Bitcoin’s “air pocket” above $72,000 is back in focus as the cryptocurrency climbed close to that level on Wednesday, raising the prospect of a fast move higher if the price breaks through.
The term refers to a relatively thin supply zone between $72,000 and $80,000 where comparatively few bitcoins previously changed hands, according to on-chain data from Glassnode. Because limited trading activity occurred in that band, fewer holders established positions there, which could reduce selling pressure if prices enter the range.
Glassnode data shows that only about 1% of bitcoin’s circulating supply sits within this zone. With such a small concentration of coins in that area, the market could face limited resistance if bitcoin pushes decisively above $72,000, potentially allowing prices to climb quickly toward $80,000.
Historically, bitcoin has spent very little time trading between $72,000 and $80,000. One example occurred in November 2024, when prices surged following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, rapidly moving through the range without generating much trading volume.
Another instance occurred earlier this year. At the end of January, bitcoin fell from around $80,000 to $70,000 and then dropped further to roughly $60,000 by Feb. 6, with the decline unfolding over just a few days.
These supply patterns are visible through Glassnode’s Realized Price Distribution (URPD) metric, which tracks the price levels where current unspent transaction outputs last moved on the blockchain. The indicator effectively maps where existing bitcoin holders acquired their coins, highlighting clusters of supply — and gaps such as the one between $72,000 and $80,000.
