Despite encouraging inflation signals that typically boost risk assets, Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market began the week under renewed selling pressure. This defensive posture highlights persistent investor anxiety, even as the prospect of U.S. interest rate cuts appears to strengthen.
The downturn on Monday was notable for its breadth, affecting numerous major digital assets simultaneously. This suggests the sell-off is driven by sector-wide sentiment rather than issues specific to Bitcoin. The trigger for caution is puzzling to some observers, given recent U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. Inflation cooled to 2.4% in January, down from 2.7% in December, fueling expectations for at least two Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Concurrently, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 4.05%, its lowest point since early December.
Bitcoin’s initial reaction was textbook: from Friday’s levels, its price climbed back above $70,000 over the weekend. However, this recovery proved fleeting. As the new trading week commenced, the market reversed course downward. Analysts interpret this pattern as evidence that many participants are using price rallies as opportunities to reduce exposure rather than to accumulate.
The current market dynamic is characterized by a tug-of-war between visible capital flows and on-chain activity. On one side, spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen significant outflows. Approximately $639 million exited these products over the past ten days. Over a three-month horizon, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) alone recorded net outflows of around $2.8 billion, while the entire spot Bitcoin ETF cohort saw outflows totaling roughly $5.8 billion.
Conversely, ETF analysts caution against interpreting this as a broad capitulation by long-term holders. Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, noted in a CNBC interview that ETF investors are not the primary force behind the selling. Viewed over a twelve-month period, spot Bitcoin ETFs still show net positive inflows of $14.2 billion.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Bitcoin?
Simultaneously, market analysis firms reported aggressive buying by large wallets. Addresses holding more than 1,000 BTC are estimated to have accumulated approximately 53,000 Bitcoin in one week — a volume exceeding $4 billion and representing the most substantial accumulation surge since November. This indicates a transfer of coins into “stronger hands,” though such movement does not guarantee immediate price appreciation.
Key Market Dynamics:
* Defensive sentiment persists despite cooling CPI data and rising rate-cut expectations.
* Spot ETF outflows weigh on near-term mood, contrasting with positive annual inflows.
* Large holders are accumulating aggressively, while short-term investors de-risk.
Adding to the recent pressure was an event analysts have labeled a capitulation. According to Bitwise, realized Bitcoin losses reached $8.7 billion in one week, ranking among the largest such events on record, only surpassed by the period surrounding the Three Arrows Capital collapse. Reflecting this stress, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains mired in “extreme fear” territory, at levels last seen during the 2022 FTX crisis.
Against this backdrop, the market’s focus now shifts to upcoming economic data releases. This week features the publication of the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes and, crucially, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index — the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge. Dessislava Ianeva, an analyst at Nexo, anticipates that the PCE data will be scrutinized for confirmation that price pressures are genuinely receding, especially since inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target.
Bitcoin is currently trading at $68,384, placing it approximately 22.93% lower for the year to date. The immediate price trajectory is likely to hinge on the market’s reaction to the Fed minutes and core PCE figures. Data confirming ebbing inflation could ease the defensive stance, while a “hotter-than-expected” print could trigger another swift sell-off, undermining the fragile recovery attempts.
