Bitcoin Bears Lose The Lead: Negative Funding Is The Only Thing Stopping A Structural Breakout

Bitcoin is showing renewed strength after reclaiming the $70,000 level, a move that has helped stabilize sentiment following weeks of heightened volatility and uncertain market direction. The recovery comes as several structural indicators begin to shift in favor of a more constructive market environment, suggesting that the recent correction may be transitioning into a new phase.

According to analysis from Axel Adler, multiple regime and structural indicators have moved into positive territory simultaneously for the first time in nearly three months. The report highlights the behavior of the Bitcoin Regime Score, an aggregated metric that incorporates several market variables, including taker imbalance, open interest pressure, funding rates, ETF flows, exchange flows, and price trend. The score is normalized on a scale ranging from -100 to +100 to identify shifts in market regimes.

On February 7, the Regime Score dropped to -47, marking the deepest bearish reading recorded over the past year. For comparison, the market bottom in November 2025 reached -37 and required 33 days to recover to neutral territory, while the August low of -35 reversed in only 11 days.

Bitcoin Regime Score | Source: CryptoQuant

In the current cycle, however, the recovery has occurred in approximately 25 days. As of March 4, the indicator has climbed back to around +0.98, signaling a potential transition away from the recent bearish regime.

Structural Indicators Align As Bitcoin Tests Key Resistance

Adler further notes that price-based structural signals are now aligning with regime indicators, reinforcing the significance of Bitcoin’s recent recovery above $70,000. One of the key metrics highlighted in the report is the Structure Shift Composite, a fast signal designed to capture short-term changes in market structure.

The Structure Shift Composite ranges from -1 to +1 and incorporates several elements of price behavior, including momentum, the sequence of price movements, and the asset’s position relative to its exponential moving averages. At the same time, the Donchian Channel provides a framework for identifying current technical boundaries, placing resistance near $73,698 and support around $62,981.

Bitcoin Price Structure | Source: CryptoQuant

Earlier in the cycle, the relationship between these indicators followed a different pattern. In January, the Structure Shift signal crossed above zero in a single sharp move—from -0.05 to +0.57—on January 2, but only after the Regime Score had already been firmly in bullish territory for several days. That confirmation was followed by a rally that eventually pushed Bitcoin toward the $97,000 region.

The current transition has developed differently. Between March 2 and March 4, both Structure Shift and the Regime Score crossed into positive territory simultaneously. With Structure Shift now near +0.56 and Regime Score at +0.98, this synchronized shift suggests that the recent move toward $73,000 may represent a broader structural transition rather than a temporary short squeeze.

Bitcoin Attempts Recovery Above Long-Term Support

The weekly chart shows Bitcoin trading near $72,800 after staging a rebound from the sharp correction that pushed the asset below the $65,000 region earlier in 2026. Following a prolonged rally that carried BTC above $110,000 in late 2025, the market entered a corrective phase marked by lower highs and increasing volatility.

BTC testing critical price level | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView

The recent decline briefly forced Bitcoin below its 50-week moving average, a level that had previously acted as dynamic support throughout much of the bull cycle. However, the latest weekly candle suggests that buyers are attempting to reclaim this level, which now sits near the $70,000 region. Holding above this area is technically significant, as it often serves as a structural pivot during mid-cycle consolidations.

Below the current price, the 100-week moving average is positioned around the mid-$60,000 zone, while the 200-week moving average continues to trend upward near the high-$50,000 region. These levels form a broader long-term support cluster that could help stabilize the price if volatility returns.

From a structural perspective, Bitcoin remains within a macro uptrend despite the recent correction. The market is now attempting to form a higher low relative to the 2024–2025 advance.

If BTC successfully consolidates above $70,000, the next resistance region could emerge near $85,000, where the previous breakdown accelerated earlier this year.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com