BISNIS,JS- Bitcoin and Ethereum extended their recent gains as institutional investors continued to channel fresh capital into the cryptocurrency market. Both major digital assets have posted double-digit weekly increases, highlighting renewed buying interest despite ongoing uncertainty over US monetary policy and global liquidity.
Bitcoin climbed more than 14% over the past week, while Ethereum recorded a similar gain. Market participants continue to monitor institutional fund flows, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), interest-rate expectations and derivatives activity as key drivers of the latest crypto rally.
According to CoinMarketCap data on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 3:40 p.m. Jakarta time, Bitcoin traded at around US$86,206. The cryptocurrency gained 0.39% over the previous 24 hours, while its weekly increase reached 14.21%. Bitcoin also advanced 11.80% over the past month.
Ethereum followed a similar trajectory. Ether traded around US$2,745, gaining 0.27% in 24 hours. Over the past seven days, Ethereum rose 14.87%, while its monthly gain reached 12.08%.
The latest price action has placed institutional investment flows at the center of the crypto market narrative.
Institutional Investors Become a Key Bitcoin and Ethereum Driver
Andy Putra, President Director of PINTU, said institutional activity has played an increasingly important role in determining Bitcoin and Ethereum price movements.
He pointed to positive ETF inflows during recent weeks as one indication that institutional investors continue to allocate capital to crypto assets.
“Bitcoin and Ether movements recently have been influenced considerably by institutional investor activity, as shown by positive ETF inflows over the past several weeks,” Andy told Kontan on Wednesday, September 23.
Institutional participation matters because large investors can move substantial amounts of capital through the market. Their activity can therefore influence liquidity, trading volume and short-term price momentum.
At the same time, the market still faces several competing forces. Investor sentiment toward risk assets, global liquidity conditions and positioning in the derivatives market can all influence cryptocurrency prices.
Retail participation also remains less aggressive than during previous market cycles.
As a result, institutional capital currently plays a more prominent role in shaping market direction.
Bitcoin Price Gains Momentum After Recent Correction
Bitcoin’s latest rally follows a period of significant volatility.
Before the Federal Reserve’s latest interest-rate decision, Bitcoin experienced a correction of roughly 8%. The decline also triggered substantial liquidations among leveraged traders.
Such liquidations can create additional selling pressure because traders who use leverage may need to close positions when prices move sharply against them.
However, the recent correction may also have reduced excessive leverage in the market.
A healthier derivatives market could help Bitcoin build a more stable foundation if demand continues to grow.
Andy noted that institutional flows can also make price movements more sensitive when overall market trading volume remains below the levels seen during previous major rallies.
“When institutional flows become increasingly dominant, price movements become more sensitive because transaction volume has not yet reached the level seen during strong rallies or rebounds in previous cycles,” Andy explained.
This dynamic creates an important distinction between the current market and earlier cryptocurrency bull cycles.
Bitcoin can move sharply when large pools of capital enter or exit the market, even if retail participation remains relatively moderate.
Federal Reserve Policy Remains a Major Risk Factor
Despite the recent rally, cryptocurrency investors still face a significant macroeconomic challenge.
US monetary policy remains one of the most important factors influencing global risk assets.
Historically, higher interest rates have created pressure for assets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. When yields on traditional financial instruments rise, investors may become more selective when allocating capital to higher-risk assets.
The relationship between interest rates, inflation expectations and liquidity therefore remains critical for crypto investors.
If US inflation remains above expectations, markets could anticipate tighter monetary policy for longer. Such expectations could reduce risk appetite and place renewed pressure on Bitcoin and Ethereum.
On the other hand, improving inflation data and more supportive liquidity conditions could strengthen demand for digital assets.
This makes upcoming US economic data particularly important for cryptocurrency traders.
Can Bitcoin Reach US$100,000 by the End of 2026?
The next major technical level for Bitcoin sits around US$93,000.
According to the market scenario outlined by Andy, Bitcoin could potentially move toward US$100,000 if it breaks through the US$93,000 resistance level and maintains its position above that area.
The distinction between briefly touching resistance and holding above it matters for traders.
A sustained move above US$93,000 could indicate stronger buying pressure and encourage additional market participation. However, Bitcoin still needs to overcome potential selling pressure around major psychological price levels.
The US$100,000 threshold also carries significant psychological importance because investors widely recognize it as a major milestone for Bitcoin.
However, price targets remain market scenarios rather than guaranteed outcomes.
Macroeconomic developments, liquidity conditions, ETF flows and investor positioning can change the market’s direction quickly.
Bitcoin Support Levels to Watch
While bulls continue to monitor the upside, investors also need to consider potential downside levels.
The analysis identifies US$82,000 and US$75,000 as important Bitcoin support areas.
A decline toward US$82,000 would represent a significant retreat from current levels. If selling pressure intensified further, the US$75,000 area could become another key zone for market participants.
Support levels can help traders understand where buyers might attempt to defend the market.
However, they do not guarantee that prices will stop falling at a particular level.
Unexpected economic data, changes in Federal Reserve expectations or large institutional transactions could push Bitcoin through established technical zones.
Ethereum Faces US$3,000 Milestone
Ethereum has also benefited from the recent improvement in crypto market sentiment.
Ether traded at approximately US$2,745 on September 23 and recorded a 14.87% weekly gain.
The next major psychological level for Ethereum sits at US$3,000.
According to the market scenario outlined by Andy, Ethereum needs to break through US$3,000 before it could potentially target the US$3,280-US$3,400 range.
Ethereum’s performance will depend on several factors, including broader cryptocurrency sentiment, institutional flows and overall risk appetite.
The asset also remains sensitive to movements in Bitcoin because Bitcoin frequently influences the direction of the broader crypto market.
A sustained Bitcoin rally could therefore provide additional support for Ethereum and other major digital assets.
However, investors should also consider the possibility of renewed volatility if Bitcoin loses momentum.
Ethereum Support Levels Remain Important
On the downside, Ethereum has identified support around US$2,560 and US$2,350.
These levels could become important if selling pressure returns to the market.
A break below the first support area could increase attention toward the second level. Conversely, sustained buying above current prices could strengthen the possibility of another attempt at US$3,000.
Investors should not treat technical support and resistance levels as fixed predictions.
Instead, these levels provide reference points that can help market participants evaluate price movements alongside fundamental and macroeconomic developments.
Why Global Liquidity Matters for Crypto Prices
Beyond ETF flows and Federal Reserve policy, global liquidity remains another important factor for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Cryptocurrency markets often respond quickly to changes in liquidity because digital assets trade continuously and attract investors from multiple markets.
When financial conditions become more supportive, investors may increase exposure to risk assets.
When liquidity tightens, however, investors can reduce exposure to volatile assets and move capital toward instruments that offer comparatively lower risk.
This relationship makes global central-bank policy, bond yields, inflation and currency movements important considerations for crypto investors.
Consequently, Bitcoin’s next major move may depend on more than cryptocurrency-specific developments.
Derivatives Market Adds Another Layer of Volatility
The derivatives market also deserves close attention.
Futures and leveraged positions can amplify cryptocurrency price movements. When traders build large leveraged positions, relatively small changes in spot prices can trigger forced position closures.
The recent liquidation event before the Federal Reserve decision illustrates this risk.
Large-scale liquidations can initially accelerate declines. Once excessive leverage leaves the market, however, price movements can become less vulnerable to cascading liquidations.
That does not eliminate volatility.
Instead, it changes the structure of market risk.
Investors therefore need to monitor open interest, funding rates and liquidation activity alongside spot prices and ETF flows when assessing the crypto market.
Retail Investors Need a Different Strategy
For retail investors, trying to identify the exact market bottom or top can prove difficult.
Andy recommends dollar-cost averaging (DCA) as one approach investors can consider.
Under a DCA strategy, investors purchase an asset regularly using a predetermined amount of money instead of committing all available capital at one time.
For example, an investor could allocate a fixed amount every week or month regardless of short-term price fluctuations.
This approach reduces the need to predict the perfect entry point.
It can also help investors manage the average purchase price over a longer period.
However, DCA does not eliminate investment risk.
Bitcoin and Ethereum remain highly volatile assets, and prices can experience substantial declines even during longer-term uptrends.
Investors Should Match Risk With Their Financial Strategy
Crypto investors also need to understand the characteristics of the assets they purchase.
Bitcoin and Ethereum can generate significant price movements within relatively short periods. Investors who enter the market without considering volatility may face financial pressure when prices decline.
Therefore, investors should consider their investment horizon, risk tolerance, available capital and overall financial strategy before allocating funds to crypto assets.
Investors should also avoid relying exclusively on a single technical indicator or price target.
A more comprehensive approach can combine market data, macroeconomic conditions, institutional flows and personal risk management.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Outlook for the Rest of 2026
The outlook for Bitcoin and Ethereum through the end of 2026 will depend heavily on monetary policy and overall market sentiment.
Bitcoin currently has a potential upside scenario toward US$100,000 if it can break and hold above US$93,000.
Ethereum, meanwhile, faces the US$3,000 level before the market can consider the US$3,280-US$3,400 range outlined in the analysis.
On the downside, Bitcoin traders will monitor US$82,000 and US$75,000, while Ethereum investors will watch US$2,560 and US$2,350.
These levels remain indicative rather than definitive.
Market conditions can change quickly when inflation data, interest-rate expectations or global liquidity shift.
For that reason, investors should treat cryptocurrency price targets as scenarios rather than promises.
Key Takeaways for Crypto Investors
The recent Bitcoin and Ethereum rally shows how strongly institutional flows can influence the cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoin has gained 14.21% in one week, while Ethereum has climbed 14.87%. Both assets have also recorded double-digit monthly gains based on the September 23 market data.
Several factors currently influence the market:
- Positive institutional ETF flows continue to support demand.
- US Federal Reserve policy remains a major source of market risk.
- Inflation expectations could influence future interest-rate decisions.
- Global liquidity can affect demand for risk assets.
- Derivatives positioning can amplify price movements.
- Retail participation remains less aggressive than in previous cycles.
- Bitcoin’s US$93,000 resistance represents an important technical level.
- Ethereum’s US$3,000 level remains a major milestone for traders.
- DCA offers retail investors a systematic approach without requiring precise market timing.
Ultimately, the cryptocurrency market remains highly sensitive to changes in liquidity and investor sentiment.
Bitcoin and Ethereum may continue to attract institutional attention, but investors still need to account for substantial volatility. The market could respond sharply to inflation data, Federal Reserve policy and changes in global liquidity during the remainder of 2026.
Note: The Bitcoin and Ethereum price levels, support areas and targets in this article represent market scenarios and technical indications cited in the source material. They do not guarantee future prices or investment returns.(*)
