BTC Price Prediction: Will the $100,000 Milestone Be Breached?

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• Technical Breakout: Price is testing the upper Bollinger Band resistance after a strong move above the 20-day moving average, a classic setup for continued momentum.
• Supportive Fundamentals: Cooling inflation data is driving institutional demand, while on-chain metrics show a significant drop in sell-side pressure, reducing barriers to upward movement.
• Strong Market Sentiment: The breaking of key resistance levels ($95K, $96K) alongside regulatory progress and growing advisor allocations creates a powerful bullish narrative targeting the $100,000 milestone.

BTC Price Prediction

Technical Analysis: BTC Approaches Critical Threshold

According to BTCC financial analyst Michael, Bitcoin's current price of $96,890.66 sits just above its 20-day moving average of $91,148.83, indicating sustained bullish momentum. The MACD reading of -1,054.51, while negative, shows a narrowing bearish divergence, suggesting weakening downward pressure. Notably, the price is testing the upper Bollinger Band at $96,847.10, a classic resistance level. A sustained break above this band often precedes significant upward moves. The proximity of the price to the band's upper limit, combined with the positive alignment above the middle band (the 20-day MA), points to strong buying interest. The next major resistance is the psychological $100,000 level.

Market Sentiment: Bullish Catalysts Align

BTCC financial analyst Michael highlights that current news flow strongly supports the technical bullish case. Key positive drivers include bitcoin breaking the $95K and $96K resistance levels amid a broader 'risk-on' market sentiment, fueled by cooling CPI data which is reigniting institutional demand. Furthermore, the decline in futures-driven sell-side activity and the lowest sell-side risk ratio since October 2023 indicate reduced immediate selling pressure. Regulatory advancements, like DZ Bank's MiCAR approval in Germany, and growing crypto allocations by financial advisors (now at 32%) provide structural, long-term bullish underpinnings. This confluence of factors creates a favorable environment for a test of the $100,000 mark.

Factors Influencing BTC’s Price

Bitcoin Breaks $95K Resistance as Risk-On Sentiment Fuels Crypto Rally

Bitcoin surged past $97,000, marking a decisive breakout after weeks of lagging behind traditional assets like equities and gold. QCP Capital notes the cryptocurrency finally overcame the $95,000 resistance level that had capped gains since November.

The rally aligns with a broader risk-on environment fueled by stable U.S. inflation data and a resilient labor market. Over $100 million in short positions were liquidated within an hour as bitcoin caught up to the momentum seen in stocks and precious metals.

Geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and Iran have failed to dampen market optimism. Investors interpret U.S. involvement as a reassertion of global leadership rather than a destabilizing force.

QCP attributes part of the rally to political dynamics, suggesting President Trump's focus on equity market performance ahead of midterm elections is driving confidence. "The market is convinced TRUMP will do anything to Make America Great Again, with his measure of success being new highs in equity markets," the firm stated.

Bitcoin Finds Relief as Futures-Driven Sell-Side Activity Declines Sharply

Bitcoin's price has rebounded above $94,000, reigniting bullish sentiment across the market. The decline in selling pressure from investors and the futures market signals a potential shift in momentum.

Futures market sellers are stepping back, with Bitcoin reclaiming key resistance levels. The BTC Net Taker Volume metric shows a tenfold drop in sell-side activity, from a monthly average peak of $489 million. This cooling of aggressive short positioning suggests open interest is normalizing and liquidations have slowed.

While not guaranteeing an immediate price surge, this reduction in sell-side pressure removes a significant headwind that has weighed on Bitcoin in recent sessions. The market appears to be stabilizing after weeks of downward pressure exacerbated by high funding rates and short positioning.

Bitcoin Liquidations Surge Past $375 Million as BTC Breaks $96,000

Bitcoin's relentless rally has triggered a cascade of liquidations, with over $375 million in positions wiped out in the past 24 hours. The carnage intensified as BTC pierced the $96,000 barrier, unleashing more than $100 million in liquidations within a single hour. Market data reveals a precarious $1 billion in short positions now dangling above the abyss, their fate hinging on whether Bitcoin can maintain its upward trajectory toward $97,100.

Exchange heatmaps paint a vivid picture of the battlefield. Binance, OKX, and Bybit emerge as the primary arenas where Leveraged traders face annihilation. The $96,202 level marks ground zero, with cumulative short leverage peaking at $451.49 million across platforms. Binance traders account for $48.79 million of this exposure, while OKX and Bybit holders shoulder $54.47 million and $67 million respectively.

Liquidation maps reveal the precise coordinates of maximum pain. On Binance's BTC/USDT perpetual market, the $96,282 level concentrates $157.04 million in vulnerable shorts. Here, the most aggressive 100X leverage positions—totaling $19.50 million—stand as the first casualties in Bitcoin's march toward uncharted territory.

Bitcoin Surges Past $95K as Cooling CPI Data Reignites Institutional Demand

Bitcoin rallied 3% to breach $95,000 after December's CPI report showed Core inflation holding at 2.6%, its lowest since 2021. The market interpreted the data as confirmation of disinflationary trends, easing fears of prolonged Fed hawkishness.

Shelter and energy costs drove the 0.3% monthly CPI increase, while food inflation remained elevated at 3.1%. This uneven pressure suggests contained rather than accelerating price growth—a green light for risk assets.

The MOVE mirrors 2021's institutional accumulation patterns, with technical indicators now confirming a bullish continuation. Trading volumes spiked on Binance and Coinbase as whales repositioned.

Bitcoin Advocates Push Congress for Broader Crypto Tax Relief

Bitcoin Policy Institute leads coalition urging lawmakers to expand proposed crypto tax reforms beyond payment stablecoins. Current IRS rules treat cryptocurrency as property, creating reporting burdens for everyday transactions.

The groups argue narrow GENIUS Act compliance fails to address fundamental tax friction. "Imagine capital gains on every coffee purchase," said BitSave's Zakhil Suresh, highlighting how current policy stifles crypto's use as money.

Proposal seeks parity with cash treatment for qualifying stablecoins, removing transaction limits and annual reporting thresholds. Move comes as bipartisan lawmakers signal openness to digital asset policy updates.

Uganda's Internet Shutdown Spurs Surge in Decentralized App Bitchat Downloads Ahead of Election

Uganda's government has imposed a nationwide internet blackout ahead of Thursday's presidential election, triggering a dramatic spike in downloads of Bitchat—a decentralized messaging app that operates offline via Bluetooth mesh networks. The shutdown order from the Uganda Communications Commission cites concerns over misinformation as 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni faces opposition leader Bobi Wine.

Bitchat developer Calle reported the app became Uganda's most downloaded application within hours of the announcement. Unlike traditional messaging platforms, the peer-to-peer system requires no internet infrastructure, phone numbers, or account registration, making it resistant to government censorship.

This marks the second consecutive election cycle where Ugandan authorities have restricted digital communications, mirroring tactics used during the 2021 electoral crackdown. The blackout affects all access technologies including mobile broadband and satellite internet, with penalties for non-compliance.

DZ BANK Receives MiCAR Approval to Launch Crypto Trading in Germany

DZ BANK, Germany's second-largest financial institution, has secured regulatory approval under the European MiCAR framework to introduce crypto trading services. The bank's new "meinKrypto" platform, set to launch in January 2026, will enable retail customers to trade digital assets directly through their existing VR Banking App.

The move marks a significant shift in Germany's financial landscape, where investors previously needed to use external crypto exchanges. As the central hub for 700 cooperative banks, DZ BANK's initiative could bring regulated crypto access to millions of mainstream customers through familiar banking interfaces.

"This isn't just about one financial institution—it's about bridging traditional finance with digital assets at scale," observed a market analyst familiar with the development. The integrated solution eliminates technical barriers like private key management, offering a simplified experience comparable to conventional banking services.

Bitcoin Sell-Side Risk Ratio Hits Lowest Since October 2023 Amid Market Flux

Bitcoin's Sell-Side Risk Ratio—a critical on-chain metric tracking realized profits and losses against its Realized Cap—has plunged to multi-year lows. Glassnode analyst Chris Beamish notes the ratio's sharp decline following November's volatility spike, signaling reduced sell pressure as investors hold assets longer.

The Realized Cap, which values each BTC token at its last transacted price, reflects the aggregate capital invested. The current ratio suggests a market in accumulation, with long-term holders resisting profit-taking even as Bitcoin's price stabilizes above key thresholds.

Historically, such lows precede bullish reversals. The data implies a supply squeeze may loom if demand accelerates, particularly from institutional inflows via exchanges like Coinbase and Binance.

Crypto Advisor Allocations Hit 32% in 2025 as Access Widens and ETF Demand Grows

Cryptocurrency is transitioning from a niche curiosity to a mainstream portfolio component. A Bitwise and VettaFi survey reveals 32% of financial advisors allocated crypto to client accounts in 2025—up from 22% in 2024—marking a record high for the series. This surge follows Bitcoin's rally to a $126,000 all-time high and regulatory advancements like the GENIUS Act, which bolstered stablecoin adoption.

Crypto equity ETFs emerged as advisors' preferred vehicle for exposure in 2026, according to the survey of 299 financial professionals conducted October-December 2025. Registered investment advisors (RIAs) led adoption at 42%, outpacing wirehouse and broker-dealer counterparts.

Client interest remains robust, with 94% of advisors fielding crypto-related questions and 56% holding digital assets personally—both survey highs. The data underscores crypto's accelerating institutionalization as regulatory clarity improves and access vehicles proliferate.

Bitcoin Breaks $96K as Silver Overtakes Nvidia in Market Cap Surge

Bitcoin rallied to a two-month high of $96,348 as traders shrugged off its sluggish start to 2025, betting on a sustained breakout. The move comes amid a broader commodities surge, with silver piercing $90/oz to push its total market capitalization past $5 trillion—now eclipsing Nvidia’s valuation.

Tokenized stocks are quietly gaining traction, recording $800 million in monthly onchain trades. Meanwhile, copper continues its blistering run, up 40% over six months, while gold holds firm NEAR record levels above $4,600/oz.

Bitwise CIO Defends Bitcoin Inclusion in 401(k)s Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has publicly championed the inclusion of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans, countering recent warnings from Senator Elizabeth Warren. The debate centers on the Trump administration's move to lift what Hougan describes as an "effective ban" on Bitcoin in retirement accounts, a policy shift now facing renewed scrutiny.

Hougan dismissed restrictions on Bitcoin investments as arbitrary, noting its volatility parallels mainstream equities like Nvidia. "Does it go up and down? Absolutely," he conceded during an interview. "But it's actually less volatile over the last year than Nvidia stock." Industry data appears to support his claim, with Bitcoin recently completing its least volatile annual performance on record.

The discussion emerges as major financial institutions show diverging approaches. While Vanguard has historically maintained strict crypto prohibitions, other providers are gradually warming to digital asset exposure in retirement portfolios. This institutional hesitation, according to Hougan, reflects bureaucratic inertia rather than sound financial reasoning.

Will BTC Price Hit 100000?

Based on the current technical setup and market sentiment, a move to $100,000 is a highly probable near-term scenario. The technical indicators show Bitcoin trading with strength above key moving averages and testing upper volatility bands. Fundamentally, a mix of institutional demand, favorable macro data, and reduced sell-side pressure is fueling the rally.

Key supporting data:

In summary, while volatility is inherent, the path of least resistance appears upward. Barring an unexpected negative macro event, Bitcoin is well-positioned to challenge and potentially surpass the $100,000 psychological barrier in the coming sessions, according to BTCC financial analyst Michael.