Bitcoin Surges 18% to $112,000 as Whales and Institutions Drive Rally

Bitcoin has surged past the $112,000 mark for the first time, driven by a resurgence in activity from dormant whales and increasing institutional investment. This significant price jump, which represents an 18% increase since the start of 2025, has reignited bullish sentiment across the cryptocurrency market. Analysts are now setting their sights on $150,000 as a potential target by the end of the year.

Bitcoin's latest rally has propelled its total market capitalization beyond $2.21 trillion, reinforcing its dominance in the digital asset space. As of mid-July, Bitcoin was trading just above $111,100, with daily trading volumes exceeding $59 billion, indicating broad market participation. This price surge follows a series of high-value transactions from previously inactive wallets. One such dormant address transferred 17,283 BTC, valued at $1.88 billion, within a single day.

Long-dormant Bitcoin wallets, some dating back to the Satoshi era, have recently become active. Last week, two such wallets moved a combined 20,000 BTC for the first time in 14 years. The motives behind these transactions remain unclear, but they have sparked speculation about long-term holders adjusting their positions in anticipation of further market gains. Additionally, the Royal Government of Bhutan transferred over 350 BTC, approximately $38.5 million, to Binance over a 10-day span. This move highlights the growing role of sovereign players in crypto capital flows, potentially for liquidity management or macro diversification.

Despite its rapid ascent, Bitcoin may not yet be overbought. Key technical indicators continue to suggest room for further gains. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) currently sits at 63.62, indicating a bullish trend but not yet in overbought territory. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) shows a bullish crossover at 172.51, commonly interpreted as a buy signal. The 10-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) remains above the 100-day SMA, confirming short-term upward momentum. However, the stochastic oscillator has reached 86.46, a level typically associated with short-term consolidation or pullbacks. Analysts are closely monitoring resistance levels at $117,498 and $127,279. A decisive break above these zones, ideally with strong volume, would solidify the path to $150,000.

Institutional sentiment continues to strengthen amid expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and growing distrust in fiat currencies. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are seeing consistent inflows, while inflation-hedging portfolios are increasingly incorporating BTC as a strategic asset. Analysts at Cryptona.co argue that $150,000 is no longer a stretch if BTC can breach the $117K resistance with conviction. Sovereign interest, such as Bhutan’s recent activity, adds another layer of legitimacy to Bitcoin’s evolving macro narrative.

Bitcoin’s historic surge above $112,000 reflects a shift in the behavior of long-term holders and institutional investors alike. While short-term corrections are inevitable, both technical and fundamental conditions suggest BTC’s bull cycle is far from over. With whales reawakening, governments joining the ledger, and macro forces aligning, the $150,000 mark may be the market’s new consensus target.