Bitcoin traded above $103,000 with a 1% gain in 24 hours after the week's decline. Technical analysts warn that sustained weekly closes below the 50-week moving average at $102,000 have historically preceded market tops. Year-to-date performance shows gold and the S&P 500 now outpace Bitcoin returns despite favorable conditions including rate cuts and regulatory developments.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan likens Bitcoin's current market behavior to the post-IPO consolidation seen in major tech stocks. BTC briefly fell below $100,000 on Tuesday, roughly one month after reaching a record above $126,000 in early October. Hougan contends the sideways movement reflects institutional absorption of early-holder exits rather than fundamental weakness, and that 5% allocations should now serve as the baseline for investors.

Bitcoin fell below $100,000 this week, pushing the Fear & Greed Index to 21 and erasing bullish forecasts in the $150,000–$200,000 range. Despite the sharp drop in investor confidence, on-chain data shows network fundamentals remain solid. Exchange withdrawals have increased, hash rate holds near 1.1 ZH/s, and $10.7 billion in stablecoins flowed into Binance, indicating the decline reflects sentiment rather than structural weakness.