Bitcoin: Shorts still dominate BTC – But buyers are fighting back

Bitcoin [BTC] has navigated weeks of turbulence. Amid renewed geopolitical tensions, capital has gradually rotated back into the asset, helping price reclaim lost ground.

At press time, Bitcoin was holding above the $71,000 threshold after spending several weeks below it. The recovery is notable.

However, the broader question remains whether this marks the beginning of sustained upside expansion or simply a temporary stabilization before another wave of volatility.

Deleveraging reshapes market risk

Bitcoin has entered a pronounced deleveraging cycle, significantly altering the risk profile of the derivatives market.

Since the 6th of October, Open Interest has contracted from $47.5 billion to $23.2 billion—a $24.3 billion reduction. More than half of the leveraged capital previously deployed has now exited the market.

This scale of capital withdrawal matters. When leverage compresses during a period of price struggle, it often signals that speculative excess has been flushed out.

With fewer overextended positions in play, the probability of a cascading liquidation event declines materially.

Earlier this year, the largest daily liquidation event reached $1.14 billion on the 5th of February. Several sessions in January also recorded combined long and short liquidations exceeding $500 million.

In contrast, recent liquidation totals have struggled to breach $150 million. The sharp decline in forced position unwinds suggests that systemic fragility has eased.

Without heavy leverage stacked in one direction, the market becomes less prone to violent swings triggered by liquidations.

This does not eliminate volatility. However, it meaningfully lowers the risk of a disorderly breakdown from current levels.

Derivatives positioning reflects lingering skepticism

Despite the recent price rebound, derivatives data reveals persistent caution among traders.

The Funding Rate remains negative, indicating that short traders continue to pay to maintain their positions. Since the 6th of January, bulls have controlled funding on only four occasions.

That imbalance highlights a sustained bearish lean within perpetual markets.

Price often reacts to funding dynamics. A negative Funding Rate during upward price movement can imply that traders expect the rally to fade. In some cases, such divergence signals underlying weakness.

Yet the picture is not one-sided. The Taker Buy/Sell Ratio has climbed to 1.16, indicating that aggressive market buyers have recently outpaced sellers.

A reading above 1 reflects stronger demand in the perpetual market. Notably, the last time this ratio reached similar levels was in June—a period that preceded a broader upward trend.

If buying pressure continues to absorb supply, short positions could face pressure. A sustained imbalance between aggressive buyers and short-heavy positioning may create conditions for incremental upside.

Exchange reserves strengthen the structural case

Beyond derivatives, on-chain positioning offers additional insight.

Bitcoin’s exchange reserves have fallen to approximately 2.73 million BTC. A declining reserve balance typically signals that investors are withdrawing assets from exchanges into private wallets.

This behavior historically aligns with reduced immediate selling pressure. Coins held off exchanges are less accessible for quick liquidation, tightening available supply in the spot market.

The steady drawdown in reserves provides mechanical support for price stability. While it does not guarantee appreciation, it reduces the probability of heavy spot-driven sell pressure emerging unexpectedly.

Overall, the market has not fully transitioned into a bullish phase. Still, with leverage flushed out and structural selling pressure easing, the downside risk appears increasingly constrained—at least in the near term.

Final Summary

• Ongoing deleveraging reduces the probability of a volatility shock.
• Shorts still dominate funding rates, yet volume strength and falling exchange reserves offer support.