Edited By
John Carter

A wave of positive developments in the crypto sector has not been enough to lift the ongoing bear market. Investors are expressing fears that institutional behaviors are manipulating the market, leaving retail investors feeling vulnerable. Amid declining prices, the sentiment remains heavily bearish.
Despite recent ETF approvals for major cryptocurrencies like Solana, XRP, Hedera, and Litecoin, the market shows little sign of recovery. Additionally, Ripple secured a $500 million investment, yet Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to drop, making many crypto enthusiasts question the current market dynamics.
Comments from various forums echo a common theme of despair among people involved in crypto. One remark noted, "When crypto goes into bear mode, it doesnโt care about good news anymore." This sentiment indicates a disassociation between positive industry developments and actual market performance.
Many investors believe that institutional players, often dubbed "whales," are exploiting market conditions to profit at the expense of individual investors, referred to as "minnows." This perception of market manipulation is causing significant fear, leading to more selling as people rotate their investments back into traditional stocks.
Looking forward, thereโs a strong chance that the ongoing bear market will persist, especially if institutional players continue to steer market movements to their advantage. Experts estimate around 70% probability that Bitcoin could test lower support levels before any significant recovery is seen. If investor sentiment remains bearish, we might witness a further exodus of capital from cryptocurrency to traditional equities, pushing prices down even further. Positive news, such as ETF approvals and major investments, may continue to be overlooked unless they directly translate to surging token values. Until retail investors sense a shift in control from whales to a more equitable market dynamic, brace for continued turbulence.
In an intriguing parallel, consider the early days of the dot-com boom, where stock prices soared amid optimism and innovative developments, yet many companies never turned a profit. The disparity between soaring stock values and actual performance led to a sharp correction in the early 2000s. Just like today's crypto landscape, the disconnect between hype and reality left many investors disheartened and questioning their choices. This serves as a reminder that innovation can spark excitement, but unchecked speculation often breeds disillusionment, echoing the current sentiment within the crypto realm.