Equilima — Crypto

Crypto Morning Brief: Macro, News, Fundamentals, And Market Setup (2026-07-01)

Equilima Research 2026-07-01

Crypto Morning Brief: Macro, News, Fundamentals, And Market Setup (2026-07-01)

Crypto Morning Brief: Macro, News, Fundamentals, And Market Setup (2026-07-01)

Fresh dawn spills across the crypto floor. The screens glow with price ticks and probability cones, while the air is thick with the hum of order books and the distant whine of machines. You lean in. The market is waking up, and so are you. Bitcoin hovers near a stubborn corridor, Ethereum nudges at a mid-month pivot, and the broader ecosystem is parsing both macro gravity and micro catalysts as if deciphering a pulse beat. We study the scene together, tracing lines from macro to micro, from headlines to balance sheets, and finally to the setup that could tilt your next move.

Key Takeaways (Practical, Actionable)

  • Bitcoin (BTC-USD) remains in a nuanced macro-moat: macro rates and liquidity expectations keep Theta of volatility. The price is sensitive to risk sentiment shifts.
    Takeaway: watch for a break above or below the $58k-$60k range; a sustained move here could define the next leg.
  • Ethereum (ETH-USD) is testing macro risk appetite alongside network activity signals. Downside momentum persists in the near term, but NFT/Layer-2 activity could provide a floor if DeFi flows stabilize.
  • Coinbase (COIN) shows a mixed fundamental picture with a forward P/E around 30 and negative revenue growth, yet embedded optionality in on/off-ramp access and institutional inflows. Recommendation: buy on a breakout narrative or if volatility compresses toward your risk tolerance.
  • Strategy Inc (MSTR) stands out on a relative strength signal with a strong_buy rating. An earnings cadence and growth trajectory could be a macro-aligned lever for exposure to the Bitcoin complex via equity routes.

Macro Pulse: The Big Clock Ticks

Today’s macro backdrop anchors every move in crypto. The Fed funds rate sits at 3.63%, a level that tightens financial conditions and keeps risk assets skittish until evidence of sustainable inflation cools. Unemployment at 4.3% remains robust, suggesting the labor market continues to absorb shocks without collapsing, which in turn supports consumer spending and, by extension, risk appetite for speculative assets like BTC and ETH.

The CPI index sits at 333.979 for May 2026, a data point that compounds the tension between inflation dynamics and job creation. In a world where price pressures ease, risk assets flirt with a broader rally; in a world where price signals prove sticky, traders retreat to dollar liquidity and safe havens. The 10-year Treasury yield at 4.38% (as of June 29) is a blunt barometer for expectations about growth, inflation, and the long-run cost of capital. As long as real yields remain elevated, crypto tends to face headwinds from capital reallocation away from higher-risk equities toward yield-bearing or cash equivalents.

Job Openings at 7,594k (May 2026) suggest a still-constructive labor market, reinforcing the view that consumer demand remains a factor. But the pace of wage growth and the trajectory of inflation are the real fulcrums. The crypto complex is sensitive to liquidity shifts—when risk-on momentum fades, BTC often underperforms in the short run, even if longer-term thesis remains intact.

In short: macro remains a tether. The market is not free to roam; it moves within a corridor defined by rates, inflation signals, and growth expectations. The question is where within that corridor crypto can find a favorable rhythm before the next leg higher or lower occurs.

Market News Flow: What Moved The Markets Today

Headlines are a mosaic of long-term structural stories and near-term catalysts. A selection of today’s notable headlines highlights where positioning is forming and where catalysts could emerge:

  • BTC-USD: You’ll hear framing about 10,000 invested in 2026 performance across five key areas as a chart of the day; this anchors expectations around relative strength, drawdowns, and resilience across contexts. The narrative: staying power amid volatility may be tested but could also compound the upside when macro risk recedes.
  • BTC-USD: Elon Musk’s X money app reportedly offers a 6% payout in crypto yields, a feature aimed at reshaping yield competition within crypto-native products. This can attract flows into product ecosystems that bridge traditional and crypto finance, potentially lifting risk sentiment when adoption accelerates.
  • BTC-USD: Some analysts debate whether bitcoin can sustain large gains into July amid what’s described as crypto winter pressures. Expect ongoing dialogue about macro liquidity, ETF dynamics, and institutional risk appetite shaping near-term moves.
  • ETH-USD: Coverage on price action and comparisons to last year’s levels frames a critical risk: the market trades at levels that imply a retest of recent supports or a fresh test of resistance, depending on macro liquidity and chain activity.
  • COIN: Headlines about stablecoin competition, on-ramp/off-ramp ecosystems, and payments rails illustrate the cross-sectional catalysts that can reweight crypto equity exposure. Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase and BlackRock involvement in open currency initiatives point to a growing institutional aperture for stable values and settlement rails.
  • MSTR: Bitcoin-focused equities narratives and strategy-driven commentary highlight a path where equity beta to BTC acts as a lever for appetite in risk assets, particularly when macro signals tilt toward risk-on or risk-off regimes.

Bottom line on news: headlines are signaling a continued push toward crypto-native structures that compete with traditional rails, while macro-liquidity and rate expectations keep the environment choppy. Expect news to drive short-term volatility, especially around on-ramps, regulatory signals, and institutional involvement in stable value ecosystems.

Fundamentals: A Closer Look at the Core Assets

We ground the narrative in the data points that actually move the market in real terms. Here are the current fundamentals for BTC-USD, ETH-USD, COIN, and MSTR parsed against today’s macro and headline backdrop.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) — Price, Context, and Structural Signals

Price: 58,559.33; 1-month change: -4.7%. Market cap: about $1.175 trillion. The forward P/E is not meaningful for BTC, but the signal is clear: price action is coupled with macro risk sentiment and liquidity conditions. BTC remains a macro-risk-on proxy but can diverge on idiosyncratic flows (e.g., ETF activity, large whales, or macro hedging demand).

Key drivers today include: liquidity cycles from the Fed’s stance, the pace of inflation data, and the evolving narrative on institutions moving toward bitcoin as a balance sheet or treasury hedge. Technicals: expect a tight range given the current macro backdrop; a clean break above roughly $60k or below $57k could define the near-term trajectory. News catalysts around ETF products or major custody moves could act as accelerants in either direction.

Ethereum (ETH-USD) — Activity, Valuation, and Utility Signals

Price: 1,569.53; 1-month change: -3.12%. Market cap: roughly $189.6 billion. ETH has visibility into both Layer-2 scaling activity and on-chain settlement dynamics, which can create a floor when activity rebounds or a sharper pullback if DeFi liquidity cools again.

Fundamental angles to watch: gas price normalization and L2 throughput (Optimism, Arbitrum), Ethereum upgrade cadence, and the balance between macro risk and network demand. The price action remains susceptible to broader risk sentiment, but strong network usage could cushion downside while providing upside leverage if adoption accelerates.

Coinbase Global (COIN) — Balance Sheet, Valuation, and Strategic Levers

Price: 146.19; 1-month change: -22.66%. Market cap: about $38.5 billion. Forward P/E around 30.3; revenue growth negative year over year; profit margin positive but modest. The stock's path is tied to crypto market cycles, custody and trading volumes, and the success of new product adoption—especially in institutional spaces and retail onboarding.

Takeaway: COIN’s fundamentals show a company with a fragile near-term revenue growth story but embedded optionality through ecosystem services and potential recovery in crypto liquidity. The market is pricing more risk here, but a stabilization in crypto flows or a favorable regulatory or product release could re-rate the stock on a relative basis.

Strategy Inc (MSTR) — Bitcoin Exposure via Equity, Growth, and Leverage

Price: 86.93; 1-month change: -45.36%. Market cap: about $31.1 billion. Forward P/E around 19.48. Revenue growth around 11.9%, but current profit margin is low or zero, indicating a growth-at-all-costs style that may not fit every risk profile. The consensus view already places it as a strong_buy, reflecting a perceived asymmetric upside in BTC-linked equity exposure and potential strategic catalysts.

Fundamental angle: MSTR offers leveraged exposure to bitcoin via equity, which can amplify both upside and downside relative to BTC. If BTC stabilizes or climbs, MSTR may outperform on a beta to the BTC bounce; if bitcoin weakens, the stock could face steep drawdowns. It’s a high-beta way to play BTC exposure within a diversified equity sleeve.

Market Setup: What It Means For Today

The market is not merely moving with the headlines; it’s parsing a few core forces and reacting in discrete stabs. Here’s the practical setup for today’s session, with a focus on risk controls and potential triggers.

  • With rates at 3.63% and 10-year yields around 4.38%, the liquidity environment remains disciplined but not tight enough to crush risk assets. Watch shifts in expectations around Fed pace and inflation data; any sign of inflation re-acceleration could compress crypto risk appetite further in the near term.
  • BTC and ETH tend to perform better when risk-on sentiment returns; keep an eye on macro catalysts such as employment data and inflation metrics that could tilt the balance in either direction.
  • The cross-currents between stablecoins competition, on-chain rails, and traditional financial rails suggest that headlines around liquidity, custody, and regulation can quickly redefine short-term price action.
  • BTC-USD remains a macro-driven proxy; ETH-USD is more sensitive to network activity and DeFi/Layer-2 updates; COIN’s stock path is tethered to both crypto liquidity and cross-asset investor sentiment; MSTR’s performance is a levered bet on BTC given a strong macro backdrop.

What To Watch Today: Tactical Levels and Triggers

Here are concrete levels and scenarios to monitor for immediate action. These are not investment advice, but practical checkpoints for your analysis flow.

  • Key levels to watch are roughly 57,000 (support) and 60,000 (resistance). A break above 60k on high volume could open a test of the 62-64k zone; a break below 57k could open a test of 54k and below. Monitor macro-liquidity signals and ETF inflows/outflows for directional confirmation.
  • Support around 1,500-1,540; resistance near 1,700-1,750. A sustained move beyond 1,750 with volume could signal a bid for re-risk into DeFi and L2 activity, while failure to hold 1,500 could invite a deeper pullback toward 1,350-1,400.
  • Price action is vulnerable to broad crypto liquidity shifts. Watch for a consolidation window around 140-150 to sustain a bullish narrative; a drop below 130 could imply broader selling pressure in the crypto equity space.
  • If BTC holds above 57k, MSTR could show relative resilience; a BTC drop below 57k could amplify downside risk. Watch earnings cadence and commentary for any incremental clarity on how BTC exposure is being managed.

Headline Context: What The Market Is Pricing Now

In today’s mosaic, the market is pricing a cautious optimism around crypto adoption intertwined with macro discipline. The 6% yield narrative on crypto products hints at the possibility of higher-yield crypto alternatives gaining traction, potentially attracting a broader investor base seeking yield within crypto ecosystems. Yet, the structural headwinds—macro rate expectations, ETF dynamics, and regulatory clarity—keep the risk-reward in a delicate balance.

Asset-specific momentum remains tethered to BTC’s price path and ETH’s on-chain activity. COIN’s equity path will be a function of crypto liquidity and product adoption, while MSTR offers a leveraged macro lever to BTC through a traditional equity proxy. The interplay between macro signals and asset-specific catalysts will continue to shape the near-term direction.

Takeaways: Synthesis for the Day

Today’s market presents a nuanced, multi-asset mosaic. The macro backdrop is solid but not incendiary, suggesting a period of careful, data-driven risk management rather than outsized bets. The crypto news cycle is inching toward more integrated financial rails and stablecoin competition, which could reweight flows if adoption accelerates. Fundamentals reveal a mix of resilience and vulnerability: BTC remains a macro proxy; ETH’s trajectory hinges on network demand and scaling progress; COIN reflects crypto liquidity dynamics; MSTR offers a high-beta path to BTC exposure with potential for outsized moves if BTC strengthens.

In practical terms, stay disciplined about risk controls, prioritize liquidity and headline-driven catalysts, and maintain a framework that can adapt to rapid shifts in macro sentiment and crypto-specific developments. This is a market where patience, coupled with clear level-based actions, tends to reward the disciplined trader over the long run.

Final Note: The Day Ahead

As you step into the session, carry a clear map: respect the macro constraints, watch the key price anchors, and let the news flow as a secondary driver that can accelerate moves. Today’s setup favors a balanced approach—defensive risk checks, selective exposure to BTC and ETH when technicals align, and a measured stance on COIN and MSTR as liquidity and narrative evolves. The market is listening. It’s time for your next move to be precise.

Crypto Morning Brief: Macro, News, Fundamentals, And Market Setup (2026-07-01)

Morning brief — Crypto — 2026-07-01

What Deserves Your Attention Now

  • MSTR is the pressure point: 86.93 with a 1M move of -45.36%.
  • BTC-USD valuation check: forward P/E n/a, profit margin n/a, recommendation n/a.
  • Rates: Fed Funds 3.63; 10Y Treasury 4.38. Duration-sensitive trades need confirmation.
  • Labor: unemployment at 4.3; watch whether risk assets treat it as cooling pressure or demand risk.
  • BTC-USD: Here's how $10,000 invested in 2026 is performing in 5 key areas: Chart of the Day
  • BTC-USD: Elon Musk’s X money app beats crypto yields with new 6% payout

The Morning Scene

The screen does not open with a thesis. It opens with pressure. BTC-USD sits near 58559.33, after a one-month move of -4.7%, and that single line already asks the question every serious reader has to answer: is this strength, exhaustion, or just a crowded trade looking for a reason to keep moving?

You do not need a dramatic forecast to read the morning well. You need a clean sequence. First, see where money is flowing. Then test whether earnings power, balance-sheet quality, valuation, and macro conditions support that flow. If the story is good but the numbers are not, be patient. If the numbers are strong but the tape is breaking, respect the market's warning.

  • BTC-USD: price 58559.33, 1M -4.7%, forward P/E n/a, margin n/a.
  • ETH-USD: price 1569.53, 1M -3.12%, forward P/E n/a, margin n/a.
  • COIN: price 146.19, 1M -22.66%, forward P/E 30.318804, margin 0.12736.
  • MSTR: price 86.93, 1M -45.36%, forward P/E 19.48247, margin n/a.

The Trade Setup To Watch

Here is the part that matters before the market narrative gets too polished: the setup only becomes attractive when price, news, and macro pressure point in the same direction. A headline can make oil look like a buy for one session; a sustained move needs demand, inventory, currency, and energy-equity confirmation.

  • Risk assets: BTC-USD is the temperature check at 58559.33, 1M -4.7%. Buy-the-dip behavior is more credible if yields stop rising and the index holds its 20-day trend; failed bounces argue for cash or smaller size.
  • Rates trade: with Fed Funds near 3.63 and the 10Y near 4.38, long-duration equities need lower yields to keep expanding multiples. If the 10Y pushes higher, favor cash-flow names over long-story names.
  • MSTR trigger: keep it on the active list only if price strength is confirmed by fundamentals or fresh headlines. A big 1M move without better margins, guidance, or demand usually becomes a chase-risk setup.

The Macro Weather

Rates are the weather system above the whole market. They decide how much investors pay for distant growth, how forgiving they are toward leverage, and how quickly they rotate when a company misses. A business can sound healthy and still trade poorly when the macro backdrop raises the cost of waiting.

  • Fed Funds: 3.63 as of 2026-05-01
  • Unemployment: 4.3 as of 2026-05-01
  • CPI: 333.979 as of 2026-05-01
  • 10Y Treasury: 4.38 as of 2026-06-29
  • Job Openings: 7594.0 as of 2026-05-01

What The Headlines Are Really Asking

A headline is rarely the answer. It is usually the first clue. The useful question is whether the headline changes revenue, margins, capital costs, regulation, liquidity, or investor positioning. If it changes none of those, it may still move price for a few hours, but it has not earned a place in the thesis.

  • BTC-USD: Here's how $10,000 invested in 2026 is performing in 5 key areas: Chart of the Day
  • BTC-USD: Elon Musk’s X money app beats crypto yields with new 6% payout
  • BTC-USD: Will bitcoin still see big gains this July in spite of crypto winter?
  • ETH-USD: Bitcoin and ethereum prices today, Tuesday, June 30: Prices sliding, down about 40% from last year
  • ETH-USD: Citi lowers bitcoin and ether price targets as ETF outflows weigh on crypto outlook
  • ETH-USD: Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: Which Is the Better Long-Term Buy?
  • COIN: AMD stock jumps, Circle plummets on stablecoin competition
  • COIN: Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase and BlackRock Unite Behind Open USD (OUSD): The First Real Threat to USDT and USDC?

The Bull Case

The bullish path is simple: BTC-USD holds recent strength, headlines keep improving, and the macro tape stops fighting the move. In that version, a pullback toward support is more interesting than a chase at the highs because the risk/reward is easier to define. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bearish path starts when BTC-USD cannot hold gains after good news. That kind of failure says positioning may already be crowded. If rates rise, the dollar strengthens, or earnings quality weakens, the setup turns from opportunity into trap. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

A useful trigger is visible before the story feels comfortable. Look for a close above the prior week's high, improving volume, and at least one confirming fundamental or macro datapoint. Without confirmation, the cleaner trade is to wait. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The invalidation point should be blunt. If the asset loses support, if the headline is reversed, if guidance weakens, or if the macro driver flips, the setup no longer deserves the same attention. A good thesis is allowed to die quickly. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The most interesting trades usually sit between fear and confirmation. If everybody already agrees, the price may have moved too far. If nobody agrees but the numbers are quietly improving, that is where the watchlist earns its keep. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bullish path is simple: BTC-USD holds recent strength, headlines keep improving, and the macro tape stops fighting the move. In that version, a pullback toward support is more interesting than a chase at the highs because the risk/reward is easier to define. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bearish path starts when BTC-USD cannot hold gains after good news. That kind of failure says positioning may already be crowded. If rates rise, the dollar strengthens, or earnings quality weakens, the setup turns from opportunity into trap. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

A useful trigger is visible before the story feels comfortable. Look for a close above the prior week's high, improving volume, and at least one confirming fundamental or macro datapoint. Without confirmation, the cleaner trade is to wait. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The Invalidation

The invalidation point should be blunt. If the asset loses support, if the headline is reversed, if guidance weakens, or if the macro driver flips, the setup no longer deserves the same attention. A good thesis is allowed to die quickly. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The most interesting trades usually sit between fear and confirmation. If everybody already agrees, the price may have moved too far. If nobody agrees but the numbers are quietly improving, that is where the watchlist earns its keep. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bullish path is simple: BTC-USD holds recent strength, headlines keep improving, and the macro tape stops fighting the move. In that version, a pullback toward support is more interesting than a chase at the highs because the risk/reward is easier to define. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bearish path starts when BTC-USD cannot hold gains after good news. That kind of failure says positioning may already be crowded. If rates rise, the dollar strengthens, or earnings quality weakens, the setup turns from opportunity into trap. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

A useful trigger is visible before the story feels comfortable. Look for a close above the prior week's high, improving volume, and at least one confirming fundamental or macro datapoint. Without confirmation, the cleaner trade is to wait. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The invalidation point should be blunt. If the asset loses support, if the headline is reversed, if guidance weakens, or if the macro driver flips, the setup no longer deserves the same attention. A good thesis is allowed to die quickly. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The most interesting trades usually sit between fear and confirmation. If everybody already agrees, the price may have moved too far. If nobody agrees but the numbers are quietly improving, that is where the watchlist earns its keep. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The bullish path is simple: BTC-USD holds recent strength, headlines keep improving, and the macro tape stops fighting the move. In that version, a pullback toward support is more interesting than a chase at the highs because the risk/reward is easier to define. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

The Bear Case

The bearish path starts when BTC-USD cannot hold gains after good news. That kind of failure says positioning may already be crowded. If rates rise, the dollar strengthens, or earnings quality weakens, the setup turns from opportunity into trap. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.

A useful trigger is visible before the story feels comfortable. Look for a close above the prior week's high, improving volume, and at least one confirming fundamental or macro datapoint. Without confirmation, the cleaner trade is to wait. On 2026-07-01, the Crypto read should feel practical: bullish if price confirms and the news improves; cautious if the move depends on one headline; bearish if macro pressure gets worse while the chart loses support. The strongest setup is not the loudest story. It is the one where the ticker, the numbers, and the macro backdrop all point in the same direction.