TL;DR
- Bitcoin surged to a record $112,055 on July 9, sparked a $280 million short squeeze, and kicked off a wider crypto rally.
- Institutional demand is soaring, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs pulling in over $1 billion this month and major firms like BlackRock adding BTC to their portfolios.
- Technical setups point to a potential $150,000 run as on-chain data shows dwindling exchange balances and strong bullish chart patterns.
Bitcoin stormed past its previous ceiling on July 9, peaking at $112,055, its highest level ever. The milestone didn’t just break records; it ignited a broader crypto rally, lifted risk assets, and left analysts bullishly eyeing the next big threshold. From Wall Street ETFs to on-chain patterns, industry veterans insist this surge is the opening act of a much larger show.
Bitcoin Smashes Through $112,000 Barrier
After hovering around $110,000 for weeks, the flagship cryptocurrency finally broke free of profit-taking and short-seller pressure to blast past $112,000. In that single hour leading into the new peak, more than $280 million in BTC shorts were liquidated, triggering a classic short squeeze.
With Bitcoin accounting for roughly 65% of the entire crypto market’s $3.4 trillion capitalization, every tick upward reverberates across digital finance. At the time of publication, BTC trades below its recent ATH, at around $111K, increasing nearly 2%.
Institutional Inflows Fuel the Rally
Institutional adoption has morphed from footnote to front-and-center catalyst. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw over $1 billion in inflows this month alone, underscoring Wall Street’s growing appetite. Macro analysts point to a potent mix of higher liquidity, rising geopolitical uncertainty, and dovish rate-cut expectations as tailwinds. Even traditional finance giants like BlackRock now hold sizeable BTC allocations, cementing Bitcoin’s new status as a mainstream asset.
Bulls Eye $150,000 as Momentum Builds
Momentum traders and chart watchers aren’t stopping at $112K. A prominent analyst flagged a “bullish cup-and-handle” formation that could propel Bitcoin toward $150,000 by year-end. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index jumped into “Greed” territory at 71, reflecting surging confidence. While some caution against profit-taking risks, the prevailing sentiment is clear: bulls believe the next five-figure milestone is within sight.
Technical Indicators Signal Further Upside
From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin flipped its downtrend with a clean higher-high on daily charts, confirming buyers have seized control. Liquidity heatmaps highlight pressure zones around $114,000 and $115,000, but cracking those could unleash another wave of short-covering.
Meanwhile, on-chain data shows decreasing exchange balances as long-term holders squirrel coins away, suggesting supply constraints will tighten and drive prices even higher.