Bitcoin is once again struggling to break into uncharted territory, hovering just below the $112,000 all-time high it has tested multiple times since late May. While bulls continue to defend key demand zones above $105K, bears are starting to speculate that a correction may be near if the breakout fails. Despite the uncertainty, Bitcoin’s structure remains intact, showing strength in the face of growing volatility.
Top analyst Darkfost suggests that institutional players are behind the current price action. One of the clearest indicators is the Coinbase Premium Gap — the difference in BTC prices between Coinbase Pro and Binance. Unlike ETF flows, which are open to all types of investors, Coinbase Pro primarily caters to institutions and professional traders. This makes the premium gap a valuable tool for tracking institutional demand.
Over the past weeks, the premium has widened significantly, showing strong US-based buying pressure that isn’t always reflected in ETF inflows. This discrepancy suggests that spot demand from institutional investors remains robust, offering support for Bitcoin’s current range. If this pressure continues, it could be the catalyst BTC needs to finally push into price discovery — but failure here could fuel a bearish reversal.
Institutional Demand Holds Bitcoin Amid Political And Economic Shifts
Bitcoin has endured a volatile stretch over the past few weeks, consolidating below its all-time high of $112,000. Despite repeated bearish attempts, the price has remained resilient above $105,000, indicating strong demand and bullish control. This consolidation phase is unfolding against a backdrop of significant macroeconomic and political developments. The US Congress passed President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated “big, beautiful” bill ahead of the self-imposed July 4 deadline, introducing tax cuts and elevated spending levels. Combined with strong job reports, these factors are expected to fuel market optimism in the short term, though they could reignite inflation concerns.
According to Darkfost, institutional activity is playing a key role in sustaining Bitcoin’s price. One of the most telling indicators is the Coinbase Premium Gap — the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase Pro and Binance. Since Coinbase Pro is tailored for advanced traders and institutions, a rising premium suggests significant institutional buying pressure.
The monthly average premium recently reached +$78, the widest in history, signaling consistent accumulation by large players. Interestingly, this trend isn’t always reflected in ETF flows, which are available to all investor types. Still, recent ETF inflows have aligned closely with the premium, averaging nearly $1 billion between June 16 and June 27.
This dual surge — institutional buying on spot exchanges and large ETF inflows — suggests robust US-based demand from both professional investors and traditional financial vehicles. While the broader market hesitates at resistance, this underlying accumulation may set the stage for Bitcoin’s next major move into price discovery.
BTC Price Action: Bulls Defend Support
The 4-hour Bitcoin chart shows a tight consolidation phase just below the $109,300 resistance, with price currently trading around $108,715. After a failed breakout attempt last week, bulls have successfully defended the $106,000–$106,300 support range, maintaining higher lows and suggesting continued strength. This level coincides with the 50 and 100 simple moving averages (SMAs), reinforcing it as key short-term support.
Notably, Bitcoin has remained well above the crucial $103,600 demand zone, which served as the launchpad for the late June rally. The flattening 200 SMA suggests that momentum is neutral for now, but the short-term moving averages turning upward hint at bullish bias resuming if resistance breaks.
Volume remains relatively low, which could precede a sharp move once a breakout or breakdown occurs. A decisive close above $109,300 could open the door for a retest of the all-time high near $112K, while failure to hold above the moving averages could send BTC back toward $103,600.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
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