A key Bitcoin metric has now reached a level that is usually only observed after an asset's price has peaked, adding to uncertainty about Bitcoin's future price action. The number of Bitcoin (BTC) active addresses, a proxy for the total number of active users on the network, has "fallen sharply" since early 2024, a pattern that has historically formed after Bitcoin prices peaked in the 2017 and 2021 bull cycles. CryptoQuant noted in a research note on September 3 that Bitcoin's price has not followed the typical pattern of declines seen in previous cycles. Instead, its price has been "traveling sideways in a wide range with no clear direction." (Cointelegraph)