Bitcoin’s Price Has Been Largely Flat in the Short Term

According to reports from BeInCrypto, Bitcoin’s price has been largely flat in the short term hovering around levels like $89,000–$93,000 in some market updates and down roughly 6% over the past week.

While the surface looks calm, underlying metrics show a sharp 61% surge in selling pressure within a single day. This spike is part of broader concerns, with at least four aligned risk factors mentioned across sources.

Accelerated selling from long-term holders often called “old hands” or HODLers distributing coins faster than usual. Formation of a bearish chart pattern potentially signaling a reversal or consolidation breakdown.

Other stacking risks, such as potential ETF outflows, supply overhangs capping upside like resistance near $98,000+ per some analysts like Glassnode, or broader market sentiment shifts.

The article frames this as a “warning” for BTC, suggesting these combined signals could lead to increased volatility or further downside pressure if key support levels fail. However, Bitcoin remains in a relatively neutral/stuck position overall, with no immediate dramatic crash—but the alignment of these factors is raising caution among traders and analysts.

Crypto markets move quickly, and this reflects sentiment around late January 2026. Always cross-check current prices and on-chain data via Glassnode, CryptoQuant for the latest, as these are not financial advice.

The 61% spike in selling pressure primarily from long-term Bitcoin holders, often called “HODLers” or wallets holding BTC for over a year is a notable short-term warning signal, but its implications depend on broader context, market dynamics, and whether other supportive factors emerge.

Accelerated selling by long-term holders This is the core of the 61% daily jump, with reports of long-term holders dumping significant volume e.g., one source noted ~122K BTC worth ~$11B in a single day, though exact figures vary.

Long-term holders typically sell during euphoria or profit-taking phases. A sudden acceleration can signal waning conviction among diamond hands, potentially leading to cascading sales if short-term holders panic. In past cycles, heavy LTH distribution has preceded corrections.

If this persists, it adds downside momentum and could push BTC toward lower supports like $80K–$85K or even deeper if momentum builds. Analysts mention potential reversal patterns or breakdowns in consolidation ranges, with BTC stalling around $89K–$90K after failing higher resistances.

If BTC breaks key supports, it could trigger technical selling from algos, leveraged traders, and stop-loss cascades. This amplifies volatility and risks a deeper pullback, potentially testing 2025 cycle lows or worse in a worst-case “full-cycle washout” scenario some analysts fear echoing 2022 bear market signals.

ETFs recently logged their weakest weeks e.g., multi-day negative streaks totaling billions in outflows, with hedge funds retreating amid macro jitters. ETFs have been a major inflow driver post-2024 approvals. Reduced or negative flows remove a key buying cushion, leaving price more vulnerable to seller dominance.

This could prolong sideways-to-down action and delay any rebound until institutional demand returns via macro shifts like rate cuts or renewed risk-on sentiment. Influx of speculative / short-term buyers replacing sellers Newer or shorter-term holders are stepping in but often at higher risk of flipping if price dips.

This creates a weaker holder base—less committed capital that could sell quickly on any dip, turning potential support into resistance. It raises the odds of volatility spikes or choppy trading rather than a clean recovery.

Increased downside risk and volatility. BTC remains “stuck in neutral” around $89K (flat daily, -6% weekly in recent updates), but the alignment of these signals suggests a higher probability of a breakdown than a breakout. If supports hold and inflows rebound, this could prove a shakeout of weak hands before continuation.

If LTH selling eases and ETF flows turn positive again, the spike might be dismissed as temporary profit-taking in a still-bullish macro (post-halving cycle). But persistent stacking of risks could lead to a more meaningful correction— 10–30%+ drawdown common in crypto.

Some on-chain metrics show “sharks” (large accumulators) buying dips, and historical spikes in sell pressure have occasionally marked local bottoms/exhaustion. Broader sentiment isn’t fully bearish yet—no mass panic.

Echoes of 2022-style signals (e.g., full-cycle washouts) if macro headwinds (rates, regulation, risk-off) intensify. Crypto remains highly unpredictable—always verify latest on-chain data, ETF flows, and price action. This isn’t financial advice; markets can shift rapidly.