Bitcoin Bull Run: Real Money Surges as Ghosts Return

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  • Realized cap rises to new heights, proving that real money pours into the network even as the market strolls through a long, tedious lull of consolidation.
  • Long-time holders, that gray-bearded troupe of market veterans, switch from trying to distribute to quietly accumulating after the late 2025 selling fervor collapsed in on itself.
  • Bitcoin clings to the $87,600 line while traders seek liquidity near the $91,180 resistance, like merchants circling a crowd at a fair.

Bitcoin may look stubby and inert at first glance, but beneath the surface one might hear the clink of coins and the creak of old ledgers.

At press time, BTC traded at $87,781 with about $49.58 billion in daily volume. The price dipped 1.74% in a day and 2.43% over the week, yet the on-chain data tells a different tale. Several metrics indicate the current bull cycle has more room to roam, like a cat that has discovered the sunbeam and plans to nap forever in it.

Fresh Capital Floods the Network

Bitcoin’s realized cap recently reached fresh all-time highs, as CryptosRus informs us. Realized cap measures the actual dollars invested in the network, not mere price froth and carnival tricks.

Real money keeps pouring in even as traders argue about whether the top is in. The distinction is clear enough to see with the naked eye: price can loaf about while genuine adoption quietly stacks its chairs in the back room.

This split between price action and capital inflows often foretells a mighty move. When new money arrives during a period of quiet consolidation, it builds pressure until the dam of sentiment bursts in one direction or another. History shows that accumulation periods tend to resolve upward rather than downward.

BITCOIN’S CYCLE ISN’T OVER. HERE’S WHY 👇

Realized Cap just pushed to new highs. That means real money is still entering the network, not just price speculation.

More importantly, long-term holders tried to distribute hard in late 2025 – and it failed. Selling pressure dried…

– CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us)

The Failed BTC Distribution That Changed Everything

Late in 2025, a curious scene unfolded. The veterans-long-term holders who have seen more cycles than most politicians have speeches-attempted to shed some of their coins. They began selling into strength, hoping others would follow suit. But the market swallowed every coin they tossed as if they were mere pebbles at a flood gate.

CryptosRus marked this failure as a turning point. The selling pressure evaporated as buyers stepped up with vigor. Those same veterans have since reversed course, trading their hats for baskets and shifting back to accumulation.

When seasoned investors fail to exit and then turn around to buy again, it sends a signal stronger than bells in a cathedral. These holders understand Bitcoin’s cycles better than most, and their collective behavior suggests they see value here, not danger.

Sideways Doesn’t Mean Bearish

Market analyst Daan Crypto Trades noted that Bitcoin has wandered between $80,000 and $120,000 for roughly 1.5 years, a stroll that would make a dilettante dizzy. Meanwhile, other risk assets have sprinted higher. The recent drawdown measured about 36% from peak to trough, a number that would have crypto traders choking on their coffee-except that in crypto, 36% is merely a polite cough.

The comparison to other assets tells only part of the story. Bitcoin’s consolidation came as the dollar weakened, which skews performance when measured in a currency that itself is losing weight. What looks like underperformance may actually be stubborn resilience wearing a monocle.

Another top analyst, Lennaert Snyder, identified a key support at $87,600 that Bitcoin defended after the most recent Fed meeting. Statistical patterns suggest Thursdays seldom break weekly lows, and this technical note lines up with broader on-chain strength. The market structure shows absorption, not capitulation.

What Comes Next For Bitcoin

Snyder outlined a potential path forward with targets near $91,180, where liquidity concentrates like crowds around a street magician. A sweep below current lows followed by a quick reversal would actually strengthen the bullish case; markets often shake out the weak hands before launching the big ascent.

is holding key ~$87,600 support.

We saw a post-FOMC correction for Bitcoin towards key ~$87,600 support.

It’s Thursday, and statistics show that taking out the weekly low has a low probability.

Therefore, I’m looking locally for longs since we’re at support.

A nice setup…

– Lennaert Snyder (@LennaertSnyder)

The technical setup mirrors past consolidation periods that preceded major rallies. Distribution attempts by smart money failed. Supply left the market without crashing the price. New capital continues entering despite sideways action.

CryptosRus summarized it bluntly: this looks like consolidation before continuation, not a cycle top.

The combination of rising realized cap, failed distribution, and renewed accumulation by long-term holders forms a compelling narrative. These ingredients don’t guarantee upside, but they’ve historically preceded it in a manner that makes a good lawyer nod in approval.

Bitcoin’s ability to hold $87,600 support while digesting heavy selling pressure demonstrates underlying strength. The 24-hour trading volume of nearly $50 billion shows sustained interest despite recent weakness. As 2026 unfolds, the pieces appear positioned for another leg higher.

The cycle may feel exhausted after months of chop, but on-chain data suggests otherwise. Real money flows in, experienced holders accumulate, and technical support holds firm. Whether this resolves into a major rally remains uncertain, but the foundation looks sturdy enough to bear the weight of a few more jokes from the market’s chorus of prognosticators.

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2026-01-29 18:44