Bitcoin has kicked off May with a powerful statement. After a sharp move in late April, the world’s largest cryptocurrency is now hovering near $97,000, reigniting hopes of a potential breakout toward the elusive $100K milestone.
But behind the excitement, the market remains split. Is this the beginning of a long-term uptrend, or simply another short-lived breakout in a volatile range?
Let’s break down the price structure, inflows, and sentiment to understand what’s really happening.
BTC Price Snapshot – May 1, 2025
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $96,613, up 0.08% on the day. The intraday high hit $97,306, making it the highest level seen since March. This marks a nearly 18% gain over the past 30 days, with April closing on a strong bullish note.
Source: Tradingview
BTC has decisively broken out of the consolidation range between $84K–$92K, reclaiming key moving averages:
- Above 50-day and 100-day MAs
- Next resistance: $99,200
- Breakout confirmation target: $105,000
Trading volume has risen steadily, with a 15% increase in the last 24 hours — a sign that momentum is building rather than fading.
What’s Fueling Bitcoin’s Climb?
1. Institutional Inflows Hit 2025 High
ETF data shows $422.5 million in net inflows on May 1 alone. BlackRock’s IBIT led the surge with $351.4 million, followed by Fidelity and Ark 21Shares ETFs.
Source: Dune Analytics
These inflows are not just large — they’re consistent. Over the past 10 days, institutional buying via ETFs has provided a strong and regulated liquidity base, stabilizing price action above $95K.
2. Wall Street Is Stepping In
Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab are reportedly preparing to launch crypto trading services for their users. This development marks a massive step forward for Bitcoin’s retail adoption across traditional platforms — bridging the gap between legacy finance and crypto.
3. Macro Sentiment Is Improving
Markets are gaining confidence in a possible U.S.–China trade agreement, which is reducing risk aversion and bringing capital back into high-volatility assets like Bitcoin.
On-Chain Signals – What the Data Says
- Exchange Outflows Rising
Large amounts of BTC are leaving centralized exchanges like Coinbase, suggesting investors are moving funds to cold storage. Historically, this is seen as a sign of accumulation, not short-term speculation.
Source: CryptoQuant
- Active Addresses Increase
Network data also shows a rise in daily active addresses, signaling growing organic activity and real usage — often a leading indicator of sustainable rallies.
What Could Go Wrong?
Despite the momentum, there are still key risk zones:
- $100K resistance: This level is not only psychological, but historically heavy with sell orders. BTC must break it cleanly to confirm the next leg.
- ETF dependency: If inflows stall, momentum could fade quickly.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Unexpected announcements from the SEC or global regulators could reverse sentiment in an instant.
Final Thoughts – Is the Bull Market Here?
Bitcoin’s approach to $100,000 is driven by strong fundamentals: institutional inflows, renewed retail access, and improving macro conditions. On-chain metrics support the idea that accumulation is genuine, not speculative.
However, price still needs to prove itself above resistance. Until BTC breaks and holds above $100K, caution is still warranted.
But make no mistake — this rally feels different. And if confirmation arrives in the coming days, Bitcoin could be entering the next chapter of its bull cycle.
