On July 11, 2025, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) broke through $118,000, setting a new record high. According to real-time data from CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin rose 6.56% in the past 24 hours, 7.5% in a week, and 152% year-to-date. Market sentiment was extremely hot, and investors on social media cheered: BTC broke through $118,000, and the Asian session was still soaring, and those who were waiting for a pullback were thrown off the bus again! However, this round of rapid rise caught investors who were waiting for a pullback off guard. The market did not show any obvious pullback at all, and FOMO sentiment spread rapidly.
Institutional capital frenzy: ETFs ignite price rockets
The main short-term driving force behind Bitcoin’s breakthrough of $118,000 is the continued inflow of institutional funds. In particular, spot Bitcoin ETFs have become the “rocket fuel” for this round of gains. According to Bloomberg, as of July 11, global Bitcoin ETFs had a record net inflow this week, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) receiving $448 million in inflows on July 10. A market participant lamented on social media: “Institutional buying is unstoppable. IBIT’s purchases have directly pushed BTC to a historical high, and retail investors simply can’t keep up.”
Institutions have bought large amounts of Bitcoin through ETFs, significantly reducing the circulating supply in exchanges. According to Glassnode data, on July 11, the stock of Bitcoin on major global cryptocurrency exchanges fell to 1.8 million, a three-year low. This imbalance between supply and demand directly drives prices higher. At the same time, the market enthusiasm caused by ETFs has also driven the FOMO (fear of missing out) sentiment of retail investors. Many onlookers no longer wait and rush to enter the market, further boosting the upward momentum. There are constant discussions on social platforms: ETF inflows are like a flood, and BTC cant stop at all! - The resonance between institutions and retail investors is the core reason why BTC broke through $118,000.
Market momentum and trading enthusiasm: Asian trading becomes the engine of gains
Bitcoins rise this time is based on strong market momentum. On the evening of July 10, Bitcoin broke through the key resistance level of $114,000, and further broke through $118,000 during the Asian trading session on July 11. Glassnode data shows that on-chain transaction volume surged 35% during the breakthrough, reaching the highest level of the month, and market participation was unprecedentedly active. An investor analyzed on social media: When BTC broke through $114,000, the volume exploded. This is a signal that bulls are in full control of the market, and it is almost impossible to see a pullback.
The Asian trading hours provided a strong impetus for this round of rise. The night trading volume of crypto trading platforms in Hong Kong and Singapore hit a new high for the month. The Bitcoin trading volume of platforms such as Binance and OKX surged by 45% in the early morning of July 11. In particular, from 2 to 4 a.m. Hong Kong time, the market trading was extremely active, and the leverage trading ratio increased significantly. Investor comments: The buying in the Asian session was like crazy, and BTC directly broke through $118,000! Such strong trading enthusiasm not only consolidated the basis for the rise, but also further compressed the callback space.
Social media has become a barometer of market sentiment, truly reflecting the enthusiasm of investors. After Bitcoin broke through $118,000, tags such as #Bitcoin and #BTCnewhigh quickly became popular searches, and the number of views of related discussions exceeded 60 million. An investor posted: BTC has reached $118,000, and retail investors are still waiting for a pullback to $110,000? The bull market waits for no one, get on board! Such remarks have resonated strongly, prompting more investors to abandon the wait-and-see approach and join the army of chasing high prices.
Why do those who “wait for a pullback” miss out on the opportunity?
The callback window is too short: institutional buying makes bottom-fishing a luxury
In this round of bull market, Bitcoins callback window is extremely short, almost non-existent. Take the end of June as an example, Bitcoin callback from $110,000 to $105,000, and rebounded rapidly in just 48 hours. The breakthrough on July 11 did not fall significantly, and the price directly rose from $116,000 to $118,000, which made investors who were waiting for bargain hunting completely miss it. An investor complained on a social platform: Every time I wait for a callback, the market directly pulls a positive line, and I feel like I am being laughed at by the market.
There are several key reasons behind this: First, the strong intervention of institutional buying has compressed the room for decline. ETFs and large investors continue to absorb funds, so that any slight correction is quickly swallowed up by buying. For example, on July 10, the intraday price fell to $115,000, but it rebounded to $116,500 in less than two hours. Secondly, the liquidity of the global market has increased, the depth of the order book has increased, and the selling pressure of retail investors has been difficult to shake the price. An investor commented: Institutions have already ambushed at $115,000, and retail investors are waiting for $110,000? Dreaming! As a result, those investors who waited for a deep correction of 10%-20% were disappointed and left behind by the market again and again.
Unlike the bull market in 2017 or 2021, the Bitcoin market in 2025 has undergone structural changes. In the past, the market dominated by retail investors was volatile, with corrections of 20%-30% common, but now it is dominated by institutions and the rules of the game have changed. Companies like MicroStrategy continue to buy, holding more than 250,000 BTC as of July 11, while the number of BTC available for circulation on exchanges is only 1.8 million, a record low. In such a tight supply context, the buying drive effect is stronger, while the selling has a weaker impact.
One investor said bluntly: Institutions are holding on to $110,000, but retail investors are still waiting for $100,000? Its impossible for it to fall back! The participation of institutions not only raised the price bottom line, but also shortened the callback time. For example, after BTC broke through $112,000 on July 9, the market originally expected a correction, but institutional funds quickly pushed the price to $118,000, causing those who waited to miss the opportunity again. Under this new structure, waiting for a callback is almost certain to miss out.
Lessons from missing out: Reshaping strategies in a bull market
Give up the obsession with the perfect low point
Bitcoins previous bull markets have repeatedly proved that persistently waiting for the perfect low often means missing the entire market. Instead of trying to buy at the bottom, it is better to adopt a batch-building strategy. For example, buying in batches in the $105,000 range can control risks and participate in the rising market. Compared with blindly waiting, disciplined entry can better enjoy the bull market dividend.
Emotional Management and Trading Discipline
Hot online discussions reveal the common psychological state of those who miss out on opportunities: Every time I wait for a callback, the price goes all the way, and my mentality collapses. Many investors chase high prices due to FOMO, or regret missing out on opportunities, and lack a clear trading plan. The real lesson is: formulate a clear strategy and strictly implement it, such as setting a target price range, or using a fixed-cost investment (DCA) strategy to smooth out the cost of opening a position.
Emotional management is also critical. On July 11, the #Bitcoin hashtag discussion volume soared, FOMO sentiment spread, and many investors were led by market sentiment. Staying calm and paying attention to on-chain data and market fundamentals can make rational decisions in a frenzy. A market observer suggested: Dont be overwhelmed by the noise of social media. Make a good trading plan so that you can really make money in a bull market.
Conclusion
On July 11, 2025, Bitcoin broke through $118,000, showing the great power of the bull market under the combined effect of institutional funds, market momentum, tight supply and FOMO sentiment. However, those investors who waited for a pullback collectively missed out due to the short window, changes in market structure and emotional operations. The hot discussion on social platforms truthfully recorded this reality: BTC will not wait for you, you either get on the bus or get left behind.
The lesson of missing out is obvious: in a bull market, the pursuit of a perfect low is often not worth the effort. Investors should adjust their strategies, accept phased positions, strengthen discipline, and make good use of derivatives tools to truly seize the bull market opportunities.
