On January 15, 2026, at 8:00 AM UTC+8, the price of Bitcoin broke through the key resistance level of $97,000, with a 24-hour increase of approximately 2.1%-2.2%, attracting renewed market attention. Prior to this, the price had oscillated within the range of $80,000-$95,000 for several rounds, and now it has effectively broken above the upper boundary of this consolidation zone, further establishing itself at the high boundary of the cost area densely held by short-term holders. The core contradiction in the current market is evolving from simple fluctuations to a direct clash between concentrated supply above and sustained accumulating demand below; this upward breakthrough has provided the bulls with a relatively proactive chip in the phase of this game.

Initial Resistance and Significance Above $97,000

● The current price of Bitcoin is approximately $97,009.99 (according to A/C quotes), marking the first time the price has shown clear and continuous signs of stabilizing above $95,000, rather than a "false breakout" pattern characterized by a brief penetration followed by a quick retreat.
● Over the past few weeks, the price has repeatedly oscillated within the $80,000-$95,000 range, with back-and-forth movements clearly defining this price band as a typical consolidation zone, becoming the main battleground for short-term trading between bulls and bears.
● This upward departure from the $80,000-$95,000 box has validated the previous observation of sustained accumulation of demand above $80,000, indicating that short-term active buying still has sufficient momentum at high levels, and the relative advantage of bullish forces in the short-term structure is strengthening.

How the Tug-of-War Between $80,000 and $95,000 Shapes the Current Landscape

For a longer period, the range of $80,000 to $95,000 has effectively constituted the "deep water zone" of the Bitcoin bull-bear game. Glassnode's on-chain data indicates that the cost basis of short-term holders is highly concentrated in the $80,000-$95,000 range, meaning that a large number of chips were formed within this price range, which in turn has created a dense resistance band on both technical and psychological levels. The repeated failures to rebound are due to the concentrated supply above continuously suppressing price increases, while the alternating clearing of short-term profit-taking and trapped positions has made this area the core zone for repeated turnover of chips. Notably, after each setback from the upper boundary, the buying interest above $80,000 has not significantly weakened, but rather shows a gradually rising willingness to absorb, and this repeated reinforcement of buying from below has ultimately laid the foundation for the current upward breakthrough.

Sustained Demand Drives Breakthrough Validation

Earlier, Glassnode mentioned in its analysis that if the demand above $80,000 can continue to accumulate without significant retracement, it could trigger a breakout of Bitcoin's price from the consolidation zone. The current price surge near $97,000 can be seen as a validation of this condition in a phased manner: at high levels, buying has not significantly receded as the price approaches historical highs, but rather is willing to take on risk exposure at even higher price levels. From a short-term perspective, whether demand can maintain its strength at this new level will directly determine whether this upward movement evolves into a structural and effective breakthrough or is defined as another "false breakout" after an emotional retreat.

The Critical Point of Emotion from Hesitation to Follow-Up

Prolonged sideways trading often weakens trend signals, causing observers to fall into hesitation about the direction. However, once the price breaks above the upper boundary of the consolidation zone, it often triggers a shift from a wait-and-see sentiment to a chasing sentiment. The multiple failures to advance within the $80,000-$95,000 range have repeatedly undermined some bullish confidence, prompting many funds to choose to "reduce positions on highs" as they approach the upper boundary. This effective breakthrough of the upper boundary provides a convincing signal for the bulls, likely repairing the previously worn-down sentiment. If the price can relatively stably operate above $95,000 in the future, then short-term traders and even some passive allocation funds may gradually shift from the previous strategy of "reducing positions near the upper boundary" to "buying on dips after a breakout," leading to subtle changes in market behavior.

Mainline Confirmation Under Institutional Radar

Beyond sentiment and technical aspects, the perspective of research institutions is also continuously reinforcing Bitcoin's "mainline" status. Binance Research has listed themes related to Bitcoin as one of the key focus areas for 2026 in its annual outlook, which has implicitly placed Bitcoin back on the agenda for many institutional asset allocation discussions. The increase in research attention and the price's operation in high areas create positive feedback; on one hand, it keeps Bitcoin at the center of discussions in cross-year asset comparisons, and on the other hand, it provides potential funds with more ample research and narrative reasons. In the current context of lacking specific, verifiable data on institutional fund inflows and outflows, this round of breakthrough at $97,000 can be understood as an emotional confirmation of "Bitcoin still being the mainline of this cycle," rather than merely driven by a one-time fund action.

New Game Phase After Standing Above the Consolidation Zone

In summary, breaking through $97,000 means that the price of Bitcoin has initially exited the long-term consolidation zone of $80,000-$95,000, further consolidating the bulls' initiative in the short-term rhythm, shifting from passive defensive absorption to active offensive probing. The next key observation point lies in whether $95,000 can gradually evolve into a new effective support; only when the market shows strong absorption during a pullback can this breakthrough be widely regarded as a continuation of the trend, rather than another quickly aborted false breakout signal. In the current absence of more detailed data on transaction volume and fund flows, this round of upward movement resembles a phase breakthrough signal describing structural changes, rather than the final chapter of a trend cycle. The true variables determining the upper limit and sustainability of the market will gradually emerge in the subsequent rebalancing of bullish and bearish chips.

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