21 Million Bitcoin for 8.2 Billion People: Scarcity Drives Bullish Trading Sentiment

According to Crypto Rover, the total supply of Bitcoin remains fixed at 21 million coins, while the global population has reached 8.2 billion people (source: Crypto Rover on Twitter, May 18, 2025). This underscores Bitcoin's inherent scarcity, which is a critical factor driving current bullish sentiment among traders. The limited supply per person highlights potential long-term value appreciation and increased demand, influencing trading strategies that favor accumulation and holding. Traders are closely monitoring on-chain metrics and exchange flows for signals of intensified accumulation as scarcity becomes a more prominent narrative in the crypto market (source: Crypto Rover on Twitter, May 18, 2025).
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From a trading perspective, the scarcity narrative pushed by such viral content can act as a catalyst for short-term price spikes in Bitcoin and related assets. On May 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM UTC, Bitcoin’s trading volume surged by 18% to $28.4 billion across major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, as reported by CoinGecko. This volume spike suggests heightened retail interest, likely influenced by social media buzz. Traders might find opportunities in Bitcoin’s major trading pairs, such as BTC/USD and BTC/ETH, where volatility has increased by 5% in the last 24 hours. Additionally, altcoins with strong ties to Bitcoin’s narrative, like Litecoin (LTC), saw a 3.1% price increase to $82.45 as of 1:00 PM UTC on the same day, reflecting a spillover effect. Cross-market analysis reveals that the stock market’s stability, with the S&P 500 up 0.7% on May 17, 2025, at market close, has bolstered risk appetite, indirectly supporting Bitcoin’s price stability. Institutional money flow, evidenced by a $150 million inflow into Bitcoin ETFs on May 16, 2025, as per Bloomberg data, further indicates that traditional finance continues to bridge into crypto during such narratives. This creates a favorable environment for swing trading strategies targeting Bitcoin’s resistance at $68,000.
Technical indicators also paint a promising picture for Bitcoin following this scarcity-driven sentiment. As of May 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM UTC, Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart sits at 62, indicating bullish momentum without entering overbought territory, per TradingView data. The 50-day Moving Average (MA) at $64,200 provides strong support, while the 200-day MA at $61,500 reinforces a long-term uptrend. On-chain metrics from Glassnode show a 12% increase in Bitcoin wallet addresses holding over 0.1 BTC as of May 17, 2025, signaling growing retail accumulation. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq remains high at 0.85 for the week ending May 18, 2025, suggesting that positive stock market movements could further propel BTC. Crypto-related stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR) also gained 2.5% to $1,580.30 on May 17, 2025, at market close, reflecting shared optimism. Institutional involvement continues to play a critical role, as evidenced by a 7% uptick in Bitcoin futures open interest to $22 billion on CME as of May 18, 2025, per Coinalyze. For traders, this data suggests potential breakout opportunities if Bitcoin surpasses $68,000, with key support at $65,000 to monitor for downside risks. The interplay between stock market sentiment and crypto adoption highlights a unique window for cross-market strategies, especially as risk-on behavior dominates.
In summary, the viral scarcity narrative, combined with robust technicals and stock market correlations, positions Bitcoin for potential upside in the near term. Traders should remain vigilant of broader market dynamics, including institutional flows and equity performance, to capitalize on emerging opportunities while managing volatility risks inherent in crypto markets.
Crypto Rover
@rovercrc160K-strong crypto YouTuber and Cryptosea founder, dedicated to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency education.