Bitcoin Faces Resistance at $80,000 Despite Robust Institutional Inflows

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently testing a critical resistance level at $80,000, with sellers creating a ceiling that has stalled the asset's upward momentum. After briefly touching $79,000 during Asian trading, the cryptocurrency retreated to trade around $77,843, reflecting a slight 24-hour decline of 0.4%. This price action is mirrored across the broader digital asset market, with Ether, XRP, and Solana all posting modest losses. According to FxPro analyst Alex Kuptsikevich, the $80,000 mark is acting as a near-term ceiling due to a concentration of sell orders, though he views this as a temporary correction consistent with the uptrend established in late March. On-chain data supports a positive long-term outlook. Binance has seen approximately $3.4 billion in stablecoin inflows this month, suggesting investors are positioning themselves for a recovery. Furthermore, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have attracted $2.44 billion in April, the highest monthly inflow since October. Despite institutional strength, structural risks persist in the DeFi sector. April has seen approximately $623 million lost to hacks, including a recent exploit on the SUI-based platform Scallop. Total DeFi losses since inception have now reached roughly $7.72 billion, with private key compromises remaining the primary vulnerability. Externally, the market remains sensitive to geopolitical tensions. WTI crude oil is trading above $90 per barrel and Brent above $100 following the outbreak of the Iran war in February, raising concerns about global inflation and economic stability.