Is Bitcoin’s drop to $79K a bear trap as Hormuz tensions escalate?

  • Bitcoin retreated amid clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices.
  • Analysts argue that a limited appetite for full‑scale escalation caps downside risk.
  • Bulls aim for a rebound toward $82,000, but bears could target a breakdown below $78,000.

Bitcoin dropped to around $79,200 in early trading on Friday as fresh military skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz rattled global risk assets.

The crypto bellwether was witnessing a sharp intraday pullback after a brief run above $80,000, with the latest price swing highlighting prevailing weakness amid potential geopolitical shocks.

However, despite this outlook, is a classic “bear trap” in play?

Iran ceasefire cracks dent Bitcoin momentum

Bitcoin rallied above $82,500 on Monday, igniting further bullish sentiment across the broader cryptocurrency market.

However, BTC has reversed as selling pressure resurfaced, dropping to support near $79,200.

The downturn coincides with fresh clashes in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran accused the United States of striking an oil tanker, prompting retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against US warships.

The US says it responded with counterstrikes.

Energy markets reacted swiftly, with Brent crude pushing back above $100 per barrel as local skirmishes reignited fears of supply disruption in the world’s key oil chokepoint.

According to SosoValue, the flare‑up has injected fresh anxiety into the so‑called “14‑point deal” narrative, a diplomatic framework aimed at stabilizing the region.

However, the platform notes that President Donald Trump’s insistence that the ceasefire remains in place, and Washington’s framing of its actions as “self‑defense,” point to a lack of appetite for full‑scale escalation.

“If both sides publicly signal restraint, the damage to global risk appetite remains localized,” SosoValue observed on X.

Bitcoin price forecast: a bear trap or deeper retreat?

According to analysts, a scenario that sees the current macro fallout contained could set the stage for a bullish reversal.

Santiment has noted a wave of profit‑driven holder capitulation in recent days, which it says hints at a potential sharp rebound amid thinning liquidity.

“Capitulation is one of the key ingredients to the beginning of bull runs, and wallets can drop out during both a price fall (out of fear of losing more) or on a price rise (expecting prices to not go any higher),” the firm posted.

Meanwhile, veteran market technician John Bollinger recently flagged Bitcoin’s trend model as flipping positive. BTC has retreated from the upper Bollinger Bands line, but the BBTrend indicator remains bullish.

This suggests a short‑squeeze could materialize if prices hold support levels.

Bulls will also need to reclaim upward momentum on strong volume, largely helped by limited escalation in the Gulf, contained oil‑price spikes, and the crypto‑friendly CLARITY Act.

Key resistance levels could be around $85,000-$90,000. However, if downside risks continue, bears could eye a deeper correction toward the $60,000 support zone.

Bitcoin hovered around $79,615 on Friday morning.

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Cardano price forecast: what does surge to $0.27 mean for ADA?

  • Cardano price was up 5% as bulls broke above $0.27 amid Bitcoin’s surge.
  • Bullish RSI at 66 and rising open interest signal breakout potential.
  • Support could be at $0.25 and $0.23, while $0.30 and 200 EMA near $0.40 are next resistance levels.

Cardano (ADA) traded to above $0.27 as bulls across the cryptocurrency market extended gains toward the key resistance zones.

ADA’s spike aligned with this broader market strength, which has seen renewed investor optimism push Bitcoin’s price past $81,000.

The overall lift already has several altcoins posting double-digit gains, while a few like Toncoin and Zcash have exploded by more than 30% in the past 24 hours.

Cardano price surges to $0.27 as bullish sentiment builds

Data on CoinMarketCap shows Cardano’s price has surged 5% in the past 24 hours and 8% this past week, with ADA decisively extending gains above the pivotal $0.25 level.

This momentum aligns with fresh capital flowing into altcoins, amplifying buying pressure.

Notably, derivatives data further bolsters the bullish narrative.

Open interest in ADA futures has risen to $546 million, signaling heightened trader conviction.

Meanwhile, funding rates for perpetual contracts hovered at positive 0.0074%, and 24-hour spot trading volume was at $129 million.

A lot of this is down to risk appetite returning across markets.

On Wednesday, analysts at QCP highlighted the outlook as largely boosted by geopolitical developments. 

“Trump’s pause on “Project Freedom” is read as a de-escalation signal, sending oil lower, equities higher, and the dollar softer. $BTC has reclaimed $80k alongside the S&P 500’s best month since 2020, trading once again as a high-beta expression of dollar weakness and risk appetite,” they noted.

These factors point to mounting bullish sentiment, and Cardano could capitalize on this and the market’s broader recovery to eye higher levels.

Cardano price forecast

From a technical perspective, Cardano’s short-term outlook is bullish.

The token is looking for a breakout from a descending triangle pattern, while the price has jumped above the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $0.25.

The picture signals the potential for an extended rally.

Cardano Price Prediction
Cardano price chart by TradingView

Short-term targets cluster around $0.30, marked by a key horizontal resistance line from March highs.

Beyond that, the 200-day EMA near $0.40 looms as the next major hurdle, potentially unlocking a push toward $0.50 if momentum holds.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart stands at 66, firmly in bullish territory but yet to enter overbought levels.

This suggests room for additional gains before any pullback.

If bears take control, key support levels include $0.25 (now acting as dynamic support via the 50-day EMA) and $0.23.

A drop below this mark could temper enthusiasm and bring $0.20 into play.

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Zcash price jumps 36% to $600 resistance; bulls eye cycle high

  • Zcash price climbed 36% to above $600 amid Bitcoin’s uptick.
  • ZEC’s rally comes as a surge in shielded supply highlights Zcash’s strength.
  • Bulls could target $700 and cycle highs, but RSI signals profit-taking.

Zcash (ZEC) is riding the latest wave in the cryptocurrency market, surging alongside Bitcoin’s charge toward $82,000.

As the flagship asset nears this key psychological barrier, altcoins are joining the rally, with Toncoin (TON) climbing 22%, Internet Computer (ICP) gaining 18%, and Near Protocol (NEAR) up 15% in the past 24 hours.

This broad uptick signals a renewed investor appetite for privacy-focused and scalable protocols amid a dip in Bitcoin’s dominance to 54%.

Zcash explodes 36% to above $600

Zcash’s price has skyrocketed 36% over the past week, flirting with the $600 resistance level early Wednesday.

The privacy coin rose to highs of $606 on Coinbase, hitting its highest level since November 2025.

Meanwhile, open interest on major futures platforms like Binance and OKX has surged to $1.3 billion, up from $964 million the day before.

These metrics reflect surging conviction and have helped propel bulls past key resistances at $450 and $540. ZEC hovered at $578 at the time of writing, with the $600 mark now acting as the immediate hurdle.

Why is Zcash price surging?

As noted, Zcash’s ascent gained momentum amid Bitcoin’s rally. However, ZEC’s surge has also accelerated amid key institutional developments.

Robinhood’s late April listing of ZEC for spot trading unlocked access for millions of retail users, including those in New York for the first time, injecting fresh liquidity into the market.

Bulls also rode Grayscale’s filing to convert its Zcash Trust into a spot ETF, a move that could draw billions in traditional capital.

Zcash has also seen its shielded supply rise steadily, underscoring growing adoption for shielded transactions.

Multicoin Capital, which has amassed a substantial ZEC position, highlights this uptick. Co-founder and managing partner Tushar Jain emphasized ZEC’s appeal on X:

We believe that truly private, censorship and seizure resistant assets have clear product-market fit and demand is accelerating. We believe ZEC is the cleanest way to express this thesis in public markets.

Zcash price prediction – cycle highs next for ZEC?

Despite the rally, Zcash remains far from its all-time high set in 2016.

Yet, prices have surged significantly since lows of $15 in July 2024, and this uptick has seen bulls shatter the stubborn supply wall that capped prices since December 2025.

Zcash Price
Zcash price chart by TradingView

Rising to $600 could clear a path for higher levels, with bullish momentum likely bolstered by fresh institutional and retail accumulation amid ETF prospects and privacy demand.

If this holds, buyers will eye $700 as the next target, aligning with last year’s cycle highs. Movement towards $850 and $1,000 could align with an explosive rally across crypto.

However, technical indicators temper immediate optimism. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart sits at 86, signaling overextension and hinting at a pullback.

A retest of support at $452 (the recent breakout level) or deeper at $378 (a multi-month accumulation zone) could attract bears.

But these could offer entry points for renewed upside.

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Bitcoin price crosses $81K, but derivatives and network activity remain low: check forecast

  • Bitcoin (BTC) holds above $81,000 as short-term momentum strengthens.
  • Weak network growth signals cautious market participation.
  • BTC faces major resistance at $89,500.

Bitcoin has climbed above $81,000, extending its monthly recovery and testing its highest trading range in roughly three months.

At press time, BTC was trading around $81,467 after gaining 5.2% over the past seven days and 17.6% over the last 30 days.

The latest move places Bitcoin in a critical technical zone, with several underlying metrics suggesting the rally is still developing under cautious conditions rather than broad market conviction.

Network activity and derivatives participation remain muted

While Bitcoin’s spot price has improved, on-chain data point to weaker user participation than during previous major rallies.

Active addresses and transaction activity have not increased at the same pace as price, signalling that retail demand remains limited.

This divergence between price and blockchain activity often suggests that current momentum is being supported more by institutional demand and large investors than by widespread organic adoption.

Notably, institutional participation through spot Bitcoin ETFs has surged, with billions in capital inflows helping stabilise prices above key support zones.

However, derivatives market participation has remained relatively restrained compared to previous breakout cycles, with lower speculative leverage and softer futures activity indicating traders are cautious.

In addition, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index currently reads 50, placing sentiment in neutral territory.

This reflects a market that is neither euphoric nor fearful, reinforcing the idea that Bitcoin’s recent strength has not yet triggered widespread speculative enthusiasm.

Technical indicators show bullish momentum

Bitcoin’s short-term technical structure remains positive, with 12 out of 23 major technical indicators leaning bullish currently.

Furthermore, BTC is trading above its 10-day, 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day exponential moving averages, which support continued bullish momentum.

Bitcoin price analysis

However, Bitcoin remains below its long-term 200-day EMA, showing that macro resistance is still intact.

The 14-day Relative Strength Index stands at 69.5, placing BTC just below overbought territory.

While this suggests strong momentum, traders should closely watch for possible exhaustion if RSI breaks above 70 without stronger volume.

Post-halving cycle points to late-stage expansion

Bitcoin’s fourth halving took place in April 2024, reducing miner rewards to 3.125 BTC per block.

The asset is now approximately 25 months into its post-halving cycle.

Historically, this stage has often aligned with stronger price expansion, heightened volatility, and eventual cycle peaks before larger retracements.

Previous Bitcoin bull cycles reached new all-time highs roughly 1,405 to 1,477 days apart.

Based on this pattern, the current cycle may still have room for further upside, though historical trends also suggest increasing risks of correction as the cycle matures.

Short-term Bitcoin forecast remains cautiously bullish

Looking at the current market structure, the immediate resistance zone sits at $89,479.

A confirmed close above that level could open the path toward the next resistance near $90,975.

However, in case of a pullback, especially if the oversold region is reached, then the key support level sits at $75,109.

A break below $75,109 would likely weaken the bullish structure and raise the probability of deeper corrections.

Moving ahead, traders should carefully monitor the Bitcoin ETF inflows, whale accumulation, and RSI behaviour, for clearer confirmation of whether the current move can develop into a larger sustained rally.

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BNB holds key support at $630 as traders brace for next big move

  • BNB price is looking to defend $620 amid Bitcoin’s retreat from $81,000 highs.
  • Supply dynamics highlight $570 as potential support.
  • Upside catalysts could include BNB Chain ecosystem strengths and capital inflows.

BNB hovers near a key support area as bulls defend gains following retreat below the $630 level, with cautious sentiment prevailing as weak momentum shows across altcoins.

The Binance Coin’s price thus remains under pressure amid overall caution in risk appetite. But what could trigger renewed momentum?

BNB price sees slight retreat to support

BNB’s price hovered around $627 at the time of writing, as largely flat action in the past 24 hours kept bulls off intraday highs of $638 reached on Monday.

This pullback aligns with Bitcoin’s partial unwind from its recent spike above $81,000, where the leading cryptocurrency briefly tested resistance before cooling off.

Despite shedding gains to under $630, traders note that BNB has successfully held the zone as critical support.

A key factor supporting this resilience is the BNB Foundation’s recent 35th quarterly token burn, which eliminated over 1.56 million BNB tokens worth roughly $1.02 billion at the time.

This deflationary mechanism has trimmed the total BNB supply to about 134.7 million, enhancing scarcity and providing a floor against downside pressure.

Meanwhile, on-chain data reveals trading with reduced volume.

This comes as long-term holders accumulate amid the consolidation. Per CoinMarketCap, daily volume was down 9% to $1.74 billion.

Leverage ‘still adjusting’

BNB has traded in a more subdued manner since plummeting to $570 in early April, with the level key as the main support from the bloodbath in February.

Year-to-date declines have erased substantial gains.

The downturn wiped most of the explosive pump to $1,376 highs in October 2025, which occurred amid elevated leverage across the Binance ecosystem.

CoinGlass data shows that over the past 24 hours, BNB spot trading volume stood at over $109 million while BNB futures trading volume hovered around $667 million.

During this period, about $234,082 in BNB futures positions were liquidated as open interest of BNB lingered at just over $1 billion.

Analysts say the data suggest that leverage is still adjusting.

BNB price- support/resistance levels

Should prices slip below $600, analysts warn of a potential retest of deeper demand zones around $550-$570, where institutional reloads could materialize.

This negative outlook might strengthen if oil prices remain above $110 a barrel, with de-risking likely to explode if the global economy suffers amid rising inflation.

Conversely, upside potential remains. However, it could hinge on multiple catalysts.

Broader market conditions, such as sustained Bitcoin strength above $80,000, could propel BNB toward the $650-$670 resistance.

Network developments, including tokenization traction and scalability upgrades, could also act as tailwinds. A similar sentiment is likely amid fresh capital inflows as geopolitical tensions ease.

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