Bitcoin Nears Historic Highs MVRV Bands Signal $98K Resistance Amid Bullish Surge

On-Chain Metrics Highlight Potential Cycle Top Amidst Bitcoin's Ascent

Bitcoin's meteoric rise in late 2025 has captivated investors, with the flagship cryptocurrency surpassing $115,000 this week, marking a 20% gain from early October lows. Yet, as euphoria builds, on-chain metrics like Glassnode’s MVRV Extreme Deviation Pricing Bands are flashing cautionary signals. These bands, derived from the Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio, offer a sophisticated lens into investor profitability and potential cycle tops.

At its core, the MVRV ratio compares Bitcoin’s current market capitalization to its realized value—the average price at which all coins last moved on-chain. A ratio above 1 signals network-wide unrealized profits, while below 1 indicates losses. The Extreme Deviation Pricing Bands supercharge this by plotting statistical thresholds: ±1 and ±2 standard deviations from the mean MVRV, translated into price levels. Historically, breaches of the +2σ band (around MVRV 3.2) have coincided with cycle peaks, triggering profit-taking and corrections, as seen in 2017 and 2021.

Conversely, -2σ dips (MVRV ~0.8) mark capitulation bottoms, ripe for accumulation. The latest Glassnode chart, shared by analyst @ai_charts, illustrates Bitcoin’s trajectory from February’s $60,000 consolidation to October’s push toward $100,000. Key resistance clusters emerge at $98,080 (+2σ), $87,250 (+1σ), and $75,250 (mean reversion), with supports lower at -1σ and -2σ levels. With BTC now trading above $115,000—eclipsing the $98K barrier—the metric suggests overextension. This aligns with MVRV readings nearing 2.4, a threshold where euphoria often sets in, comprising just 20% of historical trading days.

Navigating Resistance and Support Levels

For bulls, a sustained break above $98K could unlock the next deviation band, eyeing $117,000 as a psychological and technical target, per earlier models. However, negative divergences loom: while price innovates highs, MVRV forms lower peaks, hinting at distribution by long-term holders offloading to retail FOMO. Adjusted MVRV, factoring out lost coins, tempers this slightly but underscores liquid supply pressures.

Prudence Amidst Bullish Momentum

Macro tailwinds persist—regulatory clarity post-U.S. elections and ETF inflows totaling $50 billion YTD—but on-chain prudence is key. A pullback to $87K could recharge momentum without derailing the bull cycle. As MVRV momentum oscillators flirt with bearish crosses, savvy traders might hedge or scale in on dips. Bitcoin’s story remains one of resilience, but these bands remind us: extremes breed opportunity, not perpetuity. In this high-stakes arena, blending on-chain wisdom with price action will separate winners from speculators. Stay vigilant—history rhymes, but it rarely repeats verbatim.