BTC Market Pulse: Week 20

insights.glassnodePublished on 2026-05-11Last updated on 2026-05-11

Abstract

Bitcoin's price moved higher from the high-$77Ks into the low-$82Ks last week, with buyers absorbing pullbacks. Market indicators show bullish undertones but also signs of potential stabilization. Spot and futures data reveal strong bullish sentiment and increased speculative activity, though declining long-side funding suggests some waning bullish momentum. Options market activity points to neutral-to-bullish expectations but elevated pricing of future risk, indicating uncertainty. On-chain metrics strengthened, with increases in daily active addresses, transfer volume, and fees, signaling a more engaged network and higher activity. Profitability improved as the market moved back into profit, yet levels remain below those typically triggering heavy selling, suggesting optimism is measured. Overall, Bitcoin's market structure shows improvement with stronger on-chain activity and more stable holder positioning. However, softer capital inflows and cautious sentiment indicate the market remains sensitive to shifts in risk appetite.

Bitcoin spent the last week grinding higher from the high-$77Ks into the low-$82Ks, with buyers continuing to absorb pullbacks even as momentum started to cool near local highs. The Spot CVD has surged, reflecting strong bullish sentiment and heightened conviction in upward price movements. Concurrently, Spot Volume has increased, indicating that recent price movements are gaining traction with stronger investor participation. However, the moderation in Price Momentum points to more balanced buying and selling pressure, hinting at a potential stabilization phase in the market.

In the futures market, a similar story unfolds with an increased appetite for risk. Futures Open Interest has risen, suggesting heightened speculative activity and a willingness to take on more risk, while Perpetual CVD has surged, indicating persistent bullish momentum. However, the Long-Side Funding Payment has declined, signaling a shift towards short-side interest and a possible waning of bullish sentiment.

In the options market, decreased demand for downside protection and rising open interest suggest a shift toward neutral to slightly bullish expectations. However, the Volatility Spread has surged, indicating that options are pricing in significantly more risk than has been realized, reflecting elevated uncertainty among participants.

On-chain activity has strengthened notably, with Daily Active Addresses, Entity-Adjusted Transfer Volume, and Total Fee Volume all rising, pointing to a more engaged user base and increased network activity. At the same time, liquidity conditions continue to stabilize, with reduced short-term speculative capital lowering immediate sell-side pressure while Realized Cap Change signals modest net capital inflows.

Profitability metrics have also improved, with the market shifting from unrealized losses back into profit. However, Percent Supply in Profit remains below levels typically associated with heavy profit-taking, suggesting optimism remains measured rather than euphoric.

In summary, Bitcoin’s market structure continues to improve, supported by stronger on-chain activity, healthier profitability, and more stable holder positioning. While bullish undertones are building, softer capital inflows and cautious sentiment indicate the market remains sensitive to shifts in risk appetite.

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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.

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