Bitcoin Struggles Below $105K as Bulls Eye Breakout Amid ETF Outflows

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at approximately $103,631 as of May 14, 2025, continuing a phase of tight consolidation after reaching an intraday high of $104,836 and a low of $102,722. The leading cryptocurrency has gained 0.83% in the last 24 hours but remains below the critical resistance level of $105,000. This resistance has capped BTC’s upside multiple times in recent sessions, leading analysts to point to a potential breakout scenario if bullish momentum resumes. On the downside, support at $102,000 has held firmly for now. A sustained drop below this level could trigger a retest of the psychological $100,000 mark. While the price remains resilient, recent market data shows that institutional flows into spot Bitcoin ETFs have cooled. According to Blockchain.News, over $91 million in net outflows have been recorded recently, signaling short-term profit-taking by larger holders. At the same time, macroeconomic indicators continue to offer mixed signals. Expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later this year are seen as supportive of risk assets, while improving U.S.–China trade relations have slightly eased market uncertainty. Bitcoin continues to trade above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating an intact medium-term bullish trend. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around 58, placing BTC in a neutral zone with upside potential before overbought conditions emerge. Technical analysts are eyeing a clean break above the $105,000 resistance to confirm a short-term bullish continuation, potentially targeting $110,000. However, failure to hold support at $102,000 could tilt momentum back in favor of sellers, with $100,000 acting as a crucial psychological floor. As the market digests mixed signals from both macro and on-chain data, Bitcoin’s near-term direction will likely hinge on whether bulls can summon enough volume to clear current resistance and invalidate the recent pattern of lower highs. Ethereum (ETH) climbed above the $2,600 mark on Tuesday, May 14, 2025, posting a sharp 6.85% daily gain to trade around $2,625.56 at the time of writing. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap reached an intraday high of $2,709.34, its highest price in nearly two weeks, following renewed momentum from institutional flows and growing market confidence. The rally comes after weeks of sideways movement and appears to signal a potential short-term trend reversal. ETH has now reclaimed its 200-day moving average and sits comfortably above key Fibonacci retracement levels from its March lows near $1,385. Fresh inflows into Ethereum ETFs have reignited investor interest. According to data reported on May 13, 2025, net inflows totaled $13.5 million, a sign that institutions are increasingly positioning themselves ahead of potential regulatory decisions regarding spot ETH ETFs in the U.S. In parallel, Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade—expected to improve network efficiency and validator performance—continues to drive long-term optimism in the broader smart contract ecosystem. Analysts point to Ethereum’s dominant role in DeFi and Web3 infrastructure as reinforcing its macro bullish thesis. Ethereum’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) currently stands at 55, suggesting neutral-to-bullish momentum with room for further upside before hitting overbought conditions. The MACD indicator is flat, reflecting consolidation rather than strong directional momentum. Technically, the next key level for ETH is the $2,745 resistance, which marks the 50% Fibonacci retracement from its all-time high. A clean break above this level could open the door to a move toward $3,000, a psychological resistance zone and target for many swing traders. Conversely, failure to hold the current support at $2,425 may see ETH re-test lower support zones, though the broader structure remains bullish as long as the price holds above $2,300.