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Enzac Research: Bitcoin’s Precarious Balance – A Comprehensive Examination of the $95K Threshold and Its Macro Implications

  • Writer: Globbie Lo
    Globbie Lo
  • May 8
  • 4 min read

The Realized Cap Anomaly – Unpacking the $889 Billion Benchmark


The realized capitalization metric, which aggregates the acquisition cost of every Bitcoin in circulation, has reached an unprecedented $889 billion. This figure is significant because it strips away speculative price movements and focuses solely on the actual capital invested into the network. Over the past month, this metric has grown by 2.1%, translating to approximately $18.7 billion in new capital inflows. Such growth during a period of relative price stability suggests that large-scale accumulation is occurring beneath the surface, likely driven by institutional entities rather than retail participants.



A closer examination of the Net Realized Profit/Loss metric reveals that over $1 billion in profits are being realized daily, yet the market has absorbed this selling pressure without significant downside. This dynamic indicates strong underlying demand, particularly from buyers willing to absorb distributions from profit-takers. The resilience at current levels implies that the $95,000 price zone is not merely a psychological barrier but a region where substantial liquidity exists to support the asset.



The Shifting Landscape of Underwater Supply – From Distress to Equilibrium


At the recent local low of $74,000, more than 5 million Bitcoin were held in loss positions. The subsequent rally has alleviated much of this financial strain, with only 1.9 million Bitcoin remaining underwater. This means that over 3 million Bitcoin, representing roughly $300 billion in value, have transitioned back into profitability within a matter of weeks.



This shift has critical implications for market psychology. Short-term holders, defined as those who acquired their Bitcoin within the last 155 days, are particularly sensitive to price fluctuations. When their holdings return to profitability, their behavior tends to shift from defensive holding to active distribution. The $95,000 level, which aligns with the average acquisition cost of these short-term holders, now serves as a pivotal threshold. Historical precedent suggests that reclaiming this level after a period of distress often precedes accelerated upward movements, as seen in late 2023 when a similar scenario triggered a 47% rally.


Institutional Participation – Decoding the ETF Resurgence


After a prolonged period of outflows totaling 70,000 Bitcoin between March and April, the spot Bitcoin ETF landscape has experienced a dramatic reversal, with $4.6 billion in inflows over the past two weeks. A granular breakdown of these flows reveals that BlackRock’s IBIT fund has captured the lion’s share, accounting for 83% of the total inflows. This disproportionate allocation suggests that the recent demand is driven not by speculative traders but by long-term institutional players, including pension funds and corporate treasuries.



The aggregate assets under management for these ETFs now stand at 1.171 million Bitcoin, just 11,000 shy of the all-time high. At the current trajectory, these instruments are on pace to surpass the total assets held by gold ETFs within three years, a milestone that underscores Bitcoin’s growing acceptance as a macro asset.



The Corporate Bitcoin Accumulation Thesis – Beyond MicroStrategy


A recent Bernstein report posited that corporations could allocate as much as $330 billion to Bitcoin over the next five years. This projection is not merely theoretical; it is already being operationalized by firms like MicroStrategy, which has doubled its capital commitment to Bitcoin through its "42/42" initiative, targeting $84 billion in total purchases. Bernstein’s bull case extends this figure to $124 billion, which would effectively remove 5% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply from the market.


The significance of corporate accumulation lies in its illiquidity. Unlike ETF holdings, which can be traded freely, corporate Bitcoin purchases are typically held as long-term treasury assets. This structural dynamic reduces available supply and creates a foundation for sustained upward pressure on prices.



Volatility Expectations – The Calm Before the Storm


Despite the recent price rally, Bitcoin’s implied volatility metrics have contracted to levels not seen since July 2024. The one-month implied volatility currently sits at 50%, a reading that reflects extreme complacency among options traders. Historical patterns indicate that such low volatility environments often precede explosive price movements, as seen in 2023 when similar conditions led to 30% monthly swings.



The Realized Supply Density metric, which measures the concentration of coins acquired near the current price, reveals a dense cluster of Bitcoin purchased between $94,000 and $96,000 in late 2024 and early 2025. This clustering effect increases the likelihood of heightened volatility, as even minor price fluctuations can trigger outsized reactions from this cohort of investors.


Gold Versus Bitcoin – Divergent Paths in Macro Asset Allocation


While gold has outperformed Bitcoin year-to-date, flows into Bitcoin ETFs have eclipsed those into gold ETFs. This divergence suggests that capital is testing gold as a near-term hedge but ultimately sees Bitcoin as the superior long-term store of value. The speed of Bitcoin’s adoption is particularly striking; BlackRock’s IBIT achieved $60 billion in assets under management in just one year, a feat that took the SPDR Gold Trust seven years to accomplish.



Critical Thresholds and Forward-Looking Projections

The immediate focus for traders should be the $95,000 level, which aligns with the short-term holder cost basis. A sustained hold above this threshold would likely catalyze a move toward $110,000, while a breakdown could trigger a liquidation cascade toward $85,000.


Enzac Research’s proprietary Whale Accumulation Score, which tracks large investor activity, currently sits at 87 out of 100, its highest reading since January 2024. This metric, combined with liquidity heatmaps, suggests that the market is poised for a significant directional move in the coming weeks.


Conclusion: Navigating the Inflection Point


The current market setup presents a rare convergence of institutional accumulation, corporate adoption, and technical symmetry. While volatility expectations remain subdued, the underlying data suggests that the market is underestimating the potential for a sharp move.


Enzac Research will continue to monitor these developments and provide actionable insights ahead of major inflection points.

 
 
 

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