Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Price Consolidates Near $106K: Analysts Call It a ‘Healthy Pause’ Before New Highs

Bitcoin is entering what analysts call a “healthy pause” as it consolidates around $106,000, giving the market time to digest recent gains before potentially pushing to new highs later this year.According to Nick Forster, founder of onchain options protocol Derive, Bitcoin’s current sideways movement isn’t a bearish signal — it’s a stabilizing phase after a massive rally.“The market needs time to digest recent gains and gear up for the next phase,” Forster told Cointelegraph. “This consolidation is a healthy reset, not a breakdown.”Bitcoin Price Action: Cooling After ATHBitcoin hit a new all-time high of $111,970 on May 22, before pulling back slightly to around $105,706 at press time, according to CoinMarketCap. Over the last 30 days, BTC is still up more than 11%.Despite the cooling momentum, some analysts remain bullish long-term. Researcher Sminston With predicts a 100–200% gain, projecting a cycle peak between $220,000 and $330,000. Meanwhile, trader Apsk32 set a more conservative 2025 target of $220,000.Court Ruling, Fed Decision & Q3 Momentum in FocusThe recent U.S. Court of International Trade ruling, which blocked former President Trump’s broad tariff plan, helped ease inflation concerns. However, the Court of Appeals has allowed the tariffs to continue temporarily under emergency powers while the decision is appealed — leaving some macro uncertainty in place.Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve’s June 18 rate decision is expected to be pivotal for Bitcoin’s direction, said Forster.“The Fed’s stance on rates could either fuel the next leg up or extend this consolidation,” he added.Interestingly, Forster also noted that Q3 — traditionally a weak quarter for Bitcoin — could outperform expectations in 2025 due to rising institutional interest and potential regulatory tailwinds.According to CoinGlass, Bitcoin has historically averaged a 6.03% gain in Q3, while Q4 remains its strongest, with average returns of 85.42%.Bitcoin ETF Inflows Not Fully Priced InDespite record inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, BTC’s spot price hasn’t fully reflected this demand. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) alone saw $6.2 billion in May, including $2.75 billion in a single week ending May 23.“Institutional inflows via ETFs don’t always immediately impact spot markets, but they’re building a powerful foundation for the next leg up,” Forster said.While Bitcoin’s consolidation around $106K may seem like a cooldown, analysts see it as a bullish recalibration. With strong ETF inflows, court decisions, and the Fed’s next move on the horizon, the market could be priming for a major breakout in Q3 or Q4.Keep an eye on regulatory updates, institutional flows, and macro shifts — the $220K target for 2025 may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed, according to Cointelegraph.