Bitcoin briefly breached the $70,000 level on Monday, but the move lacked follow-through and quickly faded, keeping the market in a careful watch-and-weigh posture. Bulls had nudged the price above moving averages, signaling an attempted comeback, yet the recovery faces a stubborn wall of selling pressure as traders assess whether a deeper pullback is more likely than a sustained breakout.

Analysts remain wary of fresh downside pressure. Some strategists expect BTC to test lower supports, with a number projecting a retest below the $60,000 zone before a potential bottom forms. The immediate setup underscores a market trying to decide between a renewed up-leg and a renewed down-leg, rather than a clear continuation of momentum.

On-chain and sentiment signals add nuance to the picture. Glassnode’s latest observations highlight ongoing selling pressure despite several days of price action favoring bulls. The Long-Term Holder Realized Loss metric — which tracks losses locked in by investors who held coins for more than six months before selling — suggests pain may not have fully abated. The metric’s 30-day simple moving average sits around $200 million per day, with the researcher noting that a sustained drop below roughly $25 million per day would be needed for a base-building phase to take hold.

Amid the dour chatter, there are glimmers of demand at support levels. Santiment, a crypto sentiment analytics firm, reported a shift in social dynamics: five bearish BTC comments for every four bullish ones — the most bearish tilt since February 28. While this may reflect a crowded-out mood, such contrarian readings historically precede moments when markets reverse course, according to the same data framework. In practice, that means traders should watch for any early signs of stabilization or renewed upside momentum, even if the broader tone remains cautious.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin briefly crossed $70,000 but failed to sustain the breakout, raising the possibility of a retest below $60,000.
• Glassnode’s Long-Term Holder Realized Loss metric signals lingering selling pressure; a sub-$25 million daily loss level could precede a base formation.
• Santiment’s sentiment snapshot shows a bearish tilt on BTC demand, the strongest since late February, which may precede a sentiment-driven reversal if buyers re-enter.
• Several major altcoins are rebounding from key supports, suggesting demand is reappearing at lower price levels even as BTC remains rangebound.
• Macro anchors remain in view: the S&P 500 and the U.S. dollar are tracing a pattern that could influence crypto direction in the near term.

Macro context: macro assets in a holding pattern

The broader market backdrop continues to shape crypto price action. The S&P 500 has retraced toward a pair of moving averages that traders monitor closely for signs of strength or weakness. At present, the index sits near the 20-day exponential moving average, with a potential move toward the 50-day simple moving average serving as a key barometer for risk-on appetite. On the downside, the index would need to break through defined supports to reassert a corrective phase, while a sustained hold above key levels could spur a broader recovery.

Against this, the U.S. dollar index (DXY) remains channeled between a recent ceiling near 100.54 and a floor around the 20-day moving average near 99.59. A decisive break above resistance could open room for mild upside moves, whereas a break below the 20-day line would amplify downside risk for the dollar and, by extension, for non-yielding assets such as Bitcoin.

In practice, the market appears to be trading within a broad range, with crypto assets often acting in sympathy with risk sentiment and macro flows. For investors, that means significant directional bets may hinge on a catalyst capable of shifting the current balance of supply and demand rather than on a single strong fundamental driver.

Bitcoin and peers: price action and near-term targets

Bitcoin’s recent price action reflects a cautious battle between bulls and bears. After closing above major moving averages on Sunday, BTC has not yet established a clear, sustained up-move. The next meaningful test for bulls would be a firm daily close above the $72,000 mark, which could open a path toward a resistance band between roughly $74,508 and $76,000. However, any sustained move higher requires overcoming a resurgent selling pressure at nearby supports; a break below the $60,000-to-$62,500 area would renew concerns about a deeper retracement.

Altcoin snapshots: signals from Ethereum, Binance Coin, XRP, Solana, DOGE, HYPE, and ADA

Ether (ETH)

ETH has cleared the short-term hurdle by closing above its moving averages, paving the way for a potential rally toward the $2,200 resistance. If buyers can push through that level, the next target sits around $2,400, with the path finally aiming for $2,800 and then $3,050 on a sustained breakout. Conversely, a retreat below the moving averages could spark a consolidation, with the chart showing a support zone near $1,916 should prices slip again.

Binance Coin (BNB)

BNB has bounced off support near $570 and met the moving averages, where sellers are expected to reassert pressure. A sharp rejection at the moving averages could open the door to a deeper drop toward $500. On the upside, a clean close above the moving averages could keep the price range-bound between roughly $570 and $687 for a few more days, with a decisive move above $687 inviting a fresh leg higher.

Ripple (XRP)

XRP staged a bounce from the critical $1.27 support, signaling strong defense by bulls. A close above the 50-day simple moving average at around $1.39 would improve the odds of a rally toward $1.61 and the downward-sloping channel’s upper boundary. If bears regain control and price turns down from the moving averages, a breakdown below $1.27 could open the way to $1.11 and eventually the $1.00 level.

Solana (SOL)

SOL has oscillated within a relatively wide range, between roughly $76 and $98, reflecting a tug-of-war between buyers and sellers. A breakout above $98 could push SOL toward $117, while a break below $76 risks sliding toward $67. The next directional move appears likely to come from a close above the resistance or below the support.

Dogecoin (DOGE)

Dogecoin remains confined to a tight corridor around $0.09, with daily dynamics anchored by a nearby moving average. A confirmed close above the moving averages could target the $0.11–$0.12 zone, while a slide below $0.09 could drive a move toward $0.08 and potentially down to $0.06 as selling accelerates.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

The HYPE chart shows buyers attempting to maintain price above the 20-day EMA near $37.03, facing resistance from sellers. A daily close above the EMA would bolster the case for a rally to $41.59 and then toward $44. A breach below the 50-day SMA at around $34.48 could open a deeper correction toward $30 in the near term.

Cardano (ADA)

ADA closed above the $0.25 level, indicating a waning of selling pressure. The immediate hurdle sits near the 50-day SMA at about $0.26. A move beyond this resistance could bring prices to the downtrend line of the prevailing descending channel, signaling a possible near-term reversal. On the downside, the crucial support level around $0.22 remains in focus; breaking below could push ADA toward the nearby $0.16 range.

Across the landscape, the market continues to show a mix of vulnerability and resilience. The persistence of selling pressure on Bitcoin contrasts with selective rebounds in major altcoins, underscoring the varied dynamics at play as traders weigh macro cues against on-chain signals.

What to watch next: a sustained move above or below key thresholds for BTC and each altcoin, combined with shifts in on-chain metrics and sentiment, will likely dictate the near-term rhythm. Investors should monitor whether the on-chain distribution cools, if social sentiment stabilizes or improves, and how macro assets respond to evolving risk appetite in the weeks ahead.