From 14:30 to 14:45 (UTC) on 2026-04-17, the Bitcoin (BTC) market saw clear signs of abnormal movement. The 15-minute candlestick return reached +0.69%, with the price ranging from 77455.4 to 78044.4 USDT and an amplitude of 0.76%. Short-term fluctuations increased market attention, trading volume expanded in parallel, and liquidity improved further. The main driver behind this abnormal move was a clear strengthening of spot-market buy-side demand. According to on-chain and statistical data, from 14:00 to 15:00, BTC spot buys had the upper hand. Massive buy orders continued to push the price higher, while whale addresses (≥10,000 BTC holdings) were actively net-buying during this period. The inflow of large on-chain funds directly drove spot prices higher. In addition, CME Bitcoin futures open interest increased by 70%, yet there was no large-scale liquidation or forced selling, indicating that institutional capital was returning in an orderly manner and that futures leverage did not become the dominant source of pressure. The leading force behind this upswing came from the spot market, and any wait-and-see sentiment caused by shrinking ETF flows did not suppress short-term prices. Meanwhile, on-chain data shows that network activity has continued to rise, and the distribution of holdings is becoming more concentrated. In the short term, the coordinated effect of whales and newly onboarded users amplified price elasticity. Benefiting from an increase in macro risk appetite in mid-April—along with dovish signals from the Bank of Japan coinciding with easing geopolitical tensions—BTC’s attractiveness as a risk asset improved, and investors’ risk appetite strengthened. In addition, although ETF net inflows fell to $4.2 million, there were no large outflows, providing bottom support for spot. Multiple factors converged to drive BTC’s short-term rebound within the 15-minute window. It is worth noting that the SOPR data for short-term holders shows that some short-term capital is currently trading at a loss; if the price pulls back, there may be a risk of additional downside. Changes in institutional capital driven by shrinking ETF flows are also a potential trigger for volatility. The return of leveraged funds to the futures market is also worth watching. Investors should closely monitor key support levels, the movements of actively circulating on-chain funds, and changes in macro news, so they can grasp the market’s timing and stay up to date with more real-time market information.

On April 16, CoinMarketCap reported mixed performances among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, with RaveDAO leading gainers at 39.53% and JUST falling 15.44% as the biggest loser.

From 15:00 to 15:15 (UTC) on 2026-04-16, BTC logged a +0.46% return within 15 minutes. The price fluctuated in a range of 73,939.7 to 74,440.0 USDT, with an amplitude of 0.68%. During this time window, market attention increased, short-term volatility intensified, and fund-flow characteristics changed noticeably. The main driver of this deviation is the continued outflow of large amounts of capital from exchanges. According to on-chain data, in the past 24 hours the net flow was -14,408.84 BTC, mainly concentrated in large transfer ranges of more than $1 million (especially>$10M net outflow -12,987.03 BTC). This shows that institutions and large holders actively reduced their BTC holdings on exchanges, and short-term selling pressure was significantly lowered. Against the backdrop of persistently weak liquidity, with order book depth remaining at a low level for a long time, the price has become more sensitive to medium-sized buy orders—amplifying the impact of even modest inflows on spot market price action. In addition, macro conditions changed in parallel and produced a synchronized effect: easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East boosted overall market sentiment. International gold prices rose, global equity markets hit new highs, and the market re-evaluated the probability of the Federal Reserve cutting rates within the year, further increasing investor attention to safe-haven assets (including BTC). At the same time, on-chain data indicates that the “whale” trading activity during this phase is at an annual low (>$1M transfers fell to 1,485 transactions). With heavy market wait-and-see sentiment and limited short-term supply, BTC’s responsiveness to sudden buy-side capital was further enhanced. Investors should be reminded that current market liquidity is still fragile. Insufficient order book depth increases the market’s sensitivity to large capital movements, and short-term volatility may intensify. Going forward, focus on further shifts in on-chain large-fund flows, changes in price action as it breaks through support or resistance regions, and the risks and opportunities brought by related macro policies and geopolitical developments. Please continue to track key data and stay alert to any sudden shocks during the period of abnormal moves.

During the 2025 crypto market downturn, major venture capital firms saw significant AUM declines, but Haun Ventures grew by 30%. Paradigm and a16z are raising over $4.2 billion for new funds, highlighting varied performances among firms.

On April 15, CoinMarketCap reported mixed performance among the top 100 cryptocurrencies. DeXe (DEXE) gained 21.85%, while RaveDAO (RAVE) fell 23.75%. Other notable gainers included Siren, Chiliz, Aave, and Arbitrum, with losses seen in JUST, Worldcoin, Dash, and LayerZero.

Bitcoin's recent rise to mid-$74,000 followed a risk asset rally linked to a U.S.-Iran nuclear framework, but skepticism remains due to flat Treasury yields and unchanged gold prices. The core issue of uranium enrichment persists, and while on-chain data shows BTC's gradual advance, options markets reflect doubts about a sustained breakout. Overall, analysts see the rally as temporary, with macro conditions still tight and potential downside risks.

Varys Capital venture investment chief Tom Dunleavy noted that in the past six months, the crypto VC funding environment has changed significantly: well-funded projects are proactively coming to them, while most VC capital has run out or shifted to late-stage investments, extending the fundraising cycle to 2–3 months. Only a few institutions are still making early-stage investments, and in the future they may see investment opportunities on a historic scale.

Gate News message, on April 11, BTC analyst Killa posted that when comparing all prior Bitcoin cycles, each cycle includes a final selloff that ends with a capitulation-style bottom. In this cycle, the time when the peak occurred was earlier than in previous cycles. Killa noted that if history repeats itself, BTC may still see another wave of declines before a true bottom is established.

Recently, small-cap altcoins have been seeing frequent surges and crashes amid easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran and a period of Bitcoin trading sideways, drawing in high-risk investors. In this kind of coin, ownership is highly concentrated and insiders control the market, with high volumes in daily futures contracts. Some people believe this high volatility attracts liquidity, but some investors are also concerned that there is no fundamental support, so trading should be done cautiously.

Gate News message, according to the April 10 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a 1-day net flow of +4,614 BTC (+$334.63M) and a 7-day net flow of +7,358 BTC (+$533.62M). Ethereum ETFs showed a 1-day net flow of +23,039 ETH (+$51.38M) and a 7-day net flow of +15,349 ETH (+$34.23M). Solana ETFs experience