Bitcoin is struggling to reclaim the $90,000 level, with traders facing a hesitant market. After yesterday’s drop below $90,000, the price has slipped back into indecisive territory, raising questions about whether this is a temporary pullback or the start of a deeper correction.
According to analyst Axel Adler, a macro indicator called Trend Pulse shows why momentum has faded. The market has been in Bear Mode since January 19, with no Bull phase for 83 consecutive days. Two charts show that both short-term momentum and quarterly performance have turned negative simultaneously.
Trend Pulse recently shifted from Neutral to Bear due to a double-negative setup: the 14-day return is negative, and the SMA30 versus SMA200 trend signal is also negative. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s quarterly return is -19%, confirming macro weakness but not reaching the extreme levels that often signal a definitive bottom.
Adler notes that Bitcoin’s last Bull Mode signal was on November 2, 2025, when BTC traded near $110,000. Since then, the market has failed to regain structural strength. Even the Neutral period between December 30 and January 18 was too short and weak to restore the long-term trend, leaving Bitcoin vulnerable to renewed selling pressure.
For improvement, the 14-day return needs to move back above 0, shifting the regime from Bear to Neutral. However, a full return to Bull Mode requires a second condition: the SMA30 breaking above the SMA200. Given the current divergence, that crossover would likely need 3–4 weeks of sustained upside rather than a short-lived bounce.
The Bitcoin Price Performance chart tracks the quarterly return (90D) as a sentiment proxy. Historically, readings above +75% align with euphoria, while values below 0% signal pessimism, and drops below -30% reflect capitulation. Bitcoin’s quarterly return is near -19%, negative but far from deep bear-market extremes. Yet the 7-day change (-6.8%) suggests downside momentum is accelerating after the breakdown below $90,000.
Together, Trend Pulse and quarterly returns point to moderate pessimism without final capitulation, leaving the market at a decision point.
Bitcoin is trading near $89,000 after failing to hold above the $90,000 psychological level, reinforcing the current indecision. The chart shows BTC forming a lower-high structure since the early November peak, followed by a sharp selloff into a wide consolidation range.
After bottoming in late November, Bitcoin rebounded but struggled to build sustained momentum, repeatedly stalling in attempts to push toward the mid-$90,000 zone.
From a trend perspective, BTC remains pressured beneath its key moving averages. The price is trading below both the green long-term average and the blue mid-term average, which are now sloping downward, signaling that broader momentum continues to lean bearish.
The most recent rejection occurred as BTC briefly pushed into the $95,000–$97,000 area, only to roll over and break back down toward the range lows. Meanwhile, the red long-term average remains well above the price near the low-$100,000s, highlighting how far BTC would need to recover to reestablish a stronger macro uptrend.
Volume has picked up on selloffs relative to bounces, suggesting downside moves are still being met with more urgency. For bulls, reclaiming $90,000 and then holding above $92,000–$94,000 is key. Otherwise, the chart keeps the door open for a retest of lower support levels.Bitcoin’s price is at risk of a deeper pullback toward the mid-$80,000 range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Bitcoins Current Bearish Trend
Beginner Questions
Q What does it mean that Bitcoin is in a bearish trend
A It means the overall price direction has been moving downward for a sustained period In this case its been 83 days where selling pressure has generally outweighed buying pressure leading to lower prices
Q What is the Trend Pulse indicator
A Its a technical analysis tool used by some traders to gauge the strength and direction of a market trend Its current reading of ongoing structural weakness suggests the underlying market conditions support further potential downside or a lack of strong upward momentum
Q Should I be worried about my Bitcoin investment
A Volatility is normal for Bitcoin Bearish periods are a common part of its market cycle Its important to assess your own investment strategy risk tolerance and time horizon rather than reacting solely to shortterm trends
Q How long do Bitcoin bear markets usually last
A Historically they have varied widely from a few months to over a year Theres no fixed rule The current 83day period is a significant downtrend but not unprecedented
Q Is this a good time to buy Bitcoin
A Some investors see prolonged bearish periods as potential buying opportunities believing prices are lower However this carries risk as the trend could continue downward Never invest more than you can afford to lose
Intermediate Advanced Questions
Q What does structural weakness mean in this context
A It suggests that the markets foundational conditionslike trading volume investor sentiment onchain activity or macroeconomic factorsare not currently supportive of a sustained price recovery Its more than just daily price drops it indicates deeper persistent issues
Q What are common catalysts that end a bearish trend like this
A Shifts can be triggered by positive macroeconomic news major technological upgrades on the Bitcoin network increased institutional adoption or a broader return of riskon sentiment in financial markets
Q How reliable is the Trend Pulse indicator
A No single indicator is foolproof It should be used in conjunction with other tools like moving averages RSI onchain data