Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin's Bull Run at a Crossroads: Will $100K Hold or Fall?

Bitcoin's bull market appears to be enduring a period of consolidation, with analysts and market observers offering diverging views on its future trajectory. Following a recent pullback from all-time highs, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading within a range of $102,000 to $115,000, with key support at $100,000 remaining critical to the continuation of the current bull cycle. Analyst Atlas has emphasized that as long as this support level holds, the bull market remains intact. The broader macroeconomic context, including anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts, is seen as a potential catalyst for renewed upward momentum.

The recent volatility has sparked discussions around whether the bull run is over or if this is a natural mid-cycle correction. According to CoinGlass, the market has seen substantial long liquidations, with $640 million in crypto long liquidations recorded in the past 24 hours. Some traders have noted signs of a potential retest of $100,000, particularly with the absence of significant bid support below current levels. The behavior of Bitcoin whales has also drawn attention, with large entities rotating assets from BTC to ETH, as seen in a recent transaction where $2.59 billion worth of BTC was sold over five days and converted to ETH. While this activity may be interpreted as profit-taking, it has also been described as a "healthy" distribution of supply, supporting broader market monetization.

On the other hand, smaller Bitcoin holders continue to show accumulation behavior, with wallets holding less than 10 BTC maintaining a net inflow of exposure. This trend contrasts with larger wallets (10 to 100 BTC), which have shown distribution patterns as prices approached $118,000. According to CryptoQuant, this suggests a mixed market sentiment, with retail investors showing caution and institutional players taking profits. The broader distribution trend, however, appears to be weakening as Bitcoin retracts, with the $105,000 level emerging as a critical support zone.

Analysts from Bernstein and Atlas have offered contrasting timelines for Bitcoin’s future. Bernstein, led by Gautam Chhugani, predicts a potential climb to $200,000 by the end of 2024 or early 2025, extending the current bull run well into 2026 or even 2027. In contrast, Atlas has mapped a more immediate trajectory, forecasting that the bull cycle could remain intact through the end of 2025, with the final explosive phase potentially materializing in Q4 2025. This phase would likely see a rotation into altcoins and the continuation of Ethereum’s dominance.

Ethereum's recent performance has reinforced its role as a key narrative driver in the broader cryptocurrency market. With institutional adoption increasing and Ethereum-based projects gaining traction, the chain has seen a surge in total value locked (TVL) and transaction volumes. Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake and the development of robust Layer-2 solutions have contributed to its resilience, with altcoins maintaining support rather than collapsing during the recent pullback. This dynamic suggests that the market may still be in a growth phase, with Ethereum’s strength signaling the potential for a larger altseason.

As the market approaches the end of the year, the broader macroeconomic environment will play a significant role in shaping Bitcoin’s next move. With the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge set to be released and expectations of a rate cut in September growing, liquidity injections could provide a much-needed tailwind for risk assets. The outcome of the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and subsequent inflation data will be closely watched as key inflection points.

Source: [1] BTC bull run over at $111K? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week (https://cointelegraph.com/news/btc-bull-run-over-at-111k-5-things-bitcoin-this-week) [2] Bitcoin's bull run could last until 2027, analysts say. Why ... (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bitcoins-bull-run-could-defy-history-and-last-until-2027-bernstein-analyst-says-why-that-may-be-too-optimistic-b14df756) [3] Bitcoin Cycle 2025: Analyst Says Bull Run Intact as ... (https://cryptodnes.bg/en/bitcoin-cycle-2025-analyst-says-bull-run-intact-as-altseason-nears/) [4] Bitcoin (BTC) Bull Run Cancelled? Shiba Inu (SHIB) Hits 0 ... (https://u.today/bitcoin-btc-bull-run-cancelled-shiba-inu-shib-hits-0-in-key-metric-xrps-unthinkable-comeback) [5] A Comparative Analysis between BTC and ETH (https://www.tokenmetrics.com/blog/bitcoin-vs-ethereum?74e29fd5_page=2) [6] Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: The Complete Guide (2025) (https://supra.com/academy/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)