Key Points:
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Bitcoin (BTC) has rebounded above $103,000, recovering from last week’s sell-off and regaining momentum as market liquidity improves.
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The SOFR–EFFR spread, a key liquidity gauge, plunged to 0.05 from 0.35, signaling easing financial stress and potentially renewed risk appetite.
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Borrowing from the Federal Reserve’s repo facility has dropped to zero while the dollar index (DXY) rally has stalled — conditions historically supportive of crypto rallies.
After a turbulent start to October, Bitcoin (BTC) appears to be regaining its footing above the psychologically critical $100,000 level, buoyed by improving liquidity conditions in the U.S. financial system. The flagship cryptocurrency climbed 1.6% to $104,280 on Friday, leading a synchronized rebound across major altcoins, including Ether (ETH), XRP, and Solana (SOL).
The bounce comes as traders interpret a rapid easing of money market stress — visible through the sharp contraction of the SOFR–EFFR spread — as a potential green light for renewed risk-taking across digital and traditional assets alike.
Liquidity Stress Eases: Why It Matters for Bitcoin
The SOFR–EFFR spread — the difference between the Secured Overnight Financing Rate and the Effective Federal Funds Rate — is a key measure of liquidity in the U.S. banking system. Normally, the spread remains tightly contained. When it widens, it signals funding stress; when it narrows, it indicates normalization and easier credit conditions.
At the end of last month, the spread surged to 0.35, its highest level since 2019, signaling tightening liquidity across money markets. The ripple effects were immediate — the U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened sharply, while Bitcoin fell below $100,000 for the first time since early summer.
But that stress has now eased dramatically. The spread has fallen back to 0.05, effectively erasing last month’s spike.
“This reversal tells us the fear premium has evaporated,” said Michael Brown, macro strategist at ING. “Liquidity conditions are improving, which historically supports risk assets such as equities — and, increasingly, Bitcoin.”
The Fed Steps Back — And Crypto Steps Up
The Federal Reserve’s Standing Repo Facility (SRF) — a key emergency lending mechanism for banks — reinforces the picture of improving liquidity. After peaking at a record $50 billion earlier this month, SRF borrowing has now dropped to zero, suggesting funding pressures in the banking system have subsided.
This normalization removes a major overhang for risk markets, particularly Bitcoin, which tends to benefit when liquidity flows back into the system.
“Bitcoin thrives when the Fed steps back,” noted Ryan Shea, crypto economist at Trakx. “Declining repo borrowing and a cooling dollar are precisely the conditions under which we’ve historically seen BTC outperform.”
Adding to the bullish backdrop, the DXY’s rally has lost momentum at its August resistance near 100.25, hinting at a near-term top in the greenback. A weakening dollar typically boosts dollar-denominated assets such as Bitcoin and gold, both of which are often viewed as hedges against fiat debasement.
Altcoins Ride Bitcoin’s Coattails
The market’s relief rally wasn’t limited to Bitcoin. Ether (ETH) rose 1.5% to $3,532, while XRP and Solana (SOL) advanced 2.3% and 2.5%, respectively. BNB also climbed back above $610, reflecting improving sentiment across the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
“Crypto markets are breathing again,” said Lydia Cho, head of trading strategy at FalconX. “When liquidity returns and the dollar stalls, it acts as a signal for institutional desks to re-enter risk positions — and Bitcoin typically leads that rotation.”
Trading data from CoinGlass showed 24-hour long liquidations down by more than 70% compared to last week, indicating that forced selling pressure — a key driver of recent declines — is easing.
The $100K Line in the Sand
Despite the renewed optimism, Bitcoin’s $100,000 support zone remains a critical technical level. Analysts warn that a sustained break below it could invite another wave of deleveraging.
However, the combination of improving macro liquidity, receding dollar strength, and rising onchain accumulation metrics suggest that BTC may have already found its interim floor.
“Bitcoin’s resilience at $100K shows strong buyer interest, especially from institutions using the dips to build long-term positions,” said CryptoQuant analyst Ki Young Ju. “We’re entering a phase where macro conditions, rather than crypto-specific catalysts, are dictating price.”
If liquidity continues to stabilize and investor risk appetite improves, analysts project a potential move toward $107,000–$110,000 in the coming week — a range that would mark Bitcoin’s strongest rebound since August.
The Bottom Line
For now, the macro environment — not just market sentiment — appears to be turning in Bitcoin’s favor. With liquidity normalizing, repo borrowing collapsing, and the dollar rally fading, the setup for a near-term crypto rally is falling into place.
As one veteran trader put it: “When the dollar takes a breath, Bitcoin usually exhales — upward.”
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