Fed Cut Triggers 10K Bitcoin Sell-Off – Yet Zero Panic From Long-Term Holders

Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader crypto market slipped into the red following the Federal Reserve’s recent 25bps interest rate cut, igniting a familiar debate across trading desks: is this simply a “sell the news” shakeout, or the early stages of a more sustained downturn — a possible prelude to another crypto winter?

BTC is currently struggling beneath the $110,000 level, signaling uncertainty and hesitation among traders as volatility rises and sentiment weakens. The initial optimism that typically follows pro-liquidity policy shifts was overshadowed by renewed selling pressure, suggesting that markets may be recalibrating after months of aggressive speculative positioning and a historic liquidation earlier in October.

For now, analysts are split. Some argue this pullback reflects normal market digestion following a major macro catalyst, consistent with previous rate-cut cycles where risk assets dipped before resuming higher. Others warn that loss of key technical levels may open the door to deeper downside if demand fails to re-emerge quickly.

With Bitcoin hovering near critical support and macro conditions in transition, the coming weeks are expected to be crucial. Whether this move marks a temporary flush or the start of a broader risk-off phase will likely define the next chapter of the crypto cycle.

Short-Term Speculators Drive Sell-Off as Long-Term Holders Stay Strong

According to a recent CryptoQuant analysis by CryptoOnchain, the sharp market drop on October 30th was driven overwhelmingly by short-term traders rather than long-term investors. As volatility surged, more than 10,000 BTC flowed into Binance — typically a bearish signal, as rising exchange inflows often precede selling pressure. But digging deeper into the on-chain data reveals a very different story beneath the surface.

The Spent Output Age Bands (SOAB) metric shows that 10,009 BTC of that inflow came from coins held for less than 24 hours. In other words, nearly the entire wave of selling originated from “hot money” — short-term traders reacting emotionally and quickly to macro headlines and market turbulence. These are speculative participants, not long-term strategic holders.

In contrast, inflows from Long-Term Holders — coins held for six months or more — were negligible. The market’s most resilient participants, often referred to as diamond hands, did not rush to sell. They did not send BTC to exchanges, did not panic, and did not contribute to the downturn.

This divergence is crucial. It confirms that the sell-off was a liquidity flush, not a shift in long-term conviction. Investor psychology, not fundamentals, drove the move.

Far from signaling the start of a crypto winter, this pattern aligns with historical shakeout behavior seen before larger continuation moves. When short-term holders capitulate while long-term holders remain steady, it typically reflects market cleansing rather than structural weakness.

In short, on-chain signals suggest the foundation of the market remains strong — and this correction appears to be a clearing event, not the beginning of a long-term downtrend.

Bitcoin Holds Mid-Range on 3D Chart

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading around $109,800 on the 3-day timeframe, holding mid-range after a volatile month marked by macro reactions and leveraged shakeouts. Despite recent downside pressure, the broader structure remains intact, with BTC still comfortably above the 100-period moving average (green line) and well above the 200-period moving average (red line) — signaling that the long-term trend remains bullish.

Price continues to consolidate between $108,000 support and the critical $117,500 resistance zone, which has acted as a major supply barrier throughout this consolidation phase. Each attempt to break above $117,500 has been met with selling, confirming it as the cycle’s Point of Control and the key level for bulls to reclaim to regain momentum.

On the downside, the $108,000–$105,000 area has repeatedly served as a demand region, supported by buyers stepping in during pullbacks. Losing that zone on the 3D close would introduce risk of deeper correction toward $100,000–$102,000, where structural support and prior breakout levels converge.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com