Bitcoin Peaks at $107K Before Slipping Under $105K—Then Whales Pulled the Plug

Bitcoin failed to hold at $107,000 and quickly pulled back below $105,000 due to yet another market manipulation, causing liquidations of hundreds of millions of dollars - The Coinomist

The rally didn’t last. Bitcoin tumbled under $105,000 after market manipulation unleashed a cascade of liquidations worth hundreds of millions.

In the past two days, Bitcoin experienced increased volatility. The asset briefly reached $107,000 before retreating nearly 5% to $102,000. As of writing, it trades near $103,000. This fluctuation was driven by Moody’s downgrade of the United States’ credit rating and subsequent market manipulation typical in such high-uncertainty scenarios.

The volatility sparked liquidations worth $670 million. Long positions bore the brunt, losing $465 million. Ethereum once again outpaced Bitcoin in liquidation volume, logging $254 million compared to Bitcoin’s $168 million.

Bitcoin price chart from WhiteBIT exchangе - The Coinomist
Bitcoin price on the WhiteBIT crypto exchange. Source: official WhiteBIT website.

Volatility may have spiked, yet investors stay positive:

Traditional markets? A bit calmer:

  • Gold is +1.49% since Monday morning (May 19).
  • Oil is down 1.15%, and the S&P 500 has slipped 0.6%.. 

Chart Check: Bull Trap or False Breakout?

Bitcoin managed to close both the daily and weekly candles above $105,000, a level many consider crucial for reclaiming new highs. But within hours, the price slipped back into its earlier range. A close below $103,000 today would likely erase the entire upside move.

Bitcoin chart with technical overlays - The Coinomist
BTC chart with trendlines and indicators. Source: TradingView official site.

May 18 locked in a weekly close at $106,500—Bitcoin’s highest ever. Analysts called it a breakout. Above $105K, they said, new highs were likely. But right now? It’s starting to look like the bull trap we flagged last time

Big Inflows ≠ Big Rally

Оn May 16, 2025, spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. saw net inflows of $260.2 million. But here’s the catch—it all came from three players: IBIT, FBTC, and ARKB. BlackRock’s IBIT alone brought in nearly half—$129.7 million. The rest of the funds? Total silence.

Net inflows to U.S. spot BTC ETFs - The Coinomist
Net inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs. Source: CoinGlass official.

Willy Woo has a reality check for the bulls. Bitcoin isn’t going vertical forever. He calls it a macro asset now—and the numbers back him up. Annualized returns have cooled off to 17–20%, even as Wall Street piles in. Last year? We were talking 60 to 70 percent. Those days may be done.

And it's trending downwards as the network continues to store more capital. BTC is now traded as the newest macro asset in 150 years, it'll continue to absorb capital until it reaches its equilibrium.

He believes Bitcoin’s long-term rally will taper off only when its compound annual growth rate stabilizes at around 7–8%. That moment, however, isn’t on the immediate horizon. For now, he says, long-term investors can still expect strong performance from BTC—far outpacing most conventional investments.

The content on The Coinomist is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content. Neither we accept liability for any errors or omissions in the information provided or for any financial losses incurred as a result of relying on this information. Actions based on this content are at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult a professional. See our Terms, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers for more details.

Articles by this author
TikTok Denies $300M Trump Memecoin Purchase by Its Chinese Owners

TikTok Denies $300M Trump Memecoin Purchase by Its Chinese Owners

TikTok rejects allegations that ByteDance purchased $300M worth of Trump memecoins, responding to bribery accusations from a U.S. Congressman.

Dmytro Psevdonimenko
Fake Aave Ads on Google Search Fuel Phishing Scams

Fake Aave Ads on Google Search Fuel Phishing Scams

On June 20, 2025, Scam Sniffer flagged fake Aave ads in Google search that lead victims to phishing sites copying the Aave UI and draining funds.

Walker Stevenson
a16z Crypto Dominates Weekly Crypto Funding with $81 million in Deals

a16z Crypto Dominates Weekly Crypto Funding with $81 million in Deals

Crypto funding hit $144 million this week – and a16z Crypto was at the center, investing $81 million in key deals in emerging blockchain technology.

Eric Hash
BOE Governor Questions Need for Consumer Digital Pound

BOE Governor Questions Need for Consumer Digital Pound

BOE Governor Andrew Bailey warns the UK may shelve a consumer digital pound if no defined use case emerges for a retail CBDC.

Walker Stevenson
From Politics to Protocols: Decoding Eric Trump’s Unexpected Crypto Headlines

From Politics to Protocols: Decoding Eric Trump’s Unexpected Crypto Headlines

Politics continues to move into crypto, and Eric Trump’s involvement sparks debate. What drives his interest?

Daryna Nesterenko
Who Is Tomasz Stańczak? Inside the New Leadership of the Ethereum Foundation

Who Is Tomasz Stańczak? Inside the New Leadership of the Ethereum Foundation

Tomasz Stańczak is one of the co-executive directors at the Ethereum Foundation, contributing to strategic planning and operational oversight to support Ethereum’s long-term growth.

Anahit Avetisyan
Robert Kiyosaki and the Debt-Fueled Prophecy

Robert Kiyosaki and the Debt-Fueled Prophecy

Robert Kiyosaki says the end is here. With $1.2B in U.S. debt and a $1M Bitcoin prediction, the Rich Dad author is turning collapse into his ultimate performance.

Elina Moskovchuk

Might Be Interesting

No posts found.

Crypto and the Fed: What the Interest Rate Decision Means

Crypto and the Fed: What the Interest Rate Decision Means

Tonight, the Federal Reserve will announce its decision on the interest rate. We explain how this impacts the economy, cryptocurrencies, and why everyone is watching closely.

Iaroslava Kramarenko
While Altcoins Bleed, WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) Surges to a New ATH

While Altcoins Bleed, WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) Surges to a New ATH

WBT climbed to $50 and set a new ATH while most altcoins remain under pressure. The token’s performance reflects strong tokenomics, a long-term strategy, utility, and brand power.

Anton Kryshtal
MORE
Crypto Spam Attacks: How to Save Your Deposit and Your Nerves

Crypto Spam Attacks: How to Save Your Deposit and Your Nerves

Unexpected airdrops, shady tokens in your wallet, pushy Discord messages, and weird invites to NFT projects—let’s learn how to stay afloat in a stream of digital noise.

Iaroslava Kramarenko
Why Crypto Trading Isn’t Gambling (Even If It Feels That Way Sometimes)

Why Crypto Trading Isn’t Gambling (Even If It Feels That Way Sometimes)

Is crypto trading just digital gambling? At first glance, the line seems thin. But they’re worlds apart: one relies on analysis and strategy, the other on luck and addiction.

Iaroslava Kramarenko
MORE