Weekly Analysis of the Cryptocurrency Market: The Fall of "Digital Gold" and the Sentiment of Fear

The cryptocurrency market closed the week immersed in a clear sentiment of risk aversion, with the main digital currencies registering sharp declines and a wave of liquidations exceeding 700 million dollars. Macroeconomic factors, such as uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions and the reassessment of risk by institutional investors, pushed digital assets down, breaking key psychological levels.

Bitcoin Falls from $100,000

The most significant event of the week was the correction of Bitcoin (BTC), which plummeted more than 12% and decisively fell below the $100,000 barrier, reaching six-month lows. This movement reinforced the bearish trend that has been maintained since early October. Although long-term investors (or "whales") have continued to accumulate BTC on dips—buying more than 45,000 BTC last week—the predominance of sales in the U.S. market and profit-taking by medium and long-term holders indicate a supply distribution. Technically, the $96,000 level consolidates as the key support to watch in the short term.

Ethereum Under Pressure

Ethereum (ETH) followed Bitcoin's pattern, giving up more than 9% of its value and trading near $3,100. Unlike BTC, Ethereum showed stronger technical pressure, losing the crucial support of $3,350 (where the 200-day moving average was located). While the activity of its network (driven by DeFi and staking) remains high, the mobility of its coins by long-term holders (a faster rotation than Bitcoin's) suggests that part of its capital is being used or liquidated, adding defensive pressure to its price. The recovery of the range from $3,350 to $3,500 is vital for any bullish attempt in the next week.

Capital Outflows and Altcoins

The panic in the market was reflected in the capital outflows from digital asset investment products. Cryptocurrency funds recorded weekly outflows totaling more than $1.3 billion for the second consecutive week, led by divestments in Bitcoin products (around $932 million) and Ether ($438 million). This data underscores the widespread risk aversion sentiment among institutional investors.

Regarding altcoins, the week was particularly tough. Cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE) suffered losses exceeding 9%. XRP and Tron (TRX) showed slight resistance or more moderate movements, but the overall outlook for higher-risk assets was negative.

The Coinbase Factor: Regulated Retail Opening

Despite poor price performance, industry activity continued with a key milestone: Coinbase officially launched its new regulated platform in the U.S. for retail investors to participate in primary token offerings.

This development is crucial because it creates a legal and compliant path for small investors to access new token issuances (such as the Monad protocol, which will be the first). By prioritizing fair distribution for retail, imposing lockup periods for founders, and operating under strict compliance controls, Coinbase aims not only to mitigate risks but also to set a new precedent.

This regulated approach could redefine how blockchain startups conduct their initial offerings, moving away from the unregulated speculative models of the past and accelerating the integration of digital assets into conventional retail finance, always under the protection of U.S. law.

Conclusion

The recent correction, marked by the loss of the $100,000 level in BTC and massive fund outflows, reflects a phase of profit-taking and position adjustment in an uncertain macroeconomic environment. While the short-term sentiment is of "extreme fear," developments like the new Coinbase platform demonstrate that, at the infrastructure level, the industry continues to professionalize and expand access under a regulatory framework. This suggests that the current declines are a short-term market correction, while the fundamentals for long-term adoption continue to strengthen. Investors should closely monitor the behavior of traditional markets and institutional capital flows to anticipate the next directional move.