Autor Cointelegraph By Marcel Pechman

Key takeaways:Persistent spot market accumulation from Bitcoin ETFs and Strategy provided a price floor for Bitcoin and threatens to trigger a short squeeze.Negative funding rates and cautious options skews could trap bears if the Federal Reserve policy shifts or high oil prices trigger higher inflation.Bitcoin (BTC) price sustained levels above $76,000 for the past week, distancing itself from its year low at $60,500. The recent bullish momentum came as crude oil prices jumped above $100 and the S&P 500 hit new trading highs, but futures market data may point to a short-term rally-ending outcome for Bitcoin.A total of $1.4 billion in leveraged short positions near $80,000 has been built over the past 48 hours, according to CoinGlass data, and Bitcoin’s rejection at $79,500 has raised alarm.Estimated Bitcoin futures liquidation levels, USD. Source: CoinGlassFederal Reserve decision, inflation data may push Bitcoin above $80,000The lack of investors’ appetite for bullish Bitcoin leverage has been evident, but a bear trap could spring if the US Federal Reserve adopts a less restrictive monetary policy or if investors anticipate higher inflation, which would reduce the expected net returns from fixed-income assets.Bitcoin perpetual futures annualized funding rate. Source: LaevitasThe Bitcoin perpetual futures annualized funding rate has remained mostly negative over the past two weeks, a typical sign of growing bearish confidence. Curiously, this happened while Bitcoin’s price jumped to $78,000 from $72,000 on April 9 and most of those bets are at a loss at $76,700. A rally above $80,000 would likely force traders to close their positions.Data show investors are no longer anticipating interest rate hikes from the Fed, even as Brent crude prices have reclaimed the $100 level. The pressure from high energy prices has a cascading impact on inflation expectations, but the Fed is also concerned with the weakening job market and economic growth.Implied target rate probabilities for Sept. 16 Fed meeting. Source: CME FedWatch toolUS government bond futures contracts presently indicate 20% odds of interest rates decreasing by September, marking a complete turnaround from one month prior. Traders realized that the Fed is in a tough spot, hence the 3.95% yield on 5-year US Treasury became less appealing. An interest rate cut exerts upward pressure on inflation.Sustained spot Bitcoin buying supports BTC’s bullish momentumBitcoin’s bullish momentum has been driven by the spot market, evidenced by Strategy (MSTR US) adding $255 million in BTC between April 20 to April 26 and the $824 million net inflows into US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Bitcoin buyers continued to accumulate despite the failed attempts to hold above $79,000.Related: Critical Bitcoin trend change in works, but analysts say daily close above $80K requiredTo determine if professional Bitcoin traders are effectively leaning bearish, one should assess the options markets.Bitcoin options 30-day delta skew (put-call) at Deribit. Source: LaevitasThe Bitcoin options delta skew shows put (sell) options trading at an 11% premium relative to call (buy) options, consistent with a bearish market. Whales and market makers are uncomfortable with downside risk, which reinforces the thesis of a potential bear trap if Bitcoin reclaims $80,000 in the near term.Further Bitcoin bullish momentum remains far from certain, but as long as spot market demand remains strong, the pressure on short positions may continue to mount. If the current accumulation trend persists alongside a softening of Federal Reserve policy, the resulting liquidity squeeze could easily propel the price well beyond the $80,000 resistance level.

Key takeaways:A whale linked to asset manager Fasanara Capital holds a $38 million crypto short position, but will it impact Bitcoin’s price?Negative futures funding rates at Binance and Bybit point to unusual demand for bearish positioning despite BTC’s recent price gains.Bitcoin (BTC) struggled to trade above $78,000 on Friday, but the overall setup remains bullish. BTC gained 29% since the $60,100 yearly low on Feb. 6, and many analysts believe it is on the verge of a longer-term breakout. At the same time, a bearish Bitcoin whale on Hyperliquid exchange has maintained a large short position. The whale has made $159 million in profits over the past seven months. Does its positioning provide any signal that the market should pay attention to? Hyperliquid whale profit and loss data. Source: CoinGlassThe entity behind address 0x7fda…c517d1 (also known as BobbyBigSize) on Hyperliquid exchange excelled during the market crash between October to November 2025 by placing leveraged short bets on Ether (ETH), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Avalanche (AVAX), and Fartcoin, among others. The account has failed to sustain its gains, resulting in a $561,000 loss over the past 30 days.The whale is bullish on ETH, but bearish on BTC and altcoinsUsing algorithmic trading, the whale opened short-duration long positions in Bitcoin and Solana (SOL) in the past, resulting in a staggering $11 billion in trades on Hyperliquid exchange. BobbyBigSize currently holds $19.4 million in assets deposited on the platform. 63% of its trades result in positive outcomes, which is considered highly successful.BobbyBigSize’s current positions, USD. Source: HyperdashCurrently, BobbyBigSize holds a $38 million short position in BTC and multiple altcoins. The trader also opened a $21 million leveraged long ETH position last week, indicating short-term confidence. Generally, the portfolio positioning is bearish, suggesting an expectation of a short-term correction.Related: Critical Bitcoin trend change in works, but analysts say daily close above $80K requiredThe average trade duration for BobbyBigSize has been slightly longer than two weeks, while the median position has lasted for less than four days, according to Hyperdash data. Arkham data previously linked this address to Fasanara Capital, a London-based institutional asset manager. The company reportedly manages over $5 billion in assets.Source: X/ArkhamAccording to Fasanara Digital’s website, it launched in 2018 and manages $400 million across market-neutral strategies and venture investments. In parallel, a quantitative multi-manager approach in various liquid markets manages $150 million. However, the strategy behind the fund’s approach to cryptocurrency was not clearly specified.Hyperliquid DEX annualized funding rates. Source: Hyperliquid.xyzFunding rates for BTC and ETH stood slightly positive on Hyperliquid, indicating moderate demand for leveraged long positions. Under neutral circumstances, longs pay 6% to 12% annualized rates to maintain their positions. Currently, funding rates are negative on Binance and Bybit, signaling unusually high demand for bearish leverage.Algorithmic traders are erratic and unpredictable, and losses by “BobbyBigSize” over the past couple of months evidence that no single trading strategy lasts indefinitely. However, this whale’s bearish positioning aligns with the increased demand for leveraged short positions; therefore, Bitcoin traders should not discard the possibility of a retest of the $75,000 level.

Key takeaways:The spot ETH ETFs recorded ten consecutive days of net inflows, totaling $633 million.Weekly DApps revenue on the Ethereum network fell to $13 million, following a broader decline seen in Solana and BNB Chain.Ether (ETH) struggled to trade above $2,400 on Thursday, but consistent inflows into Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) reflect the bulls’ attempt to regain momentum. Ether’s price rallied alongside Bitcoin’s (BTC) recovery to $79,000, prompting traders to question whether ETH will attempt a run to $3,000.Spot ETH ETF daily net flows, USD. Source: SoSoValueOn Wednesday, the ETH spot ETFs completed 10 consecutive days of net inflows, totaling $633 million. This shows that traders are gradually reclaiming confidence after ETH abruptly fell by 42% between Jan. 28 and Feb. 6. The cryptocurrency market crash reduced interest in decentralized applications (DApps), which proved especially burdensome for ETH investors.Weekly DApps revenue by chain, USD. Source: DefiLlamaDApp revenues on the Ethereum network dropped to $13 million per week in April, nearly 50% lower than six months prior. However, the decline in decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes has also plagued other major competitors to a similar extent, including Solana, BNB Chain, and Hyperliquid. The aggregate weekly blockchain DApps revenue has fallen to $73 million, down from $130 million in October 2025.Ethereum well-positioned to capture demand for DAppsDespite recent bullish momentum, ETH is down 22% year-to-date in 2026, while the broader cryptocurrency market capitalization is down 14%. Ether’s underperformance may be interpreted as a buying opportunity, especially as the Ethereum network remains the leader in total value locked (TVL) and its layer-2 solutions have gained significant market share in DEX volumes.Regardless of the ETF inflows, the demand for bullish leveraged ETH positions has plummeted to its lowest level in four months.ETH 2-month futures basis rate. Source: LaevitasThe annualized ETH monthly futures premium relative to regular spot markets (basis rate) dropped to 1% on Thursday, well below the 4% neutral threshold. Still, it is incorrect to assume that professional traders are bracing for downside solely due to a lack of confidence in derivatives markets. The uncertain macroeconomic environment might explain trader skepticism, especially after major tech companies’ quarterly earnings disappointed investors.IBM (IBM US) shares dropped nearly 10% on Thursday due to investor concerns regarding increased competition from the artificial intelligence sector, according to Yahoo Finance. In parallel, Morgan Stanley trimmed its price target on Oracle (ORCL US) due to uncertainty in the margin profile and buildout costs of the company’s expanding investment in AI computing data centers.Related: BlackRock drives 7-day Bitcoin ETF inflow streak as BTC nears $80,000ETH vs. BNB, SOL, AVAX. Source: TradingViewEther’s potential bullish momentum likely depends on reduced risk aversion toward cryptocurrencies, as its price chart relative to some competitors shows striking similarities. The recent spot Ether ETF inflows, while relevant, are not enough to justify a decoupling, especially as activity in the DApps sector has yet to show signs of improvement.There is no indication that ETH is bound for $3,000, but the Ethereum network seems well-positioned to capture an eventual pickup in demand for decentralized computation.This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.