Social Media Optimism Surges, But Retail Interest Still Lagging Behind Institutional Momentum

Bitcoin (BTC) has seen a sharp rise in positive market sentiment, reaching its highest social media bullishness in seven months, according to crypto analytics firm Santiment. The surge in optimism comes as Bitcoin repeatedly tests the $110,000 price level, inching closer to its all-time high of $112,000 set on May 22.

As of June 11, Santiment reported a 2.12-to-1 ratio of positive to negative Bitcoin mentions across major platforms, including X, Reddit, Telegram, 4Chan, BitcoinTalk, and Farcaster — the most bullish reading since November 6, the day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s election victory.

😍 With Bitcoin teasing its $112K all-time high the past couple days, retail has gotten bullish. There are more than double the amount of positive $BTC comments vs. negative across social media, the highest ratio since Trump was elected over 7 months ago. pic.twitter.com/kdb4ZtDwIq

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) June 11, 2025

Social Media Sentiment Reflects Growing Confidence

Santiment’s data shows that on June 11, there were approximately:

• 504.54 positive Bitcoin mentions

• 237.71 negative mentions

This brings the sentiment ratio to 2.12, a level not seen since Bitcoin first surpassed $70,000 in November 2024.

“Retail has gotten bullish,” Santiment wrote in its update, suggesting that sentiment on social platforms is finally aligning with Bitcoin’s price action — though other indicators suggest retail participation remains limited.

Price Flirts With $110K, Still Below Record

Bitcoin has clipped $110,000 multiple times over the past week but has yet to break convincingly through its previous all-time high. According to TradingView, Bitcoin is currently trading at $108,635, about 3% below its peak.

The recent price action follows several weeks of institutional buying, ETF accumulation, and nation-state interest, but a noticeable lack of retail enthusiasm has characterized much of this cycle.

Fear & Greed Index Signals “Greed”

Another key sentiment gauge, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, currently sits at 71 out of 100, placing the market squarely in the “greed” zone. While this indicates a strong risk appetite, it is still well below the 94 out of 100 score recorded on Nov. 22, 2024 — the highest in four years.

That peak coincided with Trump’s election win and a Bitcoin price jump from $67,700 to nearly $100,000 within a month, sparking short-term euphoria across crypto markets.

Retail Participation Still Muted

Despite the rise in online sentiment, Google Trends data reveals that retail interest has yet to return to previous highs. As of June 11:

• The search term “Bitcoin” scored 32 out of 100 compared to its 12-month peak (week of Nov. 10–16, 2024), when Bitcoin surged 18.6% to cross the $90,000 barrier.

• When compared to December 2017, during Bitcoin’s first meteoric rise, the score is only 19 out of 100, indicating that broader public awareness and retail enthusiasm remain well below past cycles.

Analysts say that retail investors may still be cautious after previous boom-and-bust cycles or are waiting for clearer breakouts before re-entering the market.

Institutional and Sovereign Demand Driving Momentum

Institutional investors have been key players in Bitcoin’s latest rally. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen strong inflows, while public companies and even nation-states like Pakistan have announced plans to accumulate Bitcoin reserves.

This institutional wave has changed the dynamics of the market, with demand from ETFs and treasuries absorbing a significant share of daily miner-issued Bitcoin, limiting available supply and pushing prices higher.

“This isn’t a retail-driven rally — it’s structural demand from large players,” one market strategist told Cointelegraph. “Retail sentiment is just now catching up.”

What Comes Next?

With bullish sentiment rising and Bitcoin hovering just below its record, analysts are watching several factors that could influence price action in the coming weeks:

• A confirmed breakout above $112,000 could trigger further momentum and potentially bring retail investors back into the market

• Ongoing macroeconomic factors, including potential Fed rate cuts, could boost risk asset appeal

• Staking-enabled Ethereum ETFs and Bitcoin-related regulatory clarity in the U.S. may enhance crypto market confidence more broadly

However, analysts also caution that overheated sentiment — as seen in past market cycles — can precede sharp corrections, especially if momentum fades or external shocks emerge.

Conclusion

Bitcoin’s bullish sentiment on social media has reached a seven-month high, mirroring price levels not seen since late 2024, and aligning with increasing institutional and sovereign accumulation. Yet, retail participation remains below historic levels, as shown by Google search trends and user behavior across broader online channels.

As Bitcoin hovers around $110,000, investors are now watching closely to see whether the current wave of optimism will push the asset into new price discovery territory — or stall once again at resistance levels. Either way, sentiment momentum is building, and market watchers believe a decisive move may be imminent.