Bitcoin Demand Drops Among US Investors—Is a Price Correction Coming?

[Ben Graham]

Bitcoin (BTC) is experiencing a period of stability after its recent upward climb, currently trading around $118,502, marking a slight daily decline of about 0.3%.

Despite approaching the notable resistance level at $120,000, the leading cryptocurrency has shown little indication of breaking through decisively. This quiet trading environment has drawn the attention of analysts, prompting a detailed examination of the current market sentiment and investor behavior patterns.

A recent report by Arab Chain, an analyst at CryptoQuant, suggests there is waning interest among US investors at Bitcoin’s current price level.

Declining Demand from US Investors

Utilizing the Coinbase Premium Index, a measure that compares Bitcoin’s price on Coinbase against other exchanges, Arab Chain highlights a clear downward trend in demand from American investors as prices have risen above the $105,000 mark.

Arab Chain notes that although the Coinbase Premium Index remains slightly positive, indicating a minimal premium on Bitcoin in US markets, the significant reduction in this premium suggests declining enthusiasm at current price levels.

Historically, strong buying interest from US investors has typically occurred when Bitcoin was priced under $105,000, suggesting that current valuations may be too elevated for many investors seeking favorable entry points. The analyst specifically noted:

The index shows a significant decline in U.S. investor demand for Bitcoin. However, it remains in positive territory, indicating U.S. investors are not as active in purchasing Bitcoin at current prices compared to when it traded below $105,000.

The trend suggests many potential buyers might be holding off, anticipating better opportunities should prices dip again.

Bitcoin Long-Term Holders Begin Profit-Taking

Adding further context, another CryptoQuant analyst, Burak Kesmeci, identified emerging patterns among long-term Bitcoin holders at the key psychological resistance level of $120,000.  According to Kesmeci, long-term holders have recently transitioned into net-negative territory, signaling initial phases of profit-taking.

Such moves typically indicate that veteran investors, many of whom may have held Bitcoin through previous market cycles, are beginning to liquidate portions of their holdings to capitalize on recent gains.

Kesmeci highlighted the importance of monitoring this activity closely, pointing specifically to institutional involvement:

One significant case to note is Galaxy Digital, reported to have sold approximately 80,000 BTC. Such sizeable institutional activity indicates this is more than typical retail profit-taking.

This development raises questions regarding future market behavior, whether the current sell-off by larger holders represents strategic repositioning or signals broader market concerns.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView