Bitcoin Struggles to Rebound as US Spot Demand Stays Absent

Bitcoin’s recent weakness is not being driven by global panic or cascading liquidations. Instead, the pressure appears far more localized - and far more deliberate.

Market structure data increasingly points to sustained selling from the United States as the primary source of downside.

One of the clearest clues comes from the behavior of the Coinbase Premium Index. Rather than flashing briefly negative during volatility spikes, the premium has slid to its lowest level in months and remained there.

This prolonged discount shows Bitcoin consistently trading cheaper on Coinbase than on offshore venues, a setup that typically emerges when US-based investors are net sellers.

A Slow Distribution, Not a Sudden Flush

What makes the current phase notable is its persistence. There has been no sharp capitulation or liquidation cascade. Instead, supply has been seeping into the market gradually, week after week. That kind of steady pressure is characteristic of distribution, not panic selling, and it often weighs on price longer than a single violent move.

From a market-structure standpoint, this matters more than a single red candle. Coinbase has long acted as a proxy for US spot demand, particularly from institutions and large allocators. When prices on Coinbase command a premium, it reflects aggressive accumulation. When they trade at a discount – and stay there – it signals that rallies are being used to exit positions rather than build them.

This dynamic helps explain why recent attempts at stabilization have lacked conviction. Even as Bitcoin tried to form a base, the absence of a US spot bid meant there was little demand willing to absorb incoming supply. Offshore markets alone were not sufficient to drive sustained upside.

Historically, durable recoveries tend to coincide with a visible shift in this relationship: the Coinbase discount narrows, demand reappears, and US buyers begin paying up again. None of those signals have surfaced yet.

For now, the message from the data is clear. Bitcoin is not collapsing – but it is being methodically sold, with the US market leading the process. Until that selling pressure fades and the pricing gap closes, upside moves are likely to remain fragile and short-lived.