Short-term Bitcoin buyers see 13% profit as market mirrors past cycles

Bitcoin has climbed back above $73.3K, and the people who bought most recently are finally in the green. On-chain data shows short-term buyers now hold an average profit of about 13%. A modest cushion, not a jackpot The key figure is cost basis, the average price a group of investors paid for their coins. When the market trades above that level, the group is in profit and has little reason to dump. When the market falls below it, underwater holders start looking for a way out. Analysis through 2026 has found that short-term holder cost-basis levels cluster between roughly $63K and $73K. One reference point sits near the top of that range: the 3-6 month cohort has an average cost basis around $73.19K. With Bitcoin now above $73.3K, the price is sitting just over that line. The broader short-term group shows the 13% average gain. The 3-6 month buyers are barely breaking even. The same 13%, in a very different market In mid-to-late July 2025, CryptoQuant data showed short-term holders in the 1-3 month bracket carrying almost the same average unrealized profit, about 13%. Bitcoin was trading above $118K back then, and that cohort’s realized purchase price sat around $104K. CryptoQuant ...