#btc# The recent market turmoil, driven by geopolitical tensions and investor fears, is a typical example of how emotional fluctuations and the behavior of major players affect Crypto Assets prices.

In the latest episode of Santiment's "This Week in Crypto," analyst Brian reviewed the dramatic events at the end of June and analyzed the reactions of smart investors, while retail investors fell into panic.
Bitcoin fell below $100,000, and panic sentiment intensified.
A shocking event occurred at the beginning of this week: the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran triggered turmoil in the financial markets. Bitcoin reacted sharply, falling to $98,500 – the lowest point in nearly two months. According to Brian, this rapid decline was driven by sentiment, highlighting how geopolitical uncertainty often leads to impulsive sell-offs of Crypto Assets. He advised traders to wait 24 – 48 hours before reacting to global events, as initial market Fluctuations are often misleading.
Whales are accumulating, small investors are retreating: a familiar pattern is repeating.
When small retail investors panic and sell, whales quietly buy low. Wallets holding 10 to 10,000 BTC increased by 22,200 BTC in just 18 days. Brian explained that these fearful times provide ideal entry points for experienced investors. Santiment's sentiment data reached a monthly low before the rebound, showcasing the classic behavior of "maximum fear equals maximum opportunity." Meanwhile, wallets holding at least 10 BTC reached a 3.5-month high—another obvious sign of increased whale confidence.
Despite facing legal setbacks, sentiment around XRP continues to rise.
In an unexpected twist, the sentiment around XRP has risen even after Judge Torres blocked the $50 million settlement agreement with the SEC. Although this news has sparked new uncertainty regarding the Ripple case, the reaction from the XRP community has been positive, indicating a potential underlying optimism. Brian pointed out that this divergence between price and sentiment may signal an upward dynamic.
Ethereum faces skepticism, but conflicting signals have emerged.
Unlike Bitcoin, ETH has performed weakly during the recovery period. The interest rate for Ethereum futures has turned negative, indicating an influx of short positions. However, Brian warns that this bearish sentiment often signals a short squeeze—a scenario where rising prices force short sellers to buy back, further accelerating profits.
BCH and GameFi are accelerating development.
Bitcoin Cash #xrp# BCH #eth# has attracted attention due to a surge in whale trading volume this year. The combination of increased social dominance and data showing a decrease in the "average age of investment dollars" indicates that inactive tokens are moving—this is often a precursor to price fluctuation. In discussions, topics around GameFi, stablecoins, and Bitcoin against fiat currency dominate in Santiment's Alpha Narratives tool, providing early insights into the direction of trader focus.
Key conclusion: Monitor the peaks of whale activity and sentiment.
This week's events confirmed an important lesson: blockchain data reveals the story behind the charts. When retail investors' panic peaks, the accumulation of whales and the decline in sentiment often indicate that the worst moments are behind us. Investors who pay attention to portfolio, social network sentiment, and interest rates can get ahead in their positioning.
To observe more in-depth, Santiment provides a real-time dashboard to monitor these metrics, helping traders navigate through volatility with confidence and clarity.