The medium-term picture for bitcoin remains bullish. Despite a short-term breather, fundamental factors—from U.S. budget risks to renewed ETF inflows—continue to fuel upside potential. The key question now: can the market hold its positions and pave the way for an assault on new highs?

August's rally in the leading cryptocurrency was impressive, but the market has now taken a pause. The focus is on the consolidation zone around $78,000, which will be decisive in determining the next direction of movement. My analysis confirms: the current correction is not a trend reversal, but a natural stage before a potential continuation of the upward move.

What's behind the August rally

The upward move was fueled by a combination of macroeconomic factors. Renewed concerns about the sustainability of U.S. government debt and the subsequent weakening of the dollar created a favorable environment for risk assets. An additional catalyst was the U.S. Treasury's expansion of its long-term bond buyback program, which led to a decline in yields from recent highs and boosted demand for scarce assets, including bitcoin.

A sharp short squeeze accelerated the price move after BTC exited the $62,000–67,000 range. However, it's important to understand: the speed of the climb leaves room for profit-taking. Further dynamics will depend on whether fundamental demand can hold prices once the short-squeeze effect fully plays out.

график биткоина
График биткоина. Источник: TradingView

Key levels and medium-term outlook

The $75,000–77,000 range is now acting as a critical support zone. Holding this level will preserve the current bullish market structure. In turn, a sustained return above $80,000–81,000 will once again open the path toward the low-to-mid $80,000s.

I consider the consolidation period after a 25% monthly gain to be quite natural. Such a pause allows for a more solid base to form for further upward movement, provided that underlying demand persists. Investors should closely watch trading volume and ETF flow dynamics—these will serve as indicators of the market's readiness for the next push.

My expert opinion: the current correction is a healthy sign, not a warning signal. The market is overheated after rapid growth, and without a consolidation phase, any new impulse would be fragile. If support around $75,000 holds, the likelihood of testing $80,000+ in the coming weeks remains high.