The crypto market is showing signs of cautious optimism. While prices remain elevated, sentiment indicators and trading activity suggest investors are stepping back to reassess risks rather than diving in further.
The CoinMarketCap Fear & Greed Index stays at 64/100 at the time of writing, down slightly from last week’s high of 69. Though still in the “Greed” zone, the decline points to profit-taking after Bitcoin hit its recent all-time high of $123,100. Traders appear to be rotating funds cautiously, not capitulating. This shift places the sentiment firmly in a neutral stance — enthusiastic but not euphoric.
The Altcoin Season Index remains flat at 44/100, suggesting that while Bitcoin may have led the latest rally, a full-blown altcoin rotation has yet to emerge.
Open interest in perpetual contracts dropped 18% this week, now sitting at $634 billion. Despite a still-impressive $527 trillion in 24-hour volume, the drop in open interest reflects a winding down of overleveraged positions rather than panic exits. Liquidations have also declined significantly, with only $35 million in BTC liquidations reported in the last 24 hours — a 78% drop.
Funding rates remain positive at +0.008%, hinting at a lingering bullish bias, albeit a restrained one. Analysts are watching for funding to rise above +0.015% as a signal of overheated markets.
This is a moment of healthy hesitation in the crypto space. Sentiment remains positive, but not overheated. Traders are managing risk and scaling back leverage, suggesting a mature response to recent price highs. If bullish catalysts return — such as institutional inflows or ETF approvals — momentum could rebuild quickly.
Citigroup analysts say the key to Bitcoin’s future isn’t mining cycles or halving math—it’s ETF inflows.
A wave of bullish momentum is sweeping through smaller-cap altcoins, with ResearchCoin (RSC), Electroneum (ETN), and REI Network (REI) all recording substantial 24-hour gains.
XRP is drawing fresh investor attention as optimism builds around its legal standing and potential exchange-traded products (ETPs).
Bitcoin may be entering a typical summer correction phase, according to a July 25 report by crypto financial services firm Matrixport.