Bitcoin’s $120K resistance triggers early sell signals

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin is facing resistance near the $120K mark as long-term holders begin to take profits. While the pullback is still mild, large institutional moves hint at a cautious shift in sentiment.

Bitcoin’s [BTC] march is encountering its first real test.

As prices hover near the psychological $120K mark, long-term holders have begun to take chips off the table. Recent data shows a shift into net selling territory.

While Open Interest remains largely intact, a slight dip hints at early-stage repositioning.

Profit taking begins at $120K

On-chain data shows long-term Bitcoin holders shifting into net selling territory just as BTC hits the $120K mark.

While the decline is modest for now, the reversal in the 30-day Net Position Change suggests early-stage distribution.

Source: CryptoQuant

The trigger is likely a mix of profit realization and institutional rebalancing.

Notably, Galaxy Digital’s reported sale of 80,000 BTC adds weight to the sell-side pressure, so this isn’t a retail-driven shakeout.

For now, it appears more like a reshuffling tactic than a mass exit, but if more whales join in, the narrative could quickly shift.

Open Interest pulls back

Bitcoin’s 7-day Aggregated Open Interest Delta has dipped into negative territory again, but the move lacks the velocity of a full-blown exit.

The mild decline suggests a partial unwind, likely large players trimming exposure or closing positions after a strong run.

Source: Alphractal

Rather than a bearish shift, this resembles a strategic breather. With price still holding near the ATH, the data points to selective profit-taking.

Momentum cools, but bulls still hold the line

Bitcoin was consolidating just below $120K at press time, showing signs of a temporary pause rather than a breakdown.

The RSI was at 59 — cooling off from overbought territory but not yet hinting at weakness.

Source: TradingView

Meanwhile, the OBV has flattened around 1.76 million, a stall in fresh buying pressure. Despite the indecision, price action remains stable, with no aggressive sell candles.

For now, bulls appear to be defending gains while awaiting a catalyst, but without rising volume, upside momentum may stay capped.