Crypto market is rebounding: Bitcoin has climbed back above $81,000, but investors aren’t yet declaring end of “crypto winter”
05.05.2026 20:25
The cryptocurrency market began to rebound last week and early this week following a weak start to the year: Bitcoin climbed back above $80,000 and rose to $81,600 on May 5, Ethereum traded around $2,380, and Solana around $85–86. According to MarketWatch, Bitcoin reached its highest level since late January, and the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index rose for six consecutive days, gaining about 8% over that period.
Last week, Bitcoin mostly traded in the $75,700–$80,000 range, while Ethereum traded around $2,200–$2,380. The market reacted to improved risk appetite, inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, and expectations of greater regulatory clarity in the U.S. According to Saxo, ETF flows were mixed midweek but turned positive again by Friday, supporting the price recovery.
Momentum picked up earlier this week: Bitcoin broke through $80,000 for the first time since late January, and a number of crypto stocks also rose amid discussions of a compromise on the U.S. Clarity Act, which is intended to clarify the regulation of the digital asset and stablecoin markets. Investors.com notes that the bill boosted sentiment in the sector, while demand for Bitcoin ETFs remained one of the drivers of growth.
Nevertheless, the market does not yet appear to be unequivocally bullish. Barron’s points out that, despite Bitcoin’s return above $80,000 and a roughly 17% gain over the month, it remains significantly below the all-time high reached in the fall of 2025. The publication also notes that geopolitical tensions and the risk of rising oil prices continue to weigh on risky assets.
The main short-term trend is the market’s attempt to consolidate above the psychological $80,000 level for Bitcoin. If buyers hold this level, the next target could be the $84,000–$86,000 range, where profit-taking is likely following a rapid recovery. With weak ETF inflows or a deterioration in the broader market environment, Bitcoin could return to the $76,000–$78,000 range.
Ethereum currently appears weaker than Bitcoin. Its growth is supported by the general market recovery, but ETH has fewer strong drivers of its own. For the picture to improve, Ethereum needs to consolidate above $2,400; otherwise, it may continue to move sideways in the $2,200–2,400 range.
Altcoins remain dependent on Bitcoin’s performance. Solana and other major tokens are recovering, but investors remain cautious: following the sharp market decline at the start of the year, capital is first returning to Bitcoin and only then to riskier assets. Therefore, a full-fledged “alt season” is only possible with sustained BTC growth and reduced volatility.
The base case for the near term is moderately positive: the market may continue its recovery if Bitcoin stays above $80,000, ETF inflows persist, and regulatory expectations in the U.S. remain favorable. The negative scenario involves a return to a downtrend amid intensifying geopolitical risks, rising U.S. yields, or disappointment regarding ETF inflows. In this case, the crypto market may once again enter a defensive phase, where Bitcoin will appear more stable than most altcoins.
For Fixygen.ua, the key takeaway is that the current rally looks more like a recovery rally following a sharp decline than the start of a confident new bull cycle. The market needs three confirmations: Bitcoin’s sustained consolidation above $80,000, stable inflows into ETFs, and a reduction in macroeconomic risks. Without these, the rally may remain a technical rebound within a broader volatile phase.