Bitcoin’s so-called “air pocket” is once again drawing attention as the cryptocurrency climbed close to $72,000 on Wednesday, putting a key price threshold back in focus.
The term describes a thin supply zone between $72,000 and $80,000 where relatively few bitcoins were previously traded, according to on-chain data from Glassnode. Because limited activity occurred in this range, there are fewer investors holding positions there who might look to sell as prices rise.
Glassnode’s data shows that only about 1% of bitcoin’s circulating supply sits within this band. With such a small share of coins concentrated in that range, the market could encounter limited resistance if bitcoin moves decisively above $72,000. As a result, a rally toward $80,000 could unfold relatively quickly.
Historically, bitcoin has spent little time trading between $72,000 and $80,000. One example came in November 2024, when prices surged after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, rapidly passing through the range without building significant trading volume.
A similar dynamic appeared earlier this year. At the end of January, bitcoin fell from around $80,000 to $70,000 before sliding further to roughly $60,000 by Feb. 6, a drop that occurred within just a few days.
These supply patterns are highlighted by Glassnode’s Realized Price Distribution (URPD) metric, which shows the price levels where existing coins were last moved on the blockchain. The indicator effectively maps where current holders acquired their bitcoin, revealing clusters of supply — and in this case, a noticeable gap between $72,000 and $80,000
