Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin ETF Inflows Weigh on Bearish Pressure Near $87K Support

Generated by AI AgentNyra FeldonReviewed byAInvest News Editorial Team
Thursday, Dec 18, 2025 7:44 am ET2min read
Aime RobotAime Summary

- Strong inflows into U.S. spot

ETFs ($457M) support price near $87,000, signaling renewed institutional interest.

- Bitcoin struggles to break above $95,000 due to dense supply clusters, with 6.7M BTC in losses.

- Institutional buyers re-entering market, defending key support levels as ETF-driven inflows stabilize prices.

- Risks include profit-taking, weak futures positioning, and macroeconomic uncertainties affecting Bitcoin’s recovery.

Bitcoin's price is finding support near $87,000 as strong inflows into U.S.-listed spot

ETFs provide a temporary cushion against bearish pressure. The latest weekly report from Glassnode is showing signs of early recovery, with ETFs recording a $457 million inflow on Wednesday, the largest since mid-November. While the rally is yet to break through key resistance levels, the influx of capital signals renewed interest from investors seeking exposure to the leading cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin's price has struggled to move beyond the

$95,000 threshold, constrained by a dense supply cluster between $93,000 and $120,000. This top-heavy structure has left 6.7 million BTC holdings at a loss, a record high in the current market cycle. Analysts say the market remains in a holding pattern until either fresh liquidity enters or selling pressure eases. Without a break above $95,000 or a surge in buying conviction, Bitcoin is likely to remain in a defined range.

ETF inflows, however, suggest that demand is not absent. The $457 million injection into spot Bitcoin ETFs has helped offset short-term selling and stabilize the price near $87,000. This trend marks a reversal from earlier in the week, when outflows had pushed the price lower. The inflow is the first significant one in nearly a month and could indicate that institutional buyers are re-entering the market.

What Analysts Are Watching

Market participants are closely monitoring whether ETF inflows can translate into a broader breakout. Glassnode analysts say the market is waiting for a catalyst that could shift the balance of supply and demand. Until then, Bitcoin is likely to remain in a range between $81,000 and $95,000. Institutional investors have shown patience, defending key support levels such as the $81,300 True Market Mean, which has so far prevented a deeper pullback.

The Short-Term Holder Cost Basis remains at $101,500, a critical threshold for a sustained recovery. If Bitcoin fails to reclaim this level, the risk of further corrections remains. The RSI indicator currently sits at 40, suggesting that bearish momentum is gaining traction, but the ETF-driven inflows may provide enough support to prevent a sharp decline.

Risks to the Outlook

Despite the ETF optimism, Bitcoin's path to recovery remains uncertain. The market is still vulnerable to profit-taking and profit-booking in both spot and derivatives markets. Futures positioning has been trending downward, indicating that traders are reducing long exposure rather than building it up. This suggests a lack of conviction in a near-term rebound.

Additionally, the broader macroeconomic environment remains a wild card. While lower interest rates are generally bullish for risk assets like Bitcoin, the market's reaction has been mixed. The asset's performance is also being weighed down by structural selling pressure, which has kept it in a defined range for weeks. Any sudden shift in macroeconomic sentiment or regulatory developments could trigger renewed volatility.

The coming weeks will be crucial for Bitcoin as it tests key levels and gauges whether the ETF-driven buying is sustainable. For now, the market appears to be waiting for a stronger catalyst to push it beyond the current range. Until then, the focus will remain on whether institutional demand can absorb overhead supply and create the conditions for a breakout.