The market shows signs of a "capitulation sell-off"! K33 Research: Bitcoin's "phase bottom" may have already formed

Last Monday, Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline approaching the $60,000 mark, triggering market panic. However, according to research firm K33, this wave of sharp drops likely signals that a “phase bottom” has been established. K33 believes that whether in spot, ETF, or derivatives markets, signs of a “capitulation sell-off” are emerging.

K33 research director Vetle Lunde, in a report released on Tuesday, cited a series of “extreme abnormal data” to support this view. He pointed out that the market has seen the first collapse in funding rates since the U.S. banking crisis in March 2023, as well as options skew levels only seen during the worst part of the 2022 bear market. Additionally, trading volume has surged to the 95th percentile.

The company noted that momentum indicators have also fallen to rare levels. Continuous selling since January 20 has caused Bitcoin’s daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) to drop to 15.9, the sixth-lowest oversold level since 2015, only surpassed by March 2020 and November 2018. RSI is mainly used to measure the speed and magnitude of price changes, fluctuating between 0 and 100.

Lunde pointed out that during the previous two instances when RSI was this low, it corresponded to cyclical bottoms, further reinforcing the idea that the recent decline may be building a phase bottom.

Market sentiment has also collapsed in tandem. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 6, the second-lowest level in history, nearly approaching a state of full panic, indicating that investor pessimism about Bitcoin dropping to $60,000 has reached an extreme.

Lunde stated that price volatility has been accompanied by “unusually active trading.” He wrote that on February 6, Bitcoin spot trading volume reached $32 billion within two days, setting a new record, with trading volumes on February 5 and 6 reaching the 95th percentile. Such a situation has only occurred once before, during the FTX collapse.

Analyzing these extreme data points, Lunde suggested that such conditions often signal that prices are reaching phase extremes, typically followed by consolidation and possibly a retest of local lows.

Derivatives data also reflect extreme market panic. According to K33, on February 6, the daily funding rate for Bitcoin perpetual contracts plummeted to -15.46%, the lowest since March 2023; the 7-day average funding rate also fell to -3.5%.

Furthermore, options market skewness has entered an “extreme defensive zone,” with hedging sentiment comparable to during the LUNA collapse, Three Arrows Capital (3AC) liquidation, and FTX bankruptcy periods.

In the Bitcoin spot ETF space, BlackRock’s IBIT hit a record daily trading volume on February 5, surpassing $10 billion and trading 284.4 million shares. However, IBIT also recorded its fifth-largest net outflow since listing. Although funds flowed back in over the following days, since last Tuesday, IBIT has had a net outflow of 13,670 Bitcoin.

Combining multiple extreme data points—volatility, trading volume, returns, skewness, and ETF fund flows—Lunde stated that the probability of $60,000 serving as a phase bottom is very high.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index rose to 16, and market panic sentiment eased slightly

Gate News update: On April 12, according to Alternative Data, today’s Crypto Fear and Greed Index is 16 (15 yesterday), and market panic sentiment has eased slightly. The index runs on a threshold of 0-100 and is calculated from six indicators: volatility (25%), market trading volume (25%), social media buzz (15%), market survey (15%), Bitcoin’s share of the entire market (10%), and Google keyword trend analysis (10%).

GateNews1h ago

Market Overreactions? MicroStrategy Founder: Bitcoin Has Hit Bottom, Quantum Threats Are Overblown Concerns

Michael Saylor asserted that Bitcoin has already completed a bottoming process when it reached $60k, and he believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overstated. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and he noted that the market’s selling pressure is limited, which could help drive a new bull market. Mizuho also gave a positive assessment of the company’s future performance.

CryptoCity2h ago

BTC 15-minute drop of 0.45%: Aggressive sell-side orders lead, layered with weakening liquidity at the margin, amplifying volatility

2026-04-11 23:00 to 2026-04-11 23:15(UTC), BTC’s return over 15 minutes was -0.45%, and the price fluctuated within the range of 72907.4 to 73370.7 USDT, with a swing amplitude of 0.63%. During this period, market activity remains at a high level, but the price anomaly has drawn investors’ short-term attention. Overall trading sentiment is slightly cautious, and volatility is marginally higher than usual. The main driver behind this anomaly is that active sell orders have a slight advantage, causing a short-term downward adjustment in price. Combined with a modest increase in trading volume for major trading pairs and spot

GateNews3h ago

Market in Excessive Panic? MicroStrategy Founder: Bitcoin Has Bottomed, Quantum Threats Are Overblown Worry

Michael Saylor asserts that Bitcoin has finished bottoming out when it hit $60k, and he believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overblown. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and he notes that there is limited selling pressure in the market, which could help drive a new bull run. Mizuho also has a positive assessment of the company’s future performance.

CryptoCity5h ago

Market panic too much? MicroStrategy founder: Bitcoin has hit bottom, quantum threats are unfounded worry

Michael Saylor asserts that Bitcoin has already finished bottoming out at $60k, and believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overstated. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and also noted that there is limited selling pressure in the market, which could drive a new bull cycle. Mizuho has a positive assessment of its company’s future performance.

CryptoCity9h ago

XRP CLARITY Act Vote in Focus as XRP Holds $1.34 and Senate Returns April 13

XRP is trading at $1.34 as traders await the Senate's action on the XRP CLARITY Act, with potential for significant ETF inflows. The Banking Committee's markup is expected in late April, crucial for defining XRP’s regulatory status.

Cryptonews10h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments