Arthur Hayes and market analysts suggest Bitcoin’s recent weakness is temporary as institutional support and macro trends continue to shape long-term outlook.
Bitcoin briefly dips below six figures
Bitcoin (BTC) fell below the $100,000 mark for the first time since early May, sliding to $98,500 over the weekend following a U.S. airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The move triggered widespread geopolitical concern and prompted a risk-off sentiment across markets.
However, the dip proved short-lived. As of early Monday trading in Asia, BTC had recovered above $101,000, signaling continued resilience despite ongoing volatility.
Arthur Hayes: “This weakness shall pass”
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes shared a reassuring message on X (formerly Twitter), saying that Bitcoin’s recent pullback is likely temporary and that the asset will “leave no doubt as to its safe haven status” in the long run. Hayes pointed to expectations of increased central bank money printing as a key driver of Bitcoin’s future strength.
Do you hear that? … it’s the sound of the money printers revving up to do their patriotic duty. This weakness shall pass and $BTC will leave no doubt as to its safe haven status. pic.twitter.com/PTfZaAXFp7
— Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) June 22, 2025
Analysts eye key technical levels
According to Markus Thielen, head of research at 10x Research, the critical short-term support levels lie between $98,000 and $102,000. In a note to Cointelegraph, Thielen stated:
“As long as Bitcoin remains above the short-term realized price of $98,000 and the $102,000 trend support, traders can continue to look for tactical rally opportunities.”
However, he warned that a decisive break below this range could trigger risk management strategies in the absence of any strong bullish catalysts.
Bitcoin fails to confirm safe-haven status — for now
Bitcoin has spent the last five weeks in consolidation, repeatedly failing to break above $110,000, with three major attempts being stifled by short-term macroeconomic shocks. These include:
-
U.S. tariff policy fears in May
-
The Israel-Iran conflict escalating in June
Thielen noted these events “underscore that Bitcoin is not currently acting as a risk-off hedge,” and added that sideways trading is likely to persist over the summer months.
Institutional support remains intact
Despite recent weakness, Eugene Cheung, chief commercial officer at OSL, remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s trajectory.
“Its resilience suggests strong institutional support and long-term bullish sentiment,” he said, referring to Bitcoin’s recovery after the brief drop below $100K.
Cheung added that both Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) continue to see structural demand, even as macro volatility exposes crypto’s sensitivity to global events.
Could altcoins outperform next?
Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, believes the current market setup could create room for altcoins to rally.
“While Bitcoin’s volatility has been the focus after the US-Iran escalation, the altcoin market is showing signs of divergent strength,” Ruck said.
He noted that if macro conditions stabilize and crypto-specific catalysts emerge, altcoins could outperform Bitcoin in the coming months.
Market outlook
At the time of writing, most altcoins remain in the red, contributing to a 1.5% decline in total crypto market capitalization, which currently stands at $3.21 trillion, according to CoinGecko.
While Bitcoin’s dip below $100K briefly stirred market concerns, leading voices in the crypto sector suggest that the asset’s long-term strength remains intact — particularly in light of strong institutional demand and broader macroeconomic trends that may continue to favor decentralized digital assets.
