August payrolls came in at 162,000 against expectations near 53,000, with prior months revised higher. Markets read it as a problem, not a relief; a resilient labour market gives the Fed room to stay restrictive. The number that matters is downstream. The 10-year returned straight to the 4.80–4.81% area, a level that has repeatedly capped yields over the past eighteen months. It tested and pulled back. Odds of a September hike moved from roughly 52% to 58%. That is the whole framework right now. Below that resistance, equities absorb strong data. A confirmed break puts 5% back in view and repricing follows. A test is not a breakout; the next move decides. Bitcoin: In July we published a framework capping $BTC upside at 72–75k ahead of a rollover toward sub-50k, with one stated invalidation: acceptance above 75k with ETF inflows returning. Both conditions were met; roughly $1.5bn of net August inflows and a break out of the sub-64k range. That framework is withdrawn. We don’t carry a thesis past its own stated invalidation. The structure now runs off the retracement of the full decline, 126,000 down to 58,115: 23.6% — 74,136 38.2% — 84,047 50% — 92,058 61.8% — 100,068 Price near 79,300 is 31% retraced, sitting almost exactly between the first two. We treat 83–87k as major resistance, reinforced by the 38.2% landing inside it. Notably, this week’s rally reversed before reaching it. The zone hasn’t been tested yet; that test is the event. Below, 74,136 is the level that matters. It’s the zone we published in July as resistance, and resistance that flips is what you watch on a pullback. Why this isn’t a bull call. Three inflow streaks this year reversed inside two weeks. The bid is concentrated in few vehicles. ETF assets rising from $78.7bn to $98.6bn is almost entirely mark-to-market; price did the work, not new money. $ETH leads on relative flows; breadth outside the majors is thin. Improved, not resolved. We require acceptance, not a print. Levels and invalidations, not calls. Not financial advice. #Bitcoin #BTC #Ethereum #Macro #FederalReserve
Macro • US indices sitting on critical support trendlines. If they break, correction accelerates (S&P -10% risk). • AI bubble showing cracks → semiconductors are the key proxy. • Fed’s first cut at all-time highs = red flag, not safety. History shows this usually signals the end of the cycle, not a new leg up.
Crypto • BTC rejected perfectly at 117.9K (Fib 0.618 + long-term trendline). Broke neckline → roadmap points toward 100K → 96K → 93K, even 90K if momentum extends. • ETH holding 3,800 support for now, but if it fails, 3,500 is the next magnet. • Altcoins remain tactical trades only , strong moves but within fragile structures.
My positioning : • Shorts 17% → BTC & ETH • Longs 7% → ICP, TIA, HYPE (small tactical exposure) • Cash 76% → flexibility is king
Takeaway Markets look euphoric at the top, but history and probabilities point toward correction. I keep the book light, take profits before round numbers, and size trades only at high-conviction levels.
⸻ 🧭 Macro Markets are pausing ahead of Jackson Hole, with Powell’s Friday speech likely to shape expectations around potential rate cuts. The CPI/PPI divergence (cooler CPI, hotter PPI) has kept equities range-bound. As typical for late August, liquidity remains thin, increasing the risk of erratic moves. Bond yields remain capped around 4.40%, while the Dollar Index is attempting to base near 98. The breakout on EUR/USD from a 15-year trendline points to slow dollar weakening — not a crash. ⸻ ₿ Crypto BTC • Local top confirmed at $124,570, invalidating the previous topping tail — now forming a double top structure. • Support: April trendline has broken. Price pierced $115K (current low at writing is $114,600). Next key zones: 112K, then major support at 108K–100K. • ⚠️ A confirmed break of the April trendline could open the door to a deeper retracement toward $100K. ETH • Rejected last week at $4,795. • Trading today near $4,222. • Key support levels: $4,100, then $4,035, followed by $3,500, and the major zone around $3,150–3,035. • Watch $4,065–4,075 as the first meaningful support — a break may accelerate downside. USDT.D • Spiked to 4.37% this morning before U.S. market open. • This bounce confirms early de-risking flows. The structure remains above the triple-bottom zone at 3.80%, which historically aligns with local BTC/ETH tops and an altcoin slowdown. ⸻ 📈 Equities • S&P 500 rejected at 6,449, closing Friday just below major upsloping resistance (trendline from Oct 2023). RSI continues to roll over. • NASDAQ pulled back from the top of its channel — watch QQQ 364 for confirmation of weakness. • Key resistance remains at 6,440–6,460. • ⚠️ A reminder: trendline breaks without follow-through are unreliable — the risk of fakeouts remains elevated. ⸻ 💼 Portfolio Update 🔸 Longs (Total: 2.00%) • TIA: 1.00% at $1.75 (reloaded today after two rounds of profits) • ICP: 1.00% at $5.26 (reloaded after similar setup round profits taken) 🔻 Shorts (Total: 28.00%) • BTC: 19.00% at $118,000 (after partial take profit at $115K) • ETH: 8.00% at $3,881 • LINK: 1.00% at $26.20 (opened 17 Aug) 💵 Cash Available: 70.00% ⸻ 🔭 View Crypto is at pivotal levels. BTC/ETH have broken key trendlines, but confirmation is essential. The rise in USDT.D points to risk-off flows, supporting the short thesis. Still holding elevated cash to remain flexible. This week’s catalysts — retail earnings + Jackson Hole — may define the next trend. Short-term bias = cautious bearish on majors. Medium-term (Q4) remains open — confirmation needed before re-risking. ⸻
🧠 Crypto Outlook BTC remains technically overextended. We’re still near ATH levels, open interest is high, and funding rates remain stretched. On daily TF, the topping tail and mature bear flag are intact. A flush to $113–115K would be healthy and offer better R/R entries.
💡 My view: We’re tactically short BTC — this isn’t a long-term bearish call, just managing asymmetry. 🧊 Macro uncertainty + overpositioning = fade the euphoric long crowd. If proven wrong, I’ll flip fast. Risk > ego.
📊 Equities – Divergence Ahead? • S&P 500 at top of rising channel (~6400), RSI stretched. Needs a pullback. • Nasdaq is rangebound, semiconductors (SMH) failing breakout attempts. • Russell 2000 shows relative strength — money rotating into small caps?
🎭 Earnings Paradox Even double beats (IBM, TSLA, AAL) are getting sold off. Why? ➡️ Forward guidance is either weak or absent. Market is pricing future softness. Stay selective. This is a reaction-driven tape.
⚖️ Watchlist Highlights • PDD: Inverse H&S, neckline retest could be an opportunity • GOOGL: Looks strong post-earnings, could continue • Meme stocks like AEO are getting flows but trade with discipline
📉 Commodities Gold rejected from trendline, back inside wedge. Silver + Oil fading. Natural Gas = bounce or breakdown zone.
🧭 Conclusion Short-term: Caution warranted. Mid-term: High-probability pullback incoming in both crypto & equities. The setup screams “de-risking phase.” Stay tactical. Stay patient.
BTC hit $123K today, with USDT dominance at 4.22%, getting very close to the triple-bottom zone we’ve been tracking (historical bottoms in March 2024 and Jan 2025). A quick spike to or below 4% remains possible before a reversal. On the combined USDT+USDC dominance, the key support zone is 5.27% to 5.00%, with major trendline convergence—this adds confluence to the idea of a final BTC push towards $130–140K before a cycle reversal.
Meanwhile, alts remain stuck near their lows. This divergence between BTC and alts increases the risk of a harsh correction across the board once BTC retraces.
Stock indices are also overextended after the April 7 pivot/bottom. Institutional profit-taking seems imminent.
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🧮 Macro Focus (July 15–18):
• Tuesday 15 – US Core CPI Expected at +0.3% MoM. If confirmed, it keeps annual core inflation around 3.0%.
Fed is likely to hold in July (95% probability). Markets will price in September instead.
• Wednesday 16 – Core PPI Still elevated producer prices would reinforce inflation stickiness → less room for rate cuts.
• Friday 18 – Consumer Sentiment & Inflation Expectations If sentiment is weak while expectations stay elevated, that’s typically risk-off for stocks and crypto.
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🎯 My View: Markets are near macro + technical exhaustion. The confluence of BTC dominance, low alt engagement, and upcoming inflation data points to one last spike before a larger correction. We are prepared.
Markets remain volatile amid escalating geopolitical tensions and cautious central bank signals. BTC and ETH continue to show sharp fluctuations, calling for disciplined positioning and strategic flexibility.
Current exposure: • 30% crypto / 70% cash • 10% BTC short, the rest in selective large-cap crypto longs.
🔜 Key events this week: • US GDP (Q1 third estimate) — Thursday, June 26 • PCE Inflation — Friday, June 27 → Both are critical for market sentiment and the Fed’s next moves.