer of complexity.
Blockchain data indicates
that mid- and large-sized investors (100–10,000 BTC) have been accumulating during the downturn, in contrast to retail selling. This pattern echoes the 2022 bear market, where forced liquidations removed speculative excess and helped establish a price floor. However, the group holding 1,000–10,000 BTC continues to sell, posing a challenge to a decisive reversal.
The future direction depends on three main factors:
an actual Fed rate cut
, ETF inflows surpassing $500 million each week, and the ability to maintain prices above $84,000. Falling short on any of these fronts could trigger further liquidations down to $75,000 or lower. For now, Bitcoin remains at a pivotal moment, with its trajectory closely linked to economic developments and institutional trust.