Bitcoin Rally Faces Fresh Test As Demand Metric Hits 2026 Low
Bitcoin’s demand backdrop has weakened sharply, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, who said an on-chain gauge of apparent demand has fallen to its most bearish reading of the year. Darkfost, posting on X under the handle @Darkfost_Coc, shared a CryptoQuant chart showing Bitcoin Apparent Demand on a 30-day sum basis falling deep into negative territory. The analyst said the metric is now approaching minus 147,000 BTC, marking its weakest level since the beginning of 2026. “Bitcoin’s Apparent Demand has just reached its most negative level since the beginning of the year,” Darkfost wrote. “With an estimate now approaching -147,000 BTC, we have to go back to December 2025 to find market sentiment this bearish.” Apparent Demand Turns Deeply Negative The chart tracks Bitcoin’s apparent demand alongside price, showing a transition from strongly positive readings through parts of mid-2025 to prolonged negative demand in late 2025 and again in 2026. The latest drop is notable because i