BTC Market Pulse: Week 21

insights.glassnodePublished on 2026-06-03Last updated on 2026-06-03

Abstract

Bitcoin's market structure shows signs of softening in Week 21, with weakening momentum and spot demand. Spot trading volume increased, but this was accompanied by a dramatic rise in selling pressure as indicated by a steep decline in Spot CVD. Futures market activity reflects caution, with decreased open interest yet a significant surge in demand for long positions. Concurrently, substantial sell-side pressure persists in perpetual contracts. Options traders are increasingly positioning for downside protection, evidenced by a sharp rise in the 25-Delta Skew, alongside growing open interest and volatility expectations. Traditional finance sentiment has softened, with weaker ETF netflows and falling MVRV, though ETF trade volume rose. On-chain metrics show mixed activity with declining active addresses but increased large-scale transfers. Overall, while long-term holder strength and stable liquidity provide resilience, the market exhibits fading euphoria, defensive positioning, and a prevailing shift toward bearish sentiment across spot, futures, and options segments.

Concurrently, a pronounced shift towards selling pressure has been observed, with Spot CVD decreasing by 848.7%. Despite this shift, Spot Volume has risen by 4.2%, indicating increased trading activity, potentially driven by increased interest in trading, rather than a bullish market sentiment.

In the futures market, a 2.9% decrease in Futures Open Interest suggests a cautious market stance with a reduced appetite for leveraging amidst uncertain market conditions. However, a significant 136.6% increase in Long-Side Funding Payment indicates a renewed demand for long positions, suggesting a stronger bullish sentiment among traders. Nonetheless, a sharp 278.7% decline in Perpetual CVD highlights substantial sell-side pressure, suggesting a bearish sentiment dominating the market.

The options market has seen a 42.75% increase in the Options 25-Delta Skew, indicating a significant shift towards bearish sentiment as traders seek more downside protection. Despite the cautious market sentiment, Options Open Interest and Volatility Spread have increased by 1.7% and 124.52% respectively, indicating growing market participation and anticipation of greater future price volatility.

TradFi sentiment has softened, with US Spot ETF MVRV falling 6.1% and ETF Netflows deteriorating sharply, pointing to weaker institutional conviction. Despite this, ETF Trade Volume rose 7.0%, while on-chain activity remained mixed, with Active Addresses declining and Entity-Adjusted Transfer Volume increasing, suggesting quieter network usage alongside continued large-scale capital movement.

Liquidity and profitability metrics continue to cool, although market structure remains relatively stable. Long-term holder dominance continues to build, while NUPL and the Realized Profit-to-Loss Ratio weakened sharply, reflecting fading euphoria and increasingly defensive positioning.

Overall, Bitcoin’s market structure is beginning to soften as momentum, spot demand, and speculative positioning weaken across the market. Options traders are increasingly positioning for downside protection, although stable liquidity conditions and long-term holder strength continue to provide a layer of resilience.

Off-Chain Indicators

On-Chain Indicators

🔗 Access the full report in PDF

Don't miss it!

Smart market intelligence, straight to your inbox.

Subscribe now
  • Follow us and reach out on X
  • Join our Telegram channel
  • For on-chain metrics, dashboards, and alerts, visit Glassnode Studio

Disclaimer: This report does not provide any investment advice. All data is provided for information and educational purposes only. No investment decision shall be based on the information provided here and you are solely responsible for your own investment decisions.

Exchange balances presented are derived from Glassnode’s comprehensive database of address labels, which are amassed through both officially published exchange information and proprietary clustering algorithms. While we strive to ensure the utmost accuracy in representing exchange balances, it is important to note that these figures might not always encapsulate the entirety of an exchange’s reserves, particularly when exchanges refrain from disclosing their official addresses. We urge users to exercise caution and discretion when utilizing these metrics. Glassnode shall not be held responsible for any discrepancies or potential inaccuracies.

Please read our Transparency Notice when using exchange data.

Related Questions

QWhat are the key conflicting signals in the spot and futures markets mentioned in the report?

AIn the spot market, there is increased trading activity (4.2% volume rise) alongside a massive 848.7% decrease in Spot CVD, signaling strong selling pressure. In the futures market, a 136.6% surge in Long-Side Funding Payment points to renewed bullish interest, but this is contrasted by a sharp 278.7% decline in Perpetual CVD, indicating dominant sell-side pressure and a cautious reduction in leverage (2.9% drop in Open Interest).

QAccording to the article, what does the significant increase in the Options 25-Delta Skew suggest about trader sentiment?

AThe 42.75% increase in the Options 25-Delta Skew indicates a significant shift towards bearish sentiment. It means traders are paying higher premiums for downside protection (put options) relative to upside bets (call options), reflecting growing caution and anticipation of potential price declines.

QHow does the report describe the state of TradFi (Traditional Finance) institutional conviction towards Bitcoin?

ATradFi sentiment is described as softening. The US Spot ETF MVRV fell by 6.1% and ETF Netflows deteriorated sharply, pointing to weaker institutional conviction. However, ETF Trade Volume rose by 7.0%, suggesting active trading despite the net outflow of funds.

QWhat is the overall assessment of Bitcoin's market structure provided in the conclusion?

AThe overall assessment is that Bitcoin's market structure is beginning to soften. Momentum, spot demand, and speculative positioning are weakening across the market, with options traders increasingly positioning for downside protection. However, stable liquidity conditions and continued strength among long-term holders are noted as factors providing a layer of resilience.

QWhat mixed signals are highlighted regarding on-chain activity?

AOn-chain activity shows mixed signals: Active Addresses declined, suggesting quieter individual network usage, while Entity-Adjusted Transfer Volume increased, indicating continued large-scale capital movement by larger entities or whales.

Related Reads

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

363 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BTC (BTC) are presented below.

活动图片