Bitcoin Supercycle or Stall? BTC Price Stuck Below $105K

May 16, 2025

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to hover below the psychologically key $105,000 level, fueling speculation that a massive breakout—or a prolonged stall—could be just around the corner. Despite surging institutional interest and growing anticipation of a “supercycle,” BTC’s upward momentum has slowed, with consolidation tightening and investor sentiment appearing split.

Bitcoin’s current price action

Bitcoin’s current price action suggests a classic consolidation phase. After briefly testing the $105,000 ceiling earlier this month, the price has remained range-bound. Technical analysts point to a lack of strong bullish volume and resistance near all-time highs as primary reasons for the stall.

  • Key Resistance: $105K has become a stubborn barrier.
  • Support Levels: Analysts are watching the $98K–$100K zone closely.
  • Volatility Dip: Bollinger Bands and volume metrics show decreasing volatility—often a precursor to sharp moves.

This sideways trading comes despite an overall bullish backdrop. BlackRock, Fidelity, and other asset managers continue to pour into spot Bitcoin ETFs, and Bitcoin’s hash rate and network activity remain near record highs.

Some analysts believe Bitcoin could be on the verge of a rare “supercycle”—a term referring to a prolonged and aggressive price surge, typically driven by macroeconomic shifts and broad institutional adoption.

Factors Supporting the Supercycle Thesis:

  • Post-Halving Dynamics: With April’s halving behind us, miner selling pressure has diminished.
  • ETF Demand: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have raked in billions in assets under management, signaling growing investor confidence.
  • Geopolitical Uncertainty: Gold and Bitcoin are both benefitting from de-dollarization fears and ongoing global instability.
  • Monetary Policy Outlook: Speculation around Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year continues to support risk-on assets like crypto.

Bitcoin Magazine’s market analysis highlights that these conditions, paired with supply-side constraints, could serve as a perfect storm for a historic rally.

While many bulls believe a breakout is inevitable, bears argue that the lack of retail enthusiasm is a red flag. According to data from Cointelegraph, Google search trends for “Bitcoin” remain flat, indicating that mainstream investor participation hasn’t yet returned in force.

Near-Term Headwinds:

  • Low Retail Engagement
  • Overheated Tech Stocks Pulling Capital Away
  • Potential Profit-Taking at Key Levels
  • Macroeconomic Uncertainty (e.g., inflation, election-year policy shifts)

Market watchers are split. Some expect a sharp rally once Bitcoin breaks convincingly above $105K, potentially targeting $120K–$135K levels in the short term. Others warn that if BTC fails to break out soon, it could retrace back to $95K or lower, testing investor conviction.

For now, Bitcoin traders remain in wait-and-see mode. With a narrowing price range, historically low volatility, and rising anticipation, the stage is set for a significant move—up or down.