GameStop's "unexpected" entry? Can BTC stabilize?
The U.S. core PCE price index for February, to be released this Friday, may become a key variable that disrupts market equilibrium.Author: BitpushNews
In the past 24 hours, the cryptocurrency market has shown a mild rebound, with Bitcoin's price fluctuating around $87,400 and Ethereum slightly retreating to $2,070. Among mainstream coins, Solana (SOL) rose against the trend by 2%, reaching a daily high of $146.
As of March 26, Beijing time, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization has slightly increased by 0.4% to $2.87 trillion, and the market sentiment index (Fear & Greed Index) has dropped to 34, indicating that investors remain cautious.
On the news front, the once "Wall Street meme" stock, game retailer GameStop, officially announced on the 25th local time that the board unanimously approved a resolution to include Bitcoin in its balance sheet reserves. GameStop surged 7% in after-hours trading, with its stock price rising to $27.19.
In fact, this decision had been hinted at earlier: two months ago, after a photo of GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen meeting with BTC bull Michael Saylor was leaked, its major shareholder Strive Asset Management publicly called for the company to emulate MicroStrategy's holding strategy. Strive's CEO Matt Cole stated at the time, "We believe GameStop can improve its financial situation by purchasing Bitcoin; this is a strategic allocation."
Is BTC Emerging from Adjustment?
On-chain data reveals a new trend in capital flow. CryptoQuant data shows that despite Bitcoin's stable price movement, on-chain data has revealed key signals:
Institutional-level capital migration: In the past 24 hours, there were 17 BTC transfers exceeding $100 million each, with the total on-chain transfer volume surging by 268%, reaching a three-month high.
Exchange flow: Coinbase experienced a maximum premium of 0.3%, while the BTC reserves on exchanges decreased by 1%, with approximately 12,000 Bitcoins flowing into cold wallets. This "low volatility, high turnover" situation suggests that institutional investors may be conducting large-scale asset custody transfers.
Derivatives market balance: The perpetual contract funding rate has returned to the neutral range of 0.01%, and the options volatility surface shows that the put/call ratio (PCR) has dropped to 0.85, indicating a slight recovery in bullish sentiment.
It is worth noting that the Bitcoin Net Unrealized Profit and Loss (NUPL) indicator has fallen from 0.68 last week to 0.55, indicating that some short-term holders are beginning to take profits. Glassnode data shows that the number of addresses holding over 1,000 BTC has increased by 12, indicating that whale accounts are still quietly accumulating.
Hani Abuagla, a senior analyst at XTB MENA, believes that Bitcoin is emerging from the second deepest adjustment of this cycle. If the expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut and easing trade policies align, the possibility of breaking through the $100,000 mark in spring remains.
Macro Variables: PCE Data as a Key Touchstone
The U.S. core PCE price index for February, to be released this Friday (March 28), may become a key variable that disrupts market equilibrium. As the inflation indicator most closely watched by the Federal Reserve, the market expects the core PCE year-on-year growth rate to slightly rise from January's 2.6% to 2.7%. If the data exceeds expectations, it may further delay the market's expectations for interest rate cuts.
Currently, the CME FedWatch tool shows that traders' expectations for the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts this year have narrowed to 50-75 basis points, with the first rate cut potentially delayed until the third quarter. If the PCE data reinforces the "sticky inflation" narrative, U.S. Treasury yields may rise again, and a stronger dollar could exert short-term pressure on risk assets. In the current market context, slight fluctuations in inflation data may indirectly influence the direction of the cryptocurrency market by altering liquidity expectations.
TradingView analysts suggest that for short-term traders, attention can be paid to the breakout direction of Bitcoin's support level at $87,000 and resistance level at $90,000, combined with volatility strategies using options at low implied volatility. For medium to long-term holders, the on-chain MVRV ratio (1.98) is still below the historical bull market peak (3.5), and the dispersion indicator of holding addresses shows a healthy chip structure, making it a feasible option to accumulate in batches during pullbacks.
