โ–ถ๏ธ BTC Stalls Despite Bullish Macro Signals

Bitcoin is consolidating in a tight range between $107,000 and $110,000, even as equity markets rise and macro sentiment improves. According to QCP Capital, the main reason BTC hasn't broken higher is a mix of cautious positioning and headline-driven uncertainty.

โ–ถ๏ธ ETF Demand Strong โ€” But Not Enough Yet

QCP notes that institutional interest in spot Bitcoin ETFs remains solid, helping to form a price floor. However, this support hasnโ€™t yet sparked breakout momentum, as traders await more clarity before making big directional bets.

โ–ถ๏ธ Bitcoin Conference Adds Event Risk

Markets are now closely watching the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas (May 27โ€“29). High-profile speakers such as Vice President JD Vance, Michael Saylor, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump are drawing attention.

This has led to a rise in implied volatility โ€” particularly on the short end โ€” as traders hedge against potential surprise headlines from the event.

โ–ถ๏ธ Why Traders Are Cautious โ€” Flashback to Last Year

QCP recalls the 2024 Nashville Bitcoin Conference, where a speech by Donald Trump sparked a 90+ spike in short-term volatility, followed by a 30% crash in BTC just days later.

Although QCP sees a low chance of a repeat, the memory of that volatility spike has shaped current market caution.

โ–ถ๏ธ Defensive Positioning Dominates

Market behavior supports the cautious outlook:

โœ” Perpetual futures open interest is down

โœ” Funding rates are neutral

โœ” High-beta traders like James Wynn have scaled back

โœ” Demand for downside protection remains high

โ–ถ๏ธ Unconfirmed Headlines Stir Sensitivity

Adding to the marketโ€™s hesitation are rumors that Trump Media is seeking a $3B crypto raise โ€” claims that were later denied. Still, the mere presence of such headlines shows how sensitive the market is to speculation.

โ–ถ๏ธ QCPโ€™s Forecast

For now, QCP expects BTC to stay within the $107Kโ€“$110K band until the conference ends and volatility fades. After that, they foresee implied volatility dropping and markets possibly resuming trend-based moves.

Final Thought:

BTCโ€™s current pause isnโ€™t due to lack of interest โ€” it's about timing and risk management. Once this wave of event risk passes, the market could see clearer direction.

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