Bitcoin $100k FOMO Returns: Santiment Warns It Could Be a Bull Trap

• Bitcoin price stalls in $79k-$84k range amid tariff uncertainty, awaits catalyst
• Santiment: Retail FOMO on BTC surges often precedes price drops (contrarian signal)
• Key levels: BTC needs to hold ~$79k support or break ~$84k resistance for direction

Bitcoin’s price action has been subdued lately, more like an idling engine than a roaring bull run. Trading largely between $83,000 and $84,000, the crypto market awaits its next major catalyst for direction. Adding to the current uncertainty is the impact of new US tariffs, to take effect April 2nd, which Trump hailed as the “Liberation Day.”

While underlying fundamentals for crypto may look promising long-term (citing factors like growing adoption and technological advancements), these short-term concerns make investors uneasy. So the big question is how will these tariffs impact Bitcoin and the broader market.

Market sentiment seems to reflect this indecision, appearing stuck in a holding pattern while awaiting clarity. 

Some experts believe that once the dust settles post-April 2nd, the selling pressure could ease, offering a clearer picture for investors. Interestingly, instead of a breakdown, there’s speculation that the market might find its footing, possibly even setting the stage for a rebound.

Santiment: Retail FOMO a Contrarian Warning Sign?

Separately, analytics platform Santiment offered an interesting observation on recent market sentiment dynamics via X (formerly Twitter).

They noted Bitcoin’s brief price surges earlier Monday sparked widespread optimism among many retail traders. Santiment suggested many likely jumped into the market hoping for immediate moves toward $100,000+ price levels, driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO).

However, this kind of excitement isn’t new in 2025—historically, when the crowd leans too heavily in one direction, prices tend to move the opposite way. As has been the trend this year, the more bullish the sentiment, the more likely the market will take a sharp turn in the opposite direction.

“Monitor for bottom signals and ideal buy opportunities by seeing when retailers begin to show serious pain and fear,” the analytics platform said.

Related: Four Altcoins, Four Stories: XRP, TAO, ETH, HBAR Set for Critical April

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Range-Bound Between Key Levels

Bitcoin continues to trade below key resistance levels, with no clear breakout in sight. 

While traditional stock markets like the SP 500 showed volatility recently, Bitcoin’s price action remained largely independent during that specific period, suggesting a temporary disconnect between crypto and some traditional asset movements.

Currently, Bitcoin trades within a range roughly defined by support near $79,120 and resistance close to $84,000. The price has generally declined within this range over the past week. 

If BTC breaks decisively below the $79,120 support, the next level to watch on the downside is the psychological $79,000 mark, with possible further drops toward $78,500 if selling pressure intensifies. 

Related: “Liberation Day” Nears: What Trump’s Tariffs Mean for Your Crypto Bag

For a bullish reversal to take hold, Bitcoin needs to break convincingly above the $84,000 resistance level with strong buying momentum.