Why are Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP struggling to extend gains?

Cryptocurrency prices are broadly consolidating on Tuesday, after the uptrend stalled amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East last weekend. Bitcoin (BTC)n hovers above $78,000 support as bulls struggle to extend gains. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) mirror Bitcoin’s neutral-to-bullish outlook, trading above key support levels at $2,400 and $1.35, respectively.

Institutional demand persists as BTC, ETH and XRP consolidate

Appetite for risk assets has remained relatively elevated in recent weeks, aligning with strong market sentiment. Based on the Fear & Greed Index, sentiment holds at 69 on Tuesday, improving slightly from 62 the previous day.

This suggests investor greed against the backdrop of last month’s fear. If sustained, higher demand for digital asset investment products could cushion headwinds and raise the odds of a renewed recovery.

Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) saw roughly $217 million in inflows on Monday, following outflows of $202 million last Friday. Cumulative inflows currently stand at $55 billion, while net assets under management average $100 billion

Ethereum spot ETFs have printed an extended bullish streak, with inflows totaling $88 million on Monday. Cumulative inflows are now at $13 million, up from $11 million on August 17. This shows that demand remains steady as institutional investors increase exposure.

XRP spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) notched a tenth straight day of inflows, adding nearly $6 million on Monday. Cumulative inflows have reached $1.66 billion, with average net assets under management holding steady at $1.45 billion.

Technical Analysis: Bitcoin maintains sideways action

Bitcoin trades at $78,324, extending its advance well above the main Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) and keeping a clear bullish near-term bias, suggesting a well-supported uptrend despite the latest consolidation off recent highs.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 70 hovers just below overbought territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains positive, hinting that bullish momentum is still present but becoming more measured.

On the downside, the first meaningful support zone is the 50-day EMA around $70,046, followed by the 100-day EMA at $69,086, where buyers could defend the broader trend if a deeper pullback unfolds. Further below, the 200-day EMA at $72,351 would act as a more strategic medium-term floor in a larger corrective phase, keeping the overall structure constructive as long as BTC holds above these moving-average layers.

Altcoins technical analysis: Ethereum and XRP face a capped upside

Ethereum maintains a bullish near-term bias as price holds well above the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs, clustered between roughly $2,045 and $2,170, which collectively underpin the advance. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 68 remains in bullish territory, close to the overbought threshold, while the MACD has flattened near the zero line, suggesting upside momentum is positive but losing some intensity.

Immediate support is at the current pivot area around $2,458, with a deeper cushion from the EMA 200 at $2,168, the EMA 50 at $2,117, and the EMA 100 at $2,047, forming a broad structural demand zone on pullbacks. With no nearby technical resistance on the daily chart, any continuation of the uptrend would likely be driven by fresh buying pressure, although the elevated RSI warns the pair could first consolidate or correct toward the EMA cluster before attempting new highs.

XRP holds above the 200-day EMA at $1.35, keeping the broader structure supported despite the recent pullback from the highs. Shorter-term trend metrics remain constructive, with the 100-day EMA at $1.21 and the 50-day EMA at $1.21 well below spot, while the RSI at 61 suggests bullish but not overextended conditions. By contrast, the MACD has slipped marginally negative, hinting at waning upside momentum rather than a clear trend reversal at this stage.

On the downside, initial support is at $1.37, acting as a near-term pivot, ahead of stronger structural demand at the 200-day EMA around $1.35. A deeper correction would expose the next support band formed by the clustered 100-day and 50-day EMAs in the $1.21 zone. With no significant upside technical reference levels immediately overhead on the daily chart, price action around $1.37-$1.35 will be critical. Holding above the 200-day EMA would keep the bullish bias intact, while a daily close below it would signal a broader loss of trend support.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.Know more.)

Crypto ETF FAQs

An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle or an index that tracks the price of an underlying asset. ETFs can not only track a single asset, but a group of assets and sectors. For example, a Bitcoin ETF tracks Bitcoin’s price. ETF is a tool used by investors to gain exposure to a certain asset.

Yes. The first Bitcoin futures ETF in the US was approved by the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. A total of seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have been approved, with more than 20 still waiting for the regulator’s permission. The SEC says that the cryptocurrency industry is new and subject to manipulation, which is why it has been delaying crypto-related futures ETFs for the last few years.

Yes. The SEC approved in January 2024 the listing and trading of several Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds, opening the door to institutional capital and mainstream investors to trade the main crypto currency. The decision was hailed by the industry as a game changer.

The main advantage of crypto ETFs is the possibility of gaining exposure to a cryptocurrency without ownership, reducing the risk and cost of holding the asset. Other pros are a lower learning curve and higher security for investors since ETFs take charge of securing the underlying asset holdings. As for the main drawbacks, the main one is that as an investor you can’t have direct ownership of the asset, or, as they say in crypto, “not your keys, not your coins.” Other disadvantages are higher costs associated with holding crypto since ETFs charge fees for active management. Finally, even though investing in ETFs reduces the risk of holding an asset, price swings in the underlying cryptocurrency are likely to be reflected in the investment vehicle too.

John Isige is a seasoned cryptocurrency journalist and markets analyst committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights tailored to traders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts.

He enjoys deep dives into emerging Web3 tren

Source: www.fxstreet.com