Bitcoin bulls lose control after $78,000 rejection wipes out overnight recovery
first published 2026-05-21T04:52:32Z
Bitcoin stalled at the 200-day simple moving average just above $82,000, reversed and pulled back to about $77,500. CryptoQuant attributes the failed breakout to weakening demand across leveraged futures buying, spot buying and U.S. ETF inflows. Its Bull Score Index dropped from 40 to 20 (labeled “extremely bearish”). The Coinbase premium is negative, U.S. spot ETFs had roughly $979.7M of outflows the week ended May 19 (after about $1B outflows the prior week), Korea’s kimchi premium is below zero, and Hong Kong spot ETF volumes are very light. CryptoQuant identifies $70,000 (on-chain realized price) as the next major on-chain support level.
AI Analysis
Failed breakout at the 200-day SMA (~$82k) followed by a pullback to ~$77.5k; CryptoQuant reports cooling demand in leveraged futures, spot buying and U.S. ETF inflows; Bull Score fell from 40 to 20; Coinbase premium negative; U.S. spot ETFs saw ~$979.7M outflows the week ended May 19 (after ~ $1B prior week); Korea kimchi premium < 0; HK spot ETF volumes very light; on-chain realized price support at $70,000.
Expected Investor Sentiment: Bearish
Potential Market Impact: High
Source Articles
- Here's why bitcoin turned lower from the 200-day average - CoinDesk
- Bitcoin price forms double bottom as Trump signals Iran negotiations may conclude soon - Crypto News
- The $6 billion expiration countdown: Traders pile into $82,000 bitcoin calls ahead of May 29 expiry - CoinDesk
- Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Thursday, May 21, 2026: Bitcoin and ethereum prices following a similar path - Yahoo Finance
- Bitcoin’s ‘less aggressive demand’ may lead to months of consolidation: Analysis - Cointelegraph
- Is the Bitcoin halving cycle dead? Here’s what comes next - Crypto News
- Bitcoin slips below $77,000 on Gate as BTC cools - Crypto News
- Michaël van de Poppe Warns Bitcoin Will Likely Collapse if BTC Fails To Hold Crucial Price Level - Daily Hodl
- Bitcoin Bulls Lose Control After $78,000 Rejection Wipes out Overnight Recovery - Bitcoin.com