Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC steadies near $87,000 as strong ETF inflows offset bearish pressure

Source Fxstreet
  • Bitcoin price hovers around $87,000 on Thursday, stabilizing after declining earlier this week.
  • US-listed spot ETFs recorded $457.29 million in inflows on Wednesday, the highest single-day inflows since November 11.
  • Report highlights that BTC remains range-bound between $81,000 and $95,000, with rallies likely to remain capped until fresh liquidity absorbs supply.

Bitcoin (BTC) is attempting to stabilize, holding near $87,000 on Thursday after this week’s pullback. Institutional demand shows signs of optimism, as US-listed spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) recorded fresh inflows of over $457 million on Wednesday. However, reports suggest that BTC could remain sideways until fresh liquidity absorbs the overhead supply.

Institutional demand shows highest single-day in one month

Institutional demand shows early signs of recovery. SoSoValue data show that Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows of $457.29 million on Wednesday, breaking the two-day outflow streak. Moreover, Wednesday’s inflow marked the largest single-day ETF inflow since November 11, providing a demand boost that helped counter near-term selling pressure. If these inflows continue and intensify, the Bitcoin price could see further recovery ahead.

BTC remains range-bound, reports Glassnode 

Glassnode's weekly report on Tuesday highlighted that Bitcoin is stuck in a range, supported near $81,000, but capped by heavy selling above $95,000. 

The report explains that as long as price remains below this ($93,000-$120,000) range and fails to reclaim key thresholds, most notably the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis at $101,500, the risk of further corrective downside continues to loom over the market.

Despite this ongoing pressure, patient demand has so far defended the True Market Mean near $81,300, preventing a deeper breakdown. Spot demand remains selective, corporate treasury flows are episodic, and futures positioning continues to de-risk rather than rebuild conviction. 

“A real move higher will only happen if sellers run out above resistance or if fresh liquidity enters the market to absorb supply and push price back above key cost levels,” concludes Glassnode analyst.

Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC trades sideways between $85,500 – $90,000 

Bitcoin was rejected at the psychological $90,000 resistance on Monday but found support at the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $85,569, leading to consolidation between these levels so far this week. As of Thursday, BTC hovers around $87,000.

If BTC breaks and closes below $85,569 on a daily basis, it could extend the decline toward the psychological $80,000 level.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart is at 40, below its neutral level of 50, indicating bearish momentum gaining traction. Moreover, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) showed a bearish crossover on Wednesday, further supporting the bearish view.

BTC/USDT daily chart

Looking up, if BTC closes above the $90,000 resistance level, it could extend the recovery toward the next key resistance at $94,253.

Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs

Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.

Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.

Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Bitcoin Faces Heavy Selling Pressure as Loss-Holders Cap Rally AttemptsBitcoin's near-term upside remains constrained by persistent selling from investors sitting on losses, creating a fragile trading environment as markets enter a typically low-liquidity holiday period.
Author  Mitrade
12 hours ago
Bitcoin's near-term upside remains constrained by persistent selling from investors sitting on losses, creating a fragile trading environment as markets enter a typically low-liquidity holiday period.
placeholder
BOJ Set to Hike Rates Amid Inflation Pressures and Yen Weakness The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate to 0.75% on December 19, marking its first increase since early 2025, amidst ongoing inflation and a weakening yen. Analysts predict additional hikes in 2026 as the central bank navigates renewed monetary policy normalization under Governor Kazuo Ueda.
Author  Mitrade
14 hours ago
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate to 0.75% on December 19, marking its first increase since early 2025, amidst ongoing inflation and a weakening yen. Analysts predict additional hikes in 2026 as the central bank navigates renewed monetary policy normalization under Governor Kazuo Ueda.
placeholder
Asian Stocks Rise, Oil Jumps as Trump Orders Blockade on Venezuela TankersAsian equities advanced on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in technology shares, while oil prices surged more than 1% following an escalation of U.S. sanctions pressure on Venezuela.
Author  Mitrade
Yesterday 07: 44
Asian equities advanced on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in technology shares, while oil prices surged more than 1% following an escalation of U.S. sanctions pressure on Venezuela.
placeholder
Australian Interest Rate Cuts Postponed to 2027 Amid Rising Inflation Pressures, Westpac PredictsWestpac analysts forecast the Reserve Bank of Australia will hold interest rates steady through 2026, with potential cuts now expected in early to mid-2027 due to resurging inflation and labor market concerns.
Author  Mitrade
Yesterday 03: 31
Westpac analysts forecast the Reserve Bank of Australia will hold interest rates steady through 2026, with potential cuts now expected in early to mid-2027 due to resurging inflation and labor market concerns.
placeholder
Cryptocurrencies Extend Losses as Year-End Caution and Thinning Liquidity Weigh on MarketThe cryptocurrency market declined on Monday, mirroring a pullback in global risk assets as investors turned cautious ahead of key U.S. economic data. The broad-based retreat highlighted thinning liquidity and growing risk aversion across financial markets as the year draws to a close.
Author  Mitrade
Dec 16, Tue
The cryptocurrency market declined on Monday, mirroring a pullback in global risk assets as investors turned cautious ahead of key U.S. economic data. The broad-based retreat highlighted thinning liquidity and growing risk aversion across financial markets as the year draws to a close.
Related Instrument
goTop
quote