Bitcoin Holds Steady Around $88K as Prenetics Pauses Buying and Market Consolidates
Bitcoin is trading around $88,300, showing little movement after several quiet weeks. The price has stayed within a defined range, keeping sentiment cautious. While some major tokens have posted small gains, the overall mood remains conservative.
The Fear and Greed Index sits at 32, firmly in “fear” territory, and the Altcoin Season Index is at 20, signaling that Bitcoin still dominates the market while traders aren’t taking much risk. The total crypto market cap is stable at around $2.98 trillion, and the 30-day trading volume is $88.9 billion—steady, but not enough to suggest strong buying momentum.
Prenetics Halts Bitcoin Purchases
Prenetics Global Limited announced it will stop its daily Bitcoin buying, keeping its current holding of 510 BTC as a treasury reserve. Instead, the company plans to redirect funds to expand its fast-growing consumer health brand, IM8, which has achieved $100 million ARR in just 11 months and projects $180–200 million in revenue for 2026. With $70 million in cash and zero debt, Prenetics is financially strong.
This move reduces one of the sources of corporate buying, but it also highlights a trend: many public companies are now treating Bitcoin more as a strategic reserve than as a short-term trading asset.
Bitcoin Technical Outlook: Compression, Not Weakness
On the charts, Bitcoin is forming a symmetrical triangle after facing resistance around $94,000–$95,000. Lower highs are capped by a descending trendline, while higher lows have been rising since mid-December near $83,500. Candlestick patterns like spinning tops and Dojis suggest consolidation rather than a market under stress.
The 50-EMA and 100-EMA have flattened near $88,200–$88,400, reinforcing the view of price compression. The RSI hovers around 50–53 with a subtle bullish divergence, hinting at potential upside.
If Bitcoin holds above $85,100, the triangle structure stays intact. A breakout above $90,000 could open the path to $92,200 and a retest of $94,600, with a potential move toward $98,000–$100,000 in early 2026 if momentum continues.
Meme Coin Spotlight: PEPENODE
Meanwhile, PEPENODE, a mine-to-earn meme coin, is gaining traction as its presale nears its cap. The project combines viral culture with interactive gameplay, letting users build virtual server rooms and earn rewards through Miner Nodes and facilities.
Presale participants can stake their tokens for boosted rewards, with leaderboards and bonus incentives planned post-launch. One PEPENODE token costs $0.0012161, and the presale is entering its final phase for early buyers.
