I appreciate the analysis but do people actually really care about this now or everybody just repeats the same old lines about bitcoin and the supposed elite who want you to short-sell so they can fill their bags?

I hope that newbies come up with some fresh ideas and perspectives because these arguments have been hashed and rehashed umpteen times on the forum. I dont think anybody is out there to get your bitcoin from the common people. What the governments would really want is for those miners to just shutdown and people to stop taking bitcoin seriously. The so-called elites could not be less concerned about whatever us plebs hold. Those of them who really want to get in on the game are the ones buying up Michael Saylor's debt bonds.

The market has matured enough in terms of volatility that nothing can be explained by whale actions now. The news cycle definitely affects the market just like everything else. Those who want to hold, hold. Those who want to trade the chops, do it at their own risk. There is no great conspiracy theory behind it all. Just that its an ecosystem that needs to keep running.