3 Bullish Signals For Bitcoin That Many Investors Are Ignoring

Although Bitcoin’s price has pulled back, its Lightning Network — a Layer 2 system that enables fast, inexpensive transactions — continues to grow. Recent figures show that the amount of Bitcoin locked into Lightning channels reached record levels and has stayed high into 2026, signaling increasing capacity and user adoption.

Moreover, the Lightning Network recently processed more than $1 billion in transactions in a single month, surpassing 5 million individual payments. This suggests that the network is being actively used by businesses and exchanges, rather than just for speculative activity. The rising activity on Lightning shows that Bitcoin’s utility as a payment network is gaining traction even when prices slide.

Bitcoin’s hashrate — the total computing power securing the network — has sharply rebounded after earlier declines. It has returned to levels similar to those seen when BTC was trading well above $100,000, indicating that miners are operating with renewed confidence.

This recovery also strengthens the security and stability of the Bitcoin network. Historically, increases in hashrate often coincide with eventual price recoveries, because higher hashrate reflects growing commitment from miners and a more resilient blockchain.

A key indicator of investor demand — the Coinbase Premium Index, which measures the price gap between Bitcoin on U.S. exchange Coinbase and global exchanges — recently turned positive after a period in negative territory. When this index rises above zero, it shows that U.S. buyers are willing to pay higher prices, suggesting improving demand from both professional and institutional investors.

While this shift is modest and cautious, it points to renewed interest among American market participants who had previously been hesitant.

Even though these bullish signs may appear subtle amid broader pessimism, they have the potential to act as catalysts for renewed market strength if positive momentum builds.