Bitcoin Risks Mount Below $117K as Open Interest Stays Elevated


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Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin onchain metrics converge around $105,000, signaling a hidden risk zone.

  • Elevated open interest keeps BTC’s market structure at risk of sudden volatility.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains in a ranging environment on Wednesday, after a brief retest from the demand zone between $112,000-$113,000.

At the moment, BTC is attempting to break above the descending resistance trendline, which could lead to a rally to Monday’s highs at $115,700.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

However, crypto analyst CryptoMe indicates a potential hidden risk zone for Bitcoin around the $105,000 level, an area that’s starting to look increasingly significant across multiple onchain metrics.

Using Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) analysis and realized price models, the analyst outlines key indicators that are converging on the $105,000–$106,000 region:

  • UTXO Cost Basis Histogram reveals a significant wall at $105,644, suggesting high onchain accumulation or realization at this price.

  • 1–3 Month Holder realized price also hovers near $106,000, reflecting the average cost for mid-term holders.

  • Short-Term Holder (STH) realized price aligns closely at $105,350, showing the average acquisition cost for BTC held less than 155 days.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin 1-3 month holder realized price. Source: CryptoQuant

Although the data points to a potentially bearish setup in the short term, the analyst maintains a bullish outlook for Bitcoin over the medium and long term.

The possibility of a retest around $105,000 is viewed as a short-term scenario that could trigger sharp volatility and pose significant risks to leveraged traders in the derivatives market.

Likewise, data from Glassnode indicates that Bitcoin is in a precarious position below $117,000.

Related: Bitcoin may still have steam for $250K this year: Fundstrat’s Tom Lee

According to the UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD), significant resistance is around $117,000, where 634,051 BTC UTXOs were created, or last moved.

Below that level, a wide gap emerges, which stretches down to $108,000 with minimal support at $113,000. This gap indicates the potential for rapid downside movement if BTC loses its current price level, reinforcing the possibility of a trip toward $105,000.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Bitcoin Futures, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
UTXO Realize Price Distribution chart. Source: Glassnode

Elevated OI signals market risks for BTC price

Trading platform Hyblock Capital highlights that Bitcoin open interest (OI) remains elevated at $79 billion, suggesting that speculation in the futures market hasn’t fully reset.

This keeps the market fragile, especially with BTC price undergoing a correction from its $123,000 all-time high.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin analysis by Hyblock. Source: X

According to Hyblock, when OI remains at frothy levels while the Fear & Greed Index enters “Extreme Greed” territory, it historically precedes local tops and corrections.

This pattern, recently observed on July 16, led to BTC’s collapse to $112,000 from $120,000. The Fear & Greed Index has now reset to Neutral, but high open interest outlines price uncertainty. 

Similarly, Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. says that futures market bearishness peaked at –7.5% on July 29, shortly after BTC hit a new all-time high. While that pressure has since eased slightly to –5.2%, the structural risks remain.

Adler warns that any sudden negative catalyst could trigger a cascade of long liquidations, quickly amplifying downside momentum.

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin net taker futures volume on exchanges. Source: Axel Adler Jr/X

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.