Bitcoin Holds $88K, While Silver Steals the Spotlight With Record-Breaking Rally

Bitcoin steadied above the $88,000 mark on Monday, supported by renewed institutional accumulation even as the spotlight shifted to precious metals, particularly silver, which surged to a historic high and briefly outperformed global equities and crypto markets in trading activity.

The contrasting moves highlight an unusual moment in global markets: institutional buyers continue adding to Bitcoin on weakness, while retail and institutional traders alike chase momentum in the soaring metals complex.

Bitcoin Stabilizes as Institutions Buy the Dip

Bitcoin traded around $88,600, up roughly 1.2% over the past 24 hours, following last week’s pullback from the $95,000–$96,000 zone. The measured rebound comes amid a wave of corporate and regulatory developments that have reinforced long-term investor confidence.

Japan-based Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet surprised markets with a strong forward outlook for 2025 and 2026, even after reporting a non-cash impairment of up to $700 million tied to year-end Bitcoin pricing. The company emphasized that the write-down had no impact on cash flow or its long-term treasury strategy.

Metaplanet now projects $58 million in revenue next year and expects its Bitcoin income generation business to be the primary driver of future profitability. Its BTC holdings surged to 35,102 BTC, up more than 560% from 2024, a sign of the firm’s aggressive Bitcoin-first strategy.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the SEC and CFTC confirmed that their joint “crypto harmonization” event, postponed earlier this month, will take place on January 29. The session aims to align regulatory oversight and reduce fragmentation, an effort that analysts say could strengthen the U.S. digital asset sector’s global competitiveness.

Institutional Accumulation Accelerates

Michael Saylor’s company Strategy continued its aggressive Bitcoin purchasing spree during the recent downturn, acquiring 2,932 BTC for approximately $264 million. The company executed the buy as BTC briefly dipped below $87,000, lifting its total holdings to an unprecedented 712,647 BTC worth over $54 billion.

Strategy has purchased more than 40,000 BTC in January alone, exceeding its total acquisitions from the previous five months combined. The move underscores the ongoing appetite from deep-pocketed corporate holders, even amid short-term market softness.

Technical Outlook: $88K Support Holds as a Falling Wedge Forms

On the charts, Bitcoin remains trapped in a descending channel, though recent price action suggests buyers are defending the $86,200–$88,000 region. Long lower wicks and reduced downside follow-through point to accumulation, not forced liquidation.

BTC remains below key resistance at $90,500–$91,000, marked by the 50-EMA and 100-EMA on the 4-hour timeframe. A break above that zone could open the way toward $93,300 and $95,500. Losing $86,200 would expose $84,400, though the broader structure remains intact.

Traders are watching a developing falling wedge, a pattern that often precedes upward resolution, especially when accompanied by rising RSI divergence, which has started to appear.

Silver Surges to Fresh Record, Outperforming Bitcoin Since 2017

While Bitcoin consolidates, silver delivered one of the most dramatic moves in global markets, briefly spiking above $117 per ounce before retracing toward $105. Even after the pullback, silver is now up more than 517% since late 2017, surpassing Bitcoin’s roughly 500% gain over the same period.

The rally pushed silver-linked ETFs into unprecedented territory. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) recorded more than $32 billion in trading volume on Monday, nearly 15 times its daily average and the highest of any security worldwide.

By comparison:

• SPY traded about $24 billion
• Nvidia and Tesla each saw ~$16 billion

Analysts attribute the explosive move to momentum-driven behavior amplified by key psychological levels, including silver breaking above $100, and gold touching a record $5,107.

What’s Driving the Metals Boom?

Several forces are converging:

• Dollar weakness: the U.S. dollar index is down more than 15% from its 2022 peak
• AI-driven industrial demand: data centers, chips, and power grids are consuming record amounts of copper and silver
• Retail participation: investors are increasingly chasing the trend following high-profile technical breakouts

Market analysts warn that the surge may continue as momentum traders rotate into metals while traditional risk assets cool.

Crypto Lags as ETFs See Outflows

Bitcoin’s underperformance stands out. U.S. spot BTC ETFs logged roughly $1.7 billion in outflows across five consecutive sessions, contributing to selling pressure. Analysts note that prolonged failure to reclaim the $100,000 region could tilt sentiment more bearish in the short term, even though long-term prospects remain intact.

A Market Split in Two Directions

The simultaneous surge in silver and measured consolidation in Bitcoin illustrates a broader divide in risk sentiment:

• Metals are benefitting from momentum, macro uncertainty and industrial demand.
• Bitcoin is relying on institutional accumulation and regulatory clarity to form its next leg.

If BTC maintains support above $88,000 while institutions continue to absorb dips, analysts believe the groundwork for the next breakout remains in place, even as metals command the current headlines.