Bitcoin’s recent price swings have left investors feeling both cautious and optimistic, as the crypto market contends with a complicated blend of technical trends, economic factors, and evolving capital movement. On November 20, 2025,
Bitcoin
(BTC) dropped below $87,000, marking its lowest point in seven months, before recovering to about $87,300. The downturn was reflected across the market, with more than $914 million in leveraged trades wiped out, including $703 million from long positions,
intensifying the prevailing bearish mood
. Still, some experts believe that this wave of selling could pave the way for a recovery, citing historical trends and underlying market structures.
From a technical perspective, Bitcoin is once again testing a significant support line within a symmetrical upward channel that has been in place since early 2023. This support,
which was broken after the record high of $126,000 in October
, may serve as a base for further declines. At the same time, data from Santiment shows a gap between retail investor sentiment and actual market behavior. Even though retail traders are showing considerable fear—as indicated by the CoinMarketCap Fear and Greed Index dropping to a yearly low of 15—
markets have often reversed direction during such extreme sentiment
. This “contrarian” indicator, together with expectations of increased liquidity from the U.S. government after the shutdown and a more accommodative Federal Reserve,
points to a possible rebound similar to the rally seen after the 2019 crisis
.
The latest decline also highlighted Bitcoin’s status as a corporate asset. Michael Saylor’s Strategy Inc. (MSTR), which holds more
BTC
than any other company, posted a net profit of $2.8 billion for the third quarter, or $8.42 per share, driven by a 7% increase in BTC’s price during that time. By October, the company’s Bitcoin holdings had grown to 640,808 BTC,
demonstrating its aggressive accumulation approach
. This trend of corporate adoption underscores Bitcoin’s dual role as both a speculative asset and a key component in institutional portfolios, even as individual traders struggle with its volatility.
At the same time, capital flows within the crypto sector are shifting. Bitcoin’s share of the total cryptocurrency market cap
dropped to 58.8% in November
from over 61% in October, hinting at a possible move toward altcoins. The Altcoin Season Index reached a monthly peak of 47, indicating a slow but cautious change in investor preferences.
Analysts such as ChartingGuy warn
that Bitcoin’s sharper drop compared to altcoins might signal overall market weakness rather than a genuine altcoin surge, but the trend is still worth watching.
However, the industry’s issues go beyond price fluctuations.
A report from the UK National Crime Agency disclosed
that an international criminal group laundered drug money into Russia using cryptocurrency, highlighting the asset’s continued use in illegal finance despite blockchain transparency. Meanwhile,
Aerodrome Finance experienced a “front-end” exploit
, leading to warnings for users to avoid its main website. These events underscore the ongoing vulnerabilities in crypto infrastructure, even as more institutions enter the space.
For now,
Bitcoin’s future depends on whether it can hold above $86,300
. With global economic uncertainty and regulatory pressures on the horizon, investors must balance technical analysis with the broader context of geopolitics and technology.