The crypto market is experiencing a stressful session as selling pressure spreads and defensive sentiment returns. Bitcoin just lost the $90,000 support level , while Ethereum plummeted past the psychological $3,000 mark — two slips that make the short-term outlook significantly less positive.
But even amidst the red dominating the market, cash flow data revealed a noteworthy point: large investors (whales) are still buying , while retail investors are selling .
Bitcoin falls below $90,000: “Digital gold” fails to convince the market.
Bitcoin has broken below $90,000 , and what's noteworthy isn't just the price drop, but the relative weakness . BTC is underperforming even US stocks and is even "losing" to gold/silver — assets often sought after when risk is high.
To put it bluntly: in this period of fear, the market hasn't bought into the "Bitcoin is digital gold" narrative . At least in the short term, BTC is still being positioned as a riskier asset rather than a safe haven.
Ethereum falls below $3,000: bears prevail, "any rebound will be followed by selling."
ETH fared no better, falling below $3,000 — a level that is both technical and psychological. When this level is breached, sentiment typically shifts to a defensive state: price rebounds → selling pressure emerges → the market is pulled back down again.
Unless ETH can decisively reclaim $3,000 , the market will continue to view rallies as opportunities to "exit" rather than signs of a reversal.
Notable data: whales bought 36,000 BTC, retail investors sold.
While many are pessimistic, a "counter-current game" is unfolding:
The group of wallets holding 10–10,000 BTC purchased a total of 36,000 BTC (approximately $3.2 billion) in the 9 days since January 10th.
Conversely, retail investors (holding approximately 0.01 BTC ) sold a net 132 BTC during the same period.
Santiment suggests that the " whale buy - retail sell " divergence pattern is often a long-term bullish signal, sometimes suggesting a potential trend reversal if large capital flows continue.
From a market perspective, this is a fairly familiar model:
Weak players panic and sell off → strong players absorb the supply → the market has a chance to form a base.
However, this signal does not necessarily mean that the Dip has definitely been reached , but it is an important fact to monitor in the coming sessions.
Why is the market still cautious? Geopolitical risks remain a major concern.
Besides price movements, market sentiment is also influenced by geopolitical risks , including tariff- related statements from US President Donald Trump. When policy variables heat up, investors tend to reduce their risk tolerance — and crypto often reacts the fastest.
Conclusion: Prices are weak, but the large flow of money tells a different story.
Crypto today carries two layers of message:
Short-term: BTC breaks below 90,000, ETH loses 3,000 → poor price structure, "sell the bounce" sentiment prevails.
Long term: Whales continue to buy aggressively while retail investors sell → a notable form of "bullish divergence".
📌 Two key milestones to watch closely:
BTC at $90,000 USD : It's difficult to say whether the recovery is sustainable until it's recovered.
ETH 3,000 USD : Only a decisive recapture of the island will provide a basis for hope.
