Peter Schiff Flags Bitcoin at $90,000 as a Fresh Selling Signal

Key Insights:

• Peter Schiff says Bitcoin price near $90,000 offers investors a selling window.
• Bitcoin leverage rises as traders add risk despite weak market activity.
• Newly created whale wallets bought and withdrew Bitcoin from Binance.

Bitcoin price traded above $90,000 as the week opened, sparking new optimism and debate across the market. Peter Schiff urged investors to sell, while leverage increased and whales moved coins.

The reactions came from traders, analysts, and on-chain data, showing uncertainty about the next Bitcoin price move.

Peter Schiff Renews Warning as Bitcoin Price Trades Near $90,000

Bitcoin returned to the $90,000 range after weeks of weaker price action. It is worth noting that the move drew a response from economist Peter Schiff. He said the BTC price level now offers another chance for investors to sell.

Schiff shared this view as Bitcoin hovered near $89,444, posting a daily gain of 1.92%. He has long criticized Bitcoin and repeated his stance during the latest rise.

He argued that sharp rallies can give holders time to reduce exposure. His comments focused on risk rather than short-term BTC price gains. Schiff did not suggest new buying at current levels.

The timing of his statement mattered. Market activity had dropped by about 40% for the better part of December.

Fewer traders were active even as the Bitcoin price held steady. This showed that the rally lacked strong participation. Some investors saw this as a warning sign.

Bitcoin remained stable despite mixed views. Sellers did not fully take control, but buyers did not push prices higher.

Schiff’s remarks added to a cautious tone among certain observers. Others dismissed his view and focused on leverage and on-chain data instead.

Bitcoin Leverage Grows Even as Fear Remains Elevated

A recent post shows that Bitcoin leverage expanded in December despite weak sentiment. As detailed, traders added about $2.4 billion in leverage across Bitcoin and Ethereum markets.

Combined futures open interest rose from $35 billion to $38 billion. This growth came while the Fear Index stayed low at 27.

Bitcoin open interest increased from $22 billion to $23 billion, and Ethereum futures climbed from $13 billion to $15 billion. These changes happened while Bitcoin price traded near $88,000 for the better part of the month.

In the last seven days alone, about $450 million in new leverage entered the market. Weekly data showed Bitcoin positions growing by 2%. This confirms that traders are opening new positions instead of closing them.

Major exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and OKX reported steady or higher open interest. Gate.io recorded the strongest growth during the period. Funding rates remained positive, indicating that traders paid to hold long positions. This suggested confidence in a BTC price recovery.

At the same time, market activity continued to fall. Market participants noted that major price bottoms usually form after leverage clears. In this case, leverage continued to rise.

Another key detail came from large holders. About 20,000 Bitcoin left exchanges this month. This showed that some large players gained new exposure. Basically, the contrast between professional exits and retail leverage stood out.

Whale Bitcoin Withdrawals Spark Debate Over Market Meaning

On-chain data added another layer to the discussion. Two newly created wallets withdrew 1,600 Bitcoin from Binance within a three-hour period. The coins were worth about $143.65 million at the time. That move is now raising questions about whale intent.

Some traders viewed the withdrawals as a bullish sign. Moving Bitcoin off exchanges can reduce the available supply.

Others urged caution and said two wallets do not define a trend. They pointed to total exchange outflows and long-term holding data as better signals. Market participants also warned about funding conditions. Rising leverage combined with positive funding could increase downside risk.

If price fails to move higher, long positions may unwind quickly. In that case, whale-held Bitcoin could re-enter the market. Bitcoin price continued to trade within a narrow range despite the headlines. The price showed a balance between buyers and sellers.

Schiff’s warning, rising leverage, and selective whale activity reflected a divided market. The direction remains unclear as December trading wraps up.