Bitcoin Struggles Below $82K While Coinbase Premium Rises—What’s Next?

Bitcoin continues to face challenges in regaining upward momentum, with the cryptocurrency still trading below $82,000 as of today. The asset remains 25.1% below its all-time high of $109,000, recorded in January.

Over the past 24 hours, BTC has seen an additional 0.7% decline, reflecting ongoing market hesitation and uncertainty among investors. Amid this price performance, CryptoQuant analyst Avocado Onchain has identified a notable trend in Bitcoin’s price channel.

Bitcoin Coinbase Premium and Market Sentiment

Despite Bitcoin’s downward trajectory, the Coinbase premium has been forming higher lows, indicating potential underlying demand. However, the CryptoQuant analyst warns that no clear signals of a breakout or reversal have emerged, leaving the market in an uncertain state.

Particularly, according to Avocado Onchain, Bitcoin’s price remains within a declining price channel, with repeated pullbacks making it difficult to determine a clear trend. Avocado noted:

So far, there is no decisive movement indicating a full-fledged downtrend, but at the same time, there are no clear signs of a bullish reversal either. The market is becoming increasingly uncertain, creating an environment designed to confuse and unsettle investors.

The Coinbase premium, which measures the difference between Bitcoin prices on Coinbase and other exchanges, has shown higher lows despite the downward price action. This could suggest that US-based investors are still accumulating BTC, even as the broader market struggles to find direction.

The analyst cautions against overleveraging on bullish news or panic selling during downturns, emphasizing that strategic decisions should be made ahead of time rather than in reaction to market fluctuations.

While there is no confirmation of a bear market, Avocado believes that exiting positions based on short-term fear could lead to missed opportunities in the long run. The analyst wrote:

From my perspective, there isn’t enough data to declare a bear market at this point. Abandoning positions now could end up being an ill-timed exit rather than a calculated decision.

Miner Selling Pressure and Market Implications

Adding to the market pressure, CryptoQuant analyst IT Tech has noted a spike in BTC miner selling activity. Data shows that as Bitcoin dropped to $77,700, miners increased their BTC transfers to exchanges, a move that historically signals selling pressure at market lows.

Miners often sell BTC to cover operational costs, especially during price declines. If miner selling pressure continues, it could limit Bitcoin’s ability to recover in the short term. However, if buyer demand remains strong enough to absorb the excess supply, Bitcoin may stabilize at its current levels before attempting a rebound.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView