Bitcoin Pauses Below $97K as Momentum Cools

Bitcoin slowed today after a strong multi-week climb, trading around $96.6K and printing a small daily pullback on the chart. However, that kind of stall is common when the price reaches the upper edge of a range, and short-term traders rotate risk, especially with BTC still below the psychological $100K level.

The move is less about a bearish shift and more about sequencing. Moreover, after an upside push, spot buyers usually become more selective while derivatives traders crowd into directional bets.

When that happens, the market can turn silent for a session or two as leverage resets, spreads widen, and the price drifts while liquidity rebuilds.

What the Data Suggests

From a structural view, the key detail is where the pause happens. Therefore, a healthy consolidation generally holds above prior support zones and grinds sideways instead of breaking below them.

The exchange flow charts show heavy activity on both inflows and outflows. However, the netflow view is predominantly negative across much of the recent window.

Some experts agree that this is a positive sign. Indeed, when netflow stays below zero, it typically means coins are leaving exchanges more than they’re entering. This could reduce immediate sell pressure during consolidations.

On the other hand, the liquidation and market panels suggest leverage is present, but the tone looks more like a controlled reset than a panic flush.

Also, open interest appears large across exchanges. However, data doesn’t point to explosive changes, which matters because sharp OI spikes often precede messy reversals.

What it Means: The Bigger Picture

Today’s slowdown looks like a normal momentum pause unless BTC fails to defend its reclaimed area and starts pulling liquidity back into exchanges.

Furthermore, the clear continuation narrative needs to hold the higher range. Followed by another test of the local ceiling in the high $90Ks with funding contained.

The next signal to watch is whether the price can print higher lows while leverage stays restrained. Indeed, that would help to confirm the continuation setup.

Bitcoin Price Today:

More Must-Reads:

• Bitcoin Goes Full Send As Whales Front-Run The Rally
• These Are the Signals That Could Shape Crypto’s Next Phase
• US Core PPI Hits 3%: Adds Friction to the Inflation Cooling Narrative