Bitcoin: Big money buys the uncertainty as BTC defends $96K

Bitcoin rebounds near $96k as BlackRock-linked buying tops $646.6M, while Santiment flags a ten-day peak in retail FUD globally.

Institutional activity continues to diverge sharply from retail sentiment, creating a constructive backdrop. 

Whale Insider data confirmed that BlackRock clients accumulated $646.62 million in BTC, signaling conviction from long-term capital. 

Meanwhile, Santiment’s social metrics showed bearish commentary reaching a ten-day high, despite Bitcoin holding the $96,000–$97,000 zone. 

This contrast matters because institutions rarely chase momentum. Instead, they accumulate during uncertainty. As retail traders hesitate and question the rebound, large buyers absorb available supply. 

Pessimism reflects disbelief rather than distribution. Such belief gaps often appear during continuation phases, not market tops, reinforcing the underlying structure.

Buyers break out as accumulation gives way to expansion

Bitcoin [BTC] has broken out of the highlighted accumulation zone, confirming a transition from the prior mark-down phase into early mark-up. 

After the sharp selloff that defined the markdown, the price stabilized and consolidated between roughly $85,000 and $95,600, forming a clear accumulation base. 

Bitcoin has now pushed above the range high and established acceptance above $95,637, which previously acted as resistance and now functions as key support. 

Pullbacks toward this level continue to attract demand, reinforcing the role flip. Above support, price faces resistance near $105,000, followed by $116,147, both highlighted supply zones. 

However, the formation of higher lows beneath these levels suggests controlled expansion rather than exhaustion. 

Momentum confirms the shift, with RSI climbing into the upper 60s, reflecting strengthening upside participation without reaching overheated conditions, a typical trait of early mark-up phases.

Source: TradingView

Aggressive buyers take control of Bitcoin spot flow

Spot Taker CVD over the 90-day window has turned decisively positive, confirming aggressive buyers dominate execution. 

Rather than waiting passively, participants lift offers, signaling conviction behind the rebound. This shift matters because spot-led moves tend to hold better than leverage-driven spikes. 

Sustained positive CVD during consolidation reflects accumulation instead of emotional chasing. 

Additionally, buy-side dominance persists despite rising pessimism, reinforcing intent. Buyers commit capital while sentiment remains negative. 

Therefore, downside pressure weakens as genuine demand absorbs sell orders. This alignment supports structural continuation, tying price recovery to real flow rather than short-term speculative positioning.

Source: CryptoQuant

Long liquidations flush leverage without breaking structure

Liquidation data highlighted a leverage reset that favored stability. During the latest pullback, long liquidations reached roughly $17.99 million, while shorts accounted for only $1.47 million. 

This imbalance showed that long positions absorbed most forced closures. Importantly, Bitcoin held near $96,000 despite this flush, indicating strong spot demand underneath. 

When longs unwind without cascading selloffs, markets often stabilize rather than collapse. Moreover, leverage resets reduce fragility by clearing crowded positioning.

Consequently, downside risk decreases instead of rising. 

This pattern supports continuation, as fewer overextended longs remain vulnerable to liquidation-driven declines.

Source: CoinGlass

Downside liquidity thins as pressure eases

The Binance BTC/USDT liquidation heatmap showed that the downside liquidity below $95,000 gradually clearing, while heavier clusters remained above the current price. 

Currently, as Bitcoin consolidates near $96,000, lower liquidation bands lose density, reducing downside pull. This shift matters because price often gravitates toward concentrated liquidity zones.

With downside levels increasingly consumed, selling pressure weakens. 

Meanwhile, untested liquidity above the range continues to build, acting as a potential magnet if momentum strengthens. Therefore, the evolving heatmap structure favors upside exploration rather than renewed breakdowns.

Source: CoinGlass

To sum up, Bitcoin’s rebound reflects structural strength rather than speculative excess. Institutional accumulation, positive spot CVD, leverage resets, and thinning downside liquidity align with continuation. 

As long as buyers defend the $95,600 support zone, the broader setup favors expansion over failure, with disbelief-driven momentum still intact.

Final Thoughts

• Bitcoin has transitioned structurally into early mark-up, not a temporary rebound.
• Persistent disbelief strengthens continuation risk rather than limiting upside.