As bitcoin extends declines, industry figures say it's time to buy

Core Insights - Bitcoin has experienced a decline for three consecutive days after failing to maintain its price above $70,000, with current trading volumes decreasing and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index indicating "extreme fear" [1] - The overall cryptocurrency market capitalization has decreased to approximately $2.28 trillion, with the CoinDesk 20 index dropping by 3.4% in the last 24 hours; however, this pullback is considered modest compared to historical standards, with no signs of panic selling [2] - Despite lower trading volumes and negative sentiment, inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs have remained steady, helping to mitigate some selling pressure, indicating that the market is currently in a price discovery phase [3] Market Dynamics - The current market is characterized by light spot trading volumes, with leverage influencing short-term price movements; this was evident when Bitcoin rebounded from lows due to crowded perpetual shorts [4] - Major market figures maintain a bullish outlook; for instance, Tom Lee from Fundstrat advised investors to seek entry points rather than attempting to time the market bottom [4] - Michael Saylor from Strategy reiterated his long-term confidence in Bitcoin, predicting it will outperform traditional equities despite recent price declines [5] Economic Indicators - Weak U.S. retail sales have led to increased expectations for interest rate cuts, which has negatively impacted the dollar; upcoming nonfarm payroll and inflation data are anticipated to further influence market risk appetite [5]