Bitcoin Price Analysis: BTC Ignores US-Venezuela Tensions, Closes In On $93,000
The cryptocurrency market continued its latest uptrend as Bitcoin (BTC) briefly reclaimed the $93,000 mark and the Crypto Fear & Greed Index turned neutral for the first time since October.
Market gains were led by AI tokens, meme coins, Layer2, and DeFi tokens, indicating renewed risk appetite. However, market sentiment could change once traditional markets reopen for trading.
BTC crossed $90,000 over the weekend, hitting a three-week high. However, ETF outflows and low leverage demand suggest investors remain wary.
Crypto Fear & Greed Index Turns Neutral
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index turned neutral for the first time since October 2025, marking a substantial improvement in investor sentiment after spending months in “Extreme Fear” territory. According to data from CoinMarketCap, the index is currently at 42, indicating that investor sentiment is improving after October’s flash crash that derailed market momentum and sent BTC and other tokens hurtling towards multi-month lows.
The flagship cryptocurrency set a new all-time high just days before the market crash, and plunged to a low of $80,000 in November. BTC is yet to recover and regain pre-crash levels, having just reclaimed $90,000 this week. The clear improvement in investor sentiment is a positive development after a difficult few months for the crypto ecosystem. However, geopolitical headwinds and macroeconomic uncertainty could yet derail momentum.
US Rep Ritchie Torres Targets Insider Trading On Prediction Markets
United States Representative Ritchie Torres plans to introduce legislation targeting insider trading on prediction markets. The move comes after intense scrutiny over a highly profitable wager linked to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Reports about the planned legislation were confirmed by Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman, who stated in an X post that Torres plans to introduce the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.
According to Sherman, the bill will prohibit federal elected officials, political appointees, and executive branch employees from trading prediction market contracts linked to government policy or political outcomes.
NEW — RITCHIE TORRES (D-N.Y.) will introduce a bill on this. Bill will be called the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026. This bill prohibits federal elected officials, political appointees, and Executive Branch employees from engaging in certain transactions involving prediction market contracts when they either possess material nonpublic information relevant to the transaction or could reasonably obtain such information through their official duties.
Has Ethereum Solved The Blockchain Trilemma? Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Thinks So
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has claimed the network has solved one of crypto’s biggest problems, the blockchain trilemma. Buterin highlighted the potential of peer data availability sampling (PeerDAS) and Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (ZK-EVMs), and how the two upgrades are making Ethereum afundamentally new and more powerful kind of decentralized network.
PeerDAS was introduced in December’s Fusaka upgrade and enables Ethereum to handle substantially more data. On the other hand, ZKEVMs are virtual machines compatible with ZK Proofs and the existing Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis
Bitcoin (BTC) briefly crossed $93,000 early on Monday after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The flagship cryptocurrency finally broke past $90,000 over the weekend, ending Sunday at $91,494. BTC’s impressive performance comes despite escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela. While geopolitical headwinds generally pressure Bitcoin and the broader crypto ecosystem, the flagship cryptocurrency remained resilient ahead of the US markets’ opening. Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst at Delta Exchange, stated,
The crypto market traded higher as investor sentiment improved. The rebound came despite heightened geopolitical tensions after the US strike on Venezuela, which typically pressures risk assets. However, Bitcoin benefited from its safe-haven narrative and strong stablecoin inflows, underscoring resilience ahead of traditional markets reopening.
MN Trading Capital Founder Michael van de Poppe believes BTC is unlikely to fall despite US military action against Venezuela. The analyst called such a scenario highly unlikely, stating,
I don’t think we’ll see a widespread correction based on the attack in Venezuela on Bitcoin. It’s a planned and coordinated attack on Maduro, and it is already past us. The likelihood of more negativity on the markets from that single event is relatively slim. I would assume we’ll see Bitcoin north of $90K coming week.
The flagship cryptocurrency generally experiences substantial volatility during periods of geopolitical risk and uncertainty. However, it has remained remarkably resilient and pushed upwards despite global headwinds, contrary to price action during Middle East and Russia-Ukraine tensions. Crypto analyst Tyler Hill agreed with Van de Poppe, stating,
Yeah, generally the market really nukes when we expect things to get worse afterwards, which doesn’t seem to be the case. Could see this actually bring some green to the market as people take this as a sign of strength.
However, traders are looking to exchange order-book liquidity for clues about how BTC’s price may move in the short term. Crypto trader Daan Crypto Trades highlighted liquidity clusters in a post on X,
Largest liquidity cluster in close proximity sits below the yearly open around the $88K area. Above, the $92K level is the one to watch, which is also in line with what has been roughly the range high for so long now.
According to analysts, if BTC clears $95,000, markets are in for a quick retest of the $100,000 level, a feat few expected after recent price struggles. However, recent weekly candle closes have led to “fakeouts” in both directions, liquidating nearby positions while failing to break out of their local range.
Some analysts have warned of volatility once TradFi markets open and react to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Trading resource The Kobeissi Letter warned of rocky market conditions, particularly for oil.
This weekend’s events in Venezuela will have major effects on the global economy. The macroeconomy is shifting, and stocks, commodities, bonds, and crypto will move.
The trading resource also warned of rising pressure on gold markets, highlighting that Venezuela has the largest gold reserves among Latin American countries.
While everyone is focused on oil, Venezuela currently holds 161 metric TONS of gold reserves. 161 metric tons is roughly 5.18 million troy ounces, worth ~$22 BILLION at $4,300/oz. This makes Venezuela the Latin American country with the largest gold holdings.
BTC started the previous week in the red despite reaching an intraday high of $90,325, losing momentum, and settling at $87,110, down almost 1%. The price recovered on Tuesday, rising 1.48% to $88,397. However, selling pressure returned on Wednesday as BTC fell 1.02% to $87,497. Bullish sentiment returned on Thursday as the price rose 1.42% to $88,738. Buyers retained control on Friday as BTC rose 1.37% and settled at $89,957.
Source: TradingView
Price action remained positive over the weekend as BTC rose 0.71% on Saturday and 0.99% on Sunday to reclaim $90,000 and settle at $91,494. The flagship cryptocurrency is up 1.34% during the ongoing session, trading around $92,665. The RSI and MACD show clearly that bulls have the upper hand. BTC will attempt to clear the $95,000 mark should bullish sentiment persist. A break above this level could set up a retest of the $100,000 level.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.