Bitcoin Price Forecast - BTC-USD Stabilizes at $111K as Bulls Defend Key Support Amid Fed Cut Hopes

Bitcoin Price Forecast - BTC-USD Stabilizes at $111K as Bulls Defend Key Support Amid Fed Cut Hopes

BTC retests the $109,600 zone for the fourth time while whales slow distribution, RSI flashes bullish divergence, and Fed rate cut odds near 97% — setting the stage for a potential breakout toward $120K | That's TradingNEWS

TradingNEWS Archive 10/16/2025 3:42:36 PM
Crypto BTC/USD BTC USD

Bitcoin Holds Above $110K as Bulls Defend Key Support and Institutional Buyers Return

Bitcoin traded in a volatile but controlled range on Thursday, holding near $111,000 after briefly dipping to $109,600, a zone that has become the most critical area of defense for the bulls. The cryptocurrency (BTC-USD) showed resilience after testing this demand area for the fourth time in October, forming what many analysts describe as a triple-bottom structure—a pattern that often signals an upcoming reversal once confirmed. Market data from Bitstamp and Binance highlighted aggressive bid clusters between $109,600 and $110,000, suggesting that buyers are defending the psychological $110K mark with conviction. The rebound coincides with renewed accumulation among mid-sized wallets, signaling that both retail and professional investors are gradually returning after a sharp correction earlier this month that wiped nearly nine percent from Bitcoin’s market value.

According to Cointelegraph Markets Pro, Bitcoin’s price action continues to attract large entities who see this consolidation phase as a re-entry point rather than a breakdown. Analyst Skew remarked that “it’s time to lock in again” as BTC once again tapped into its established demand area. Rekt Capital, another well-known analyst, confirmed that Bitcoin has “completely filled” the CME futures gap between $109,680 and $111,310, which historically acts as a magnet for price before new directional momentum begins. Such fills often mark equilibrium in liquidity and serve as launchpads for trend reversals.

Emerging RSI Divergence Suggests Momentum Shift as Sentiment Stabilizes

Momentum indicators are beginning to turn supportive after weeks of bearish pressure. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart has started to curve upward from 48, forming a bullish divergence even as price holds near its lows. This signals that selling strength is weakening while buying intent quietly builds beneath the surface. Market sentiment, which recently plunged to a six-month low on the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, is stabilizing as investors recognize that panic levels of this magnitude typically coincide with local bottoms rather than tops.

Crypto analyst Ted Pillows emphasized that the current sentiment mirrors the March 2020 environment when Bitcoin collapsed during the COVID-19 panic before embarking on one of its strongest rallies. He argued that “this doesn’t happen at the top; it happens at exhaustion points when fear peaks.” Supporting this view, on-chain data from Glassnode revealed that addresses holding between 1 BTC and 1,000 BTC have resumed accumulation. These mid-sized entities—often considered strategic traders—have absorbed supply from weak hands over the past week. Meanwhile, large whales that aggressively distributed holdings during the early-October selloff have slowed their selling pace, suggesting renewed confidence and reduced downward pressure.

Institutions Expand Holdings as Fed Cut Bets Reach 96.7% Probability

While retail sentiment begins to heal, institutional positioning is quietly turning optimistic. The CME FedWatch Tool shows a 96.7% probability that the Federal Reserve will cut rates by 25 basis points, from 4.25% to 4.00%, at the next meeting. A rate cut of this magnitude would mark the first easing in more than a year, potentially unleashing new liquidity across risk assets. Historically, Bitcoin thrives under such conditions, benefiting from a weaker dollar and increased risk tolerance.

Since 2019, October has delivered an average 20% monthly gain for Bitcoin, and traders are betting that history could repeat if monetary policy turns dovish. Institutional demand supports that narrative. Bitwise’s Q3 2025 Corporate Bitcoin Adoption Report confirmed that public companies now hold 1.02 million BTC, equivalent to $117 billion, representing a 28% quarterly increase. The number of corporations holding Bitcoin rose 38.7% quarter-over-quarter, with 48 new companies adding BTC to their balance sheets. Major holders include Strategy (640,031 BTC), MARA Holdings (52,850 BTC), XXI (43,514 BTC), Metaplanet (30,823 BTC), and Bitcoin Standard Treasury (30,021 BTC). Strategy alone purchased 40,000 BTC in Q3, a striking indication of institutional conviction despite market volatility.

These inflows reinforce Bitcoin’s evolving identity as a macro hedge and liquidity beneficiary rather than a purely speculative instrument. Institutional desks are positioning for a potential liquidity surge following the anticipated Fed cut, with a growing number of funds citing Bitcoin’s performance correlation with easing cycles as justification for renewed exposure.

Technical Landscape: Triple-Bottom Structure Forms Near $109K as Bulls Eye $116K Breakout

The technical picture paints a battlefield defined by two critical levels. Support at $109,600–$110,000 remains the market’s stronghold, underpinned by the 200-day moving average, which sits almost perfectly at the same level. A sustained break below this zone could open downside risk toward $107,300, followed by $105,000 as the next defensive line. However, repeated rejections of sub-$110K prices indicate that demand remains strong enough to prevent deeper declines.

On the upside, resistance lies at $112,700–$113,000, where the 20-EMA and 50-EMA are beginning to converge. A confirmed breakout above this area could trigger acceleration toward $114,600 and $117,600, aligning with Fibonacci retracement levels that previously capped rebounds. Market structure shows a potential shift toward higher lows—a necessary precursor to a trend reversal. If Bitcoin closes decisively above $116,200, momentum could swiftly carry it toward $120,000, reviving the bullish channel that dominated earlier this year.

Open interest across major futures exchanges has declined sharply since the liquidation wave in early October, a sign of deleveraging and reset positioning. Lower leverage means reduced risk of cascading liquidations, allowing spot demand to dictate direction rather than speculative leverage. This creates the ideal environment for a slow, sustainable recovery if buying pressure continues to build.

Market Psychology and On-Chain Data Indicate a Structural Reset

The correction that erased roughly $5,000 from Bitcoin’s value over the past month served a broader market purpose—it purged excessive leverage and speculative excess. Trading volume has dropped over 20% week-over-week, a signal of market exhaustion, but also a foundation for a healthier structure. Analysts note that every previous long-term rally began only after such liquidity purges and sentiment collapses.

Recent spot ETF inflows have strengthened the bullish case, as institutional funds re-accumulate Bitcoin exposure after short-term traders capitulated. Exchange outflows surged mid-week, showing coins leaving trading platforms for cold storage, typically an indicator of investor confidence. Whale activity has notably cooled, while mid-tier wallet growth has increased steadily, a dynamic consistent with accumulation cycles observed in late 2022 and early 2023. The synchronized reduction in leveraged positions and rise in on-chain accumulation point toward a transition phase—one where weak hands exit, and long-term investors build exposure ahead of the next macro move.

Crypto Capital Rotation and Macro Pressures Shape the Broader Landscape

As Bitcoin consolidates, attention is expanding to emerging projects such as Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER), a Solana-powered Layer-2 network designed to bring faster transaction capabilities and low fees to the Bitcoin ecosystem. The project’s presale has already surpassed $23.8 million, reflecting how liquidity is rotating toward innovation plays while Bitcoin itself stabilizes. This rotation doesn’t signal weakness but rather diversification as investors explore parallel growth narratives within the ecosystem.

However, the global regulatory backdrop remains a wild card. The G20’s Financial Stability Board recently cautioned about “significant gaps” in cross-border crypto regulation, hinting that tighter global standards may soon emerge. Increased scrutiny could temporarily slow speculative flows, but it also solidifies Bitcoin’s role as a regulated macro asset class. Traders now balance optimism about policy easing against the risk of new compliance frameworks that might dampen short-term volatility but strengthen the long-term legitimacy of the market.

Outlook: Accumulation Phase Builds Foundation for the Next Breakout

The evidence increasingly suggests that Bitcoin is entering the final stages of a consolidation phase before its next directional move. The triple-bottom structure around $109,600, combined with improving RSI signals, growing institutional exposure, and a 97% probability of Fed easing, presents a compelling case for accumulation. Should Bitcoin hold above $109,000 and reclaim the $114,600–$116,200 range, the setup points toward a push to $120,000 and possibly $125,000 in the fourth quarter.

Conversely, a break below $109,000 could invite a retest of $105,000, but the consistency of buy-side absorption near current levels shows that long-term holders continue to view every dip as opportunity. Market psychology, on-chain activity, and macro liquidity expectations now align in favor of a slow, methodical recovery. The broader bias remains moderately bullish, with conviction tied to the preservation of current support and a confirmed daily close above $116,000.

Verdict: Structural Uptrend Intact – Buy Bias if $109K Holds and $116K Breaks

Bitcoin’s correction appears to have exhausted its downside momentum, leaving the asset in a mature accumulation phase that often precedes renewed trend expansion. Technicals, on-chain metrics, and macro catalysts collectively support a Buy Bias, contingent on the defense of $109K support and a confirmed breakout above $116K resistance. With institutional inflows rising and monetary policy shifting, the fourth quarter of 2025 may become the inflection point where Bitcoin regains its leadership role in global risk markets.

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