Bitcoin traded between $77,100 and $81,300 over the past 20 trading sessions as XRP, Solana and Dogecoin outperformed during an altcoin rotation ahead of a busy macro week. The $77,100 level has become key support and one of Bitcoin’s highest-volume trading levels of 2026; it was also the level where Bitcoin broke down in May. A move below it could weaken the medium-term uptrend, while a break above $81,300 could send Bitcoin toward $86,500. Bitfinex said on Sept. 9 that limited trading between $81,300 and $86,500 had created a potential volume vacuum. Selling pressure has been absorbed, with Bitcoin’s aggregate Spent Output Profit Ratio near 1.002, indicating that coins are changing hands broadly around break-even. About 69% to 71% of Bitcoin’s supply is in profit, below the 74.7% threshold that has historically marked a transition from bear to bull markets, leaving the current move classified as a bear-market relief phase until that level is decisively crossed. From Sept. 1 to Sept. 8, all 29 of the largest liquid crypto pairs gained, producing a median return of 10.2% versus Bitcoin’s 1.4%. Dogecoin rose 10.3%, XRP gained 4.9%, Solana advanced 3.4% and Ethereum increased 2.8%. Polkadot led major altcoins with a 43% surge, followed by Zcash at 42%, Kaspa at 28.8%, Near at 23% and Bittensor at 17.4%. Bitcoin dominance fell from 60.4% to 59.2% since the beginning of September, while aggregate open interest in altcoin perpetual futures surpassed Bitcoin open interest for the first time since December 2024. Sideways Bitcoin prices, neutral funding and rising altcoin leverage have historically supported a shift of speculative capital toward riskier assets. However, a similar setup in December 2024 preceded a market decline that caused $1.7 billion in liquidations in one day, with altcoins representing 91% of the wiped-out positions. The current expansion in altcoin breadth therefore reflects stronger risk appetite while also highlighting leverage risks.