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**Key points:**
 * Bitcoin&#8217;s realized cap is beating records and has almost reached the $900 billion mark.
 * The market is laying the foundations for a &#8220;potentially significant price breakout,&#8221; new analysis says.
 * Profit-taking is not hindering the overall bull market rebound.
Bitcoin (BTC) is setting new all-time highs in network value as BTC price 
action eyes a return to six figures.
Data from onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant confirms new record highs for 
Bitcoin&#8217;s realized cap.
## 
Bitcoin realized cap reflects &#8220;growing conviction&#8221;
Bitcoin is worth more than ever in US dollar terms if its market cap is 
measured by the value at which the extant supply last moved onchain.
Known as realized cap, this figure has seen continued all-time highs since 
mid-April as BTC/USD stages a sustained recovery, and as of May 7 stood at 
$891 billion.
&#8220;Bitcoin has experienced a steady flow of capital inflows in recent weeks, 
reflecting renewed interest from investors,&#8221; CryptoQuant contributor Carmelo 
Aleman summarized in one of its &#8220;Quicktake&#8221; blog posts on May 7.
Aleman argued that the realized cap uptrend reflects a long-term market shift 
across the Bitcoin investor spectrum.
&#8220;This new all-time high in Realized Cap not only reflects a surge in invested 
capital but also a growing conviction in Bitcoin&#8217;s long-term potential as a 
financial asset,&#8221; the post concluded.
&gt; &#8220;With sustained accumulation from both LTHs and STHs, the market appears to 
&gt; be building a solid foundation for a potentially significant price breakout. 
&gt; If this trend continues, we could be witnessing the early stages of a new 
&gt; bull cycle for Bitcoin.&#8221;
_Bitcoin realized cap. Source: CryptoQuant_
## BTC capital influx ongoing since 2023
As Cointelegraph reported, concerns remain over the fate of the current market 
rebound.
_**Related:**__**BTC dominance due &#8216;collapse&#8217; at 71%: 5 things to know in 
Bitcoin this week**_
Misgivings over profit-taking in particular form grounds to suspect that 
higher prices may not last &#8212; both LTH and STH entities have seized the 
opportunity to lock in profits, with these averaging $1 billion daily.
In the latest edition of its regular newsletter, &#8220;The Week Onchain,&#8221; research 
firm Glassnode nonetheless argues that buy and sell-side conditions are 
balanced at around $100,000.
&#8220;A surge in profit taking can be observed in recent weeks, with the recent 
rally drawing in over $1B/day in net capital inflows,&#8221; it wrote.
&gt; &#8220;This points to initial indicators of a return of demand-side strength, 
&gt; allowing sellers to lock in profits, and speaking to buyers willing to pick 
&gt; up coins at the current market price. Generally speaking, this points to a 
&gt; wave of demand which is absorbing the incoming supply.&#8221;
_Bitcoin net realized profit/loss (screenshot). Source: Glassnode_
Glassnode added that the quest for profits has, in fact, extended for over 18 
months.
&#8220;Notably, the market has sustained a profit-driven regime since October 2023, 
with capital inflows consistently exceeding outflows. This steady influx of 
fresh capital serves as an overall constructive signal,&#8221; it stated.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every 
investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their 
own research when making a decision.

New bull cycle? Bitcoin's return to $100K hints at ‘significant price move’

Ethereum’s price has seen a moderate recovery over the past week, tracking 
closely with the broader crypto market’s positive momentum. At the time of 
writing, ETH is trading at $1,820, reflecting a 3.3% increase over the last 
seven days and a 2.5% gain in the past 24 hours. While the asset remains well 
below its all-time highs, this gradual rise suggests a potential shift in 
sentiment among investors. The latest on-chain insights from CryptoQuant point 
to a notable trend developing within Ethereum’s staking ecosystem. Related 
Reading: Ethereum ‘Insanely Undervalued’ As Accumulation Addresses Keep 
Stacking – Is A Rally Imminent? Post-Pectra Staking Activity Marks Sentiment 
Shift According to analyst Kripto Mevsimi, the post-Pectra upgrade period has 
been marked by a reversal in staking flows. After a brief pullback ahead of 
the network update, ETH holders appear to be returning to staking, with fresh 
inflows suggesting renewed interest and confidence in Ethereum’s long-term 
direction. Mevsimi’s analysis shows that between November 16 and February 15, 
before the Pectra upgrade was publicly announced, Ethereum’s total staked 
supply dropped by over 1 million ETH. This retreat likely reflected investor 
uncertainty surrounding the update and broader market conditions. However, 
from mid-February to mid-May, staked ETH has increased by approximately 
627,000 ETH, signaling a return of staking activity following Pectra’s 
implementation. The upgrade itself introduced important validator improvements 
and flexibility enhancements, including EIP-7002, which some analysts believe 
may pave the way for institutional adoption or potential ETF alignment. The 
renewed staking trend, while not yet dramatic in scale, appears to indicate an 
early phase of repositioning within the Ethereum ecosystem. Mevsimi suggests 
that this could mark the beginning of institutional preparation or a broader 
reassessment of Ethereum’s staking value proposition. With regulatory clarity 
still developing and macroeconomic uncertainty in play, the future of this 
trend remains fluid. However, the behavioral pivot post-upgrade may reflect 
strengthening structural support for Ethereum as a network. Ethereum Fee 
Revenue Declines Despite Price Recovery While staking metrics suggest a shift 
toward renewed engagement, Ethereum’s on-chain activity presents a more 
cautious picture. In a separate update, CryptoQuant analyst Carmelo Alemán 
highlighted a steep drop in the network’s fee revenue. Data from the Ethereum: 
fees (Total) metric reveals that daily fees have plummeted from 5,646 ETH on 
November 13, 2024, to just 292 ETH by May 6, 2025—a 94.82% decline. This 
dramatic reduction in fee generation impacts validators directly, as it lowers 
rewards tied to securing the network. Alemán notes that the decline may also 
be linked to reduced demand for block space, fewer transactions, or increasing 
user migration to Layer 2 platforms such as Arbitrum, Optimism, or zkSync, 
where fees are typically much lower. Related Reading: Ethereum Spot Volume 
Declines While Long-Term Holders Continue Accumulating The contrast between 
rising staking activity and declining fee revenue highlights a complex 
environment in which investors appear confident in Ethereum’s long-term 
potential despite a near-term slowdown in on-chain engagement. Featured image 
created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Ethereum Staking Surges Post-Pectra—Is a Bullish Breakout Brewing?

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Despite the successful implementation of the Pectra upgrade, the market 
response has been notably muted as ETH price recorded only a modest 5% uptick. 
What&#8217;s holding back ETH price? Ethereum (ETH) successfully implemented the 
Pectra upgrade on May 7, yet…