The debate over Bitcoin’s bottom is still wide open. One side of the market argues that if negative data keeps driving sentiment, BTC could fall to $30,000 this year. The opposing view focuses on early reversal signals and says Bitcoin may climb past $150,000 in the coming months. The source article frames the split as a reminder that crypto investors need to assess the market from more than one angle instead of copying any single analyst call.
Poppe points to BTC-gold RSI below 30
Poppe’s bottom argument centers on a relative-strength signal: BTC’s RSI against gold has dropped below 30. He says that happened only at the bear market lows of 2015, 2018, and 2022. Based on that pattern, his view is that the market is nearing a familiar bottoming process rather than entering a fresh bear phase.
The article also pushes back on that reading. Gold is in an exceptional rally and has reached an all-time high, while investors are moving away from risk as crypto weakens. That matters. A ratio against gold can flash extreme readings during a flight to safety, so the signal on its own may not settle the broader direction of Bitcoin.
HYPE traders watch $32 with $35 in view
On the altcoin side, Sherpa remains constructive on Hyperliquid’s HYPE. His view is that if HYPE breaks above its current area and Bitcoin stays stable, the token can likely reach at least $35. He also described it as one of the strongest crypto assets in the market and noted that the largest Tornado seller is no longer active.
The level he highlighted is $32, which sits near the 200-day EMA. That makes the zone important for traders watching whether HYPE can keep its relative strength while the broader market looks for direction.
Regulation, ETF launches, staking and reserves all move at once
A cluster of developments landed over the past several hours. South Korea raised tariffs from 15% to 25%. The EU and India officially announced a free trade agreement. In Washington, the US Senate Agriculture Committee’s crypto market structure markup meeting is scheduled for January 29, and a joint SEC-CFTC crypto monitoring meeting is also set for the same day.
Institutional activity added another layer. Tom Lee’s BitMine bought 40,000 ETH and staked 184,960 ETH, bringing total staked ETH to 2.13 million, or about $6.22 billion. VanEck’s Avalanche ETF, VAVX, has started trading on Nasdaq. Tether added 27 tons of gold in the fourth quarter, taking its gold reserves to $4.4 billion.
Derivatives and platform-related figures also shifted sharply. HIP-3 open interest jumped from $260 million a month ago to $790 million, setting a new all-time high. Coinbase, for its part, created an independent advisory board focused on quantum computing risks. Put together, the day’s headlines show a market being shaped not just by spot prices, but also by regulatory timing, institutional positioning, ETF access, and rising leveraged exposure.