Bitcoin $150K Price Calls Are ‘Drying Up,’ Which Is Healthy: Santiment

Key Takeaways

• Calls for Bitcoin to hit $150K–$200K are fading, signaling cooling retail optimism.

• Santiment says sentiment has moved from “extreme bearishness” to “neutral.”

• However, on-chain activity is declining, and the Fear & Greed Index remains in “Extreme Fear.”

Retail Optimism Fades — And That May Be a Good Thing

Bitcoin price predictions calling for explosive upside are becoming less common — and according to Santiment, that’s actually a constructive development.

In a Friday report, Santiment noted:

“Calls for Bitcoin to hit $150k to $200k, and even $50k to $100k, are drying up.”

The firm added that the decline in FOMO-driven narratives and “Lambo” memes reflects cooling retail exuberance, which historically aligns with healthier market structure.

When excessive optimism fades, markets often transition away from speculative blow-off tops and toward more balanced positioning.

From Bullish Euphoria to Neutral Sentiment

High-profile figures such as:

• Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX

• Tom Lee, chair of BitMine

…had publicly projected Bitcoin reaching as high as $250,000 in 2025.

Instead, Bitcoin peaked near $126,100 in October before entering a prolonged downtrend. The asset ultimately ended the year below where it started.

Over the past 30 days, Bitcoin is down roughly 24%, according to CoinMarketCap data.

After falling toward $60,000 on Feb. 6, BTC has since recovered modestly to around $67,800 at the time of publication.

Sentiment Back to ‘Neutral’

Santiment tracks social sentiment by measuring the ratio of bullish to bearish social media commentary.

The firm says Bitcoin sentiment has climbed from “extreme bearishness” back into neutral territory.”

While that may reduce panic-selling risks, Santiment warns that neutral sentiment can create uncertainty:

“Better to avoid trading in these scenarios or at least discount the significance of sentiment metrics in your analysis.”

In other words, without clear fear or greed extremes, sentiment indicators lose predictive edge.

Bitcoin price data

Fear Still Dominates Broader Market Metrics

Despite the shift to neutral social sentiment, broader indicators show investors remain cautious.

The Alternative.me Crypto Fear & Greed Index has stayed in “Extreme Fear” territory since Feb. 9, posting a score of 8, a level that signals significant risk aversion.

This divergence suggests:

• Social commentary is stabilizing

• Broader market psychology remains fragile

On-Chain Activity Flashes Warning Signs

Santiment also flagged weakening on-chain metrics:

• Declining transaction volume

• Fewer active addresses

• Slowing network growth

According to the firm, these trends suggest reduced network utility, with traders largely “sitting on their hands.”

While declining activity is not immediately bearish, sustained dormancy can limit upside momentum, as bull markets typically coincide with expanding user participation.

What It Means for Bitcoin’s Outlook

The drying up of extreme price targets may indicate:

• Less speculative froth

• Reduced retail-driven volatility

• A transition toward consolidation

However, the combination of:

• Weak on-chain growth

• Persistent “Extreme Fear” readings

• Recent price weakness

…suggests Bitcoin may remain range-bound until stronger participation returns.

For now, sentiment appears balanced — but conviction on either side remains limited.

See all our insights: Bitcoin World News

See all our insights: Bitcoin World News