Bitcoin has come under renewed pressure after sliding toward the $90,600 region, putting short-term sentiment back on edge. While the move has shaken weak hands, price is now approaching a critical retest zone that could determine whether this dip is merely a shakeout or the start of a deeper correction. How BTC reacts here will likely set the tone for the next directional move.

Bitcoin Slides to $90.6K As Selling Pressure Returns

According to an update by Lennaert Snyder, Bitcoin has extended its downside move, dumping toward the $90,623 level. The latest decline suggests increasing near-term weakness, with expectations that the US market opening could add further pressure and keep sentiment cautious.

Despite the volatility, Snyder emphasizes the importance of patience in such conditions, waiting for clear triggers, especially as the market navigates a fragile structure after the recent sell-off. On the bullish side, a potential scalp setup emerges if BTC manages to break the M15 market structure by reclaiming the $91,265 level. Should this occur, the initial upside target is located near the $93,377 resistance, with the monthly high serving as the ultimate objective if momentum continues to build.

From a bearish perspective, current prices are considered too low to aggressively pursue shorts. Instead, attention shifts to a possible retest of the $93,000 resistance zone, where short positions would only be considered after clear confirmation of rejection.

Looking ahead, a clean reclaim of the $93,377 resistance would signal continuation to the upside and reopen the path toward the monthly highs. However, if no bullish reversal materializes in the near term, Bitcoin may remain range-bound and gradually grind lower through the rest of the week.

Bitcoin At A Crossroads: Two Scenarios In Play

Ardi outlined two possible scenarios for Bitcoin’s next major move, both centered around the key $94,000 resistance zone. This level remains the main decision point that will determine whether the market resumes its broader upside trend or rolls over into deeper downside.

Path A suggests a bullish outcome, where price pushes back into the $94,000 resistance, breaks through with strong acceptance, and continues higher toward the $100,000+ region. In this scenario, the recent downside move would be seen as a shakeout rather than a trend reversal, clearing weak hands before continuation.

However, path B points to another potential fakeout into the $94,000 resistance, only to get rejected once again at the top of the range, followed by a breakdown below $90,000 and a liquidity sweep toward the $88,000 area before the next meaningful move develops.

Both scenarios likely involve a retest of the $94,000 zone. The key difference lies in what happens after that test, whether price acceptance confirms strength, or rejection signals another leg lower.

After weeks of unusually tight price action, Bitcoin is set to break free from its prolonged volatility compression. With price now expanding beyond its narrow range, liquidation activity is increasing, and stronger reactions to macro and on-chain catalysts are renewing momentum. This shift suggests that BTC is entering a phase where wider daily ranges and heightened market participation are likely to dominate the near-term structure.

What This Volatility Expansion Means For The Next Major Trend

Bitcoin has officially entered a new volatility regime, and a major change in market structure is driving the shift. Analyst AliceMia has revealed on X that, for the first time, options open interest has surpassed futures open interest, signaling that price action is no longer dominated primarily by leveraged speculation and liquidation cascades. In contrast, BTC is now being influenced more by hedging flows, dealer positioning, and volatility structures.

As a result, the price behavior is changing. Rather than clean, straight-line breakouts fueled by forced liquidations, the market is seeing more magnet-level reactions around major strike levels and expiries. BTC price is moving from a casino market to a structured market. This is usually what happens before the bigger and more sustained moves happen.

Bitcoin continues to consolidate inside the weekend range, which often acts as engineered liquidity during the following week. Crypto trader Lennaert Snyder highlighted that the preferred scenario for long trades would be if BTC continues to range higher through Sunday and sweeps the weekend liquidity on Monday/Tuesday.

According to Snyder, all eyes are on the US Open, and he will only prolong the sweep of the weekend liquidity if BTC breaks the structure by regaining the $95,820 high. Only after that structural break would long positions make sense, with the monthly high as the primary target. From there, a higher price is expected. 

On the downside, the $94,635 low is still the level that must hold. As long as the price is above that on the higher timeframes, the bullish structure remains intact. However, if BTC loses that level and trades back into the previous range, momentum is likely to flip bearish. In that case, after confirmation, a short setup could become valid. Trader Snyder concluded that, as for Ethereum, the plan remains unchanged from the previous one.

Deviation Confirmation Could Trigger The 2026 Super Rally

The Bitcoin weekly plan is unfolding exactly as expected. Trader Alienopstrading also stated that shorts remain the focus for now since the $110,000 to $120,000 zone. BTC’s price has entered a minor consolidation and will see a move akin to what the analyst mapped out earlier.

Once the lows are swept and BTC confirms the deviation, we could finally witness the 2026 super rally that many have been anticipating. “Just like I give you the top, I also want to give you the bottom,” Alienopstrading noted.

Bitcoin remains anchored above key support as weekend trading unfolds, keeping $98,200 and $107,500 in focus. Market participants are watching closely to see if the uptrend can continue or if the weekend liquidity will trigger a test of lower levels. The next few sessions could define BTC’s short-term trajectory.

Key Support Holds: $94,630 Remains Crucial

According to a recent post by Kamile Uray, Bitcoin is still holding strong above the $89,326 support level, and as long as it remains above this zone, the possibility for the uptrend to continue remains intact. This level continues to act as a critical foundation for bulls, keeping the market structure aligned with potential further gains.

If BTC manages to break through the $98,200 resistance, the next key target at $107,500 comes into focus. At this level, a decisive move will determine whether the current uptrend is complete or push Bitcoin even higher. A daily close above $107,500 would mark the first higher high on the daily chart relative to the last downward wave, signaling a potential continuation of the bullish trend.

However, if BTC is rejected at resistance and falls back below $89,326, the downtrend could resume. Should a reversal form within the $83,822–$82,477 support zone, Bitcoin may attempt another upward push, giving bulls a chance to regain control. 

If BTC closes below $82,477, further downside is expected, potentially testing the $74,496–$71,237 region. This zone has historically served as a strong support area, and any confirmed reversal from here could set the stage for another bullish leg.

Bitcoin Weekend Liquidity Ahead: Expect Range-Bound Action

Crypto expert Lennaert Snyder outlined that Bitcoin is holding the key $94,630 support level, which also serves as the crucial H4 level to hold. On Friday, BTC retraced and briefly swept this low before stabilizing, reinforcing the importance of this zone for short-term market structure.

As we enter the weekend liquidity, Bitcoin is likely to trade within a defined range until Sunday evening or Monday. For bullish traders, the plan is to hold the low and watch for a market structure break above $95,820. Once this occurs, long positions could target the $97,960 monthly high.

In anticipation of continued upside, only part of the position may be closed at the monthly high, letting 30%-40% run to capture further gains if momentum persists. However, if BTC loses the $94,630 support on the H4 and falls back into the previous range, a continuation toward lower lows becomes more likely. In that scenario, short positions would be considered after confirmation on a retest, giving traders a structured approach to managing risk and potential downside.