Bitcoin (BTC) Bear Market Isn’t Over? Industry Analysts Duke It Out

 

Bitcoin (BTC) Bear Market Isn’t Over? Industry Analysts Duke It Out

 

Bitcoin Could See Another Drop

With Bitcoin (BTC) recently surmounting $5,000 in a move that came straight out of left field, some are sure that bears are done. Jonathan, a forex and cryptocurrency trader, however, recently explained that it would be unfair to assume that the bear market is over. In fact, in a recent Twitter post, he seemed to hint that proclaiming a bear trend over is irresponsible.

He recently explained that this same cycle of optimists calling for an end to the bear after a short-term, emotion-inducing spike always ended in disaster, looking to Bitcoin’s bear market rallies throughout 2018. Past performance isn’t indicative of future action, but considering the reliability of short-term upticks resulting in an eventual move to fresh lows, Johnathan might have a point. Certain technical indicators, too, could also be hinting that a move lower is inbound.

Nunya Bizniz recently wrote on Twitter that the last time Bitcoin’s one-week Guppy, a technical indicator that weighs moving averages to predict price trends, looked as it is now, BTC rallied into the top of its range, before a final capitulation event, which brought the cryptocurrency lower than the seeming bottom. Thus, if history repeats, BTC will move to as high as $5,600 in the coming weeks, before a rapid sell-off that brings the asset under $3,000 for mere days.

Even if there are unlikely to be fresh lows, many analysts are adamant that a return to all-time highs won’t occur until 2020 at the earliest. Dave The Wave, an analyst who favors the MACD indicator, recently posted the chart below on Twitter. While little was divulged, other than “2019 — a year of accumulation and consolidation,” the chart implies that if history repeats itself, Bitcoin could trade relatively flat over much of 2019, eventually rallying into 2020’s block reward reduction.

Magic Poop Cannon, a technical analyst that has been tacitly endorsed by Tom Lee, recently made a similar comment. Per previous reports from this outlet, the trader believes that Bitcoin will trade between $3,200 and the “low 4,000s” for much of the year.

Maybe “Crypto Winter” Is Over

The aforementioned sure seem to be making the case that the cryptocurrency downturn isn’t over yet, but some analysts have begged to differ. As reported by Ethereum World News earlier today, Tom Lee, revealed that he thinks the worse may be over for BTC.

Fundstrat’s in-house crypto bull remarked that Bitcoin’s sudden spike last Monday was based on “true buying,” making it not an act of manipulation as some postulated. This is likely in reference to a Reuters report, which claimed that a single group or entity managed to purchase $100 million worth of Bitcoin across three exchanges, creating a short-term influx of FOMO that pushed BTC higher.
 

Furthering the bullish narrative, Lee looks to the 200-day moving average, which has acted as an overarching level of resistance for BTC since early-2018. The Fundstrat co-founder explains that while many proclaimed cryptocurrencies dead as a result of their -85% performance from top to bottom, BTC closing and holding above the aforementioned level confirms that it is “back in a bull trend.”
 

Technicals, too, could also show that Bitcoin’s downturn has likely bitten the dust. According to analyst Altcoin Pyscho, the Guppy has “flipped green” on the one-day Bitcoin chart on BitMEX.

While there’s a fleeting chance that this shift in the Guppy is a bull trap or “fakeout,” which has purportedly only occurred twice in BTC’s history, Pyscho asserts that the bear trend has likely been reversed. He adds:

This is where you start longing every bullish swing failure pattern (with stops).”

 

By Nick Chong April 7, 2019

Bitcoin (BTC) Bear Market Isn't Over? Industry Analysts Duke It Out

David

Bitcoin Price Prediction – Long-term (BTC) Value Forecast – April 6

Bitcoin Price Prediction - Long-term (BTC) Value Forecast – April 6

Bitcoin Price Prediction – Long-term (BTC) Value Forecast – April 6

  • On the upside, if the bulls break the $5,200 resistance level, the crypto’s price will reach the previous high of $5,500.

  • On the other hand, if the bulls fail to break the $5,200 resistance level, the BTC price will continue its range bound movement between the levels of $4,900 and $5,200.

BTC/USD Long-term Trend: Bullish

Resistance levels: $7,200, $7,400, $7,600

Support levels: $4,900, $4,700, $4,500

The BTC/USD pair is in a bullish trend trading above the $4,900 price level. Since February 24, the BTC price had been trading below the $4,200 price level. In the month of March, the bulls broke the resistance levels of $4,000 and $4,100. On April 2, the BTC price had a price rally which broke the $4,200 resistance level.
 

The crypto’s price is ranging between the levels of $4,900 and $5,200. The BTC price is above the 12-day EMA and the 26-day EMA which indicates that price is likely to rise. On the upside, if the bulls break the $5,200 resistance level, the crypto’s price will reach the previous high of $5,500.

Live Bitcoin (BTC) Price:

1 BTC/USD =$5,013.45 change ~ 1.20% 24 Hour VWAP 24 Hour Change

Coin Market Cap 24 Hour Volume $5.01 K $ 59.4700

$88.54 Billion $5.98 Billion

 

By Azeez M – April 6, 2019

David

Bitcoin trading volume drops to a two-year low in March

Bitcoin trading volume drops to a two-year low in March

Bitcoin trading volume drops to a two-year low in March

Bitcoin volume in the top five digital currency exchanges totalled $2.14 billion last month, the lowest since April 2017 when volume was just $845.7 million

Bitcoin's trading volume dropped to a two-year low in March, digital currency trading tool provider TradeBlock said in a report on Thursday, as investors remained spooked by increased regulatory scrutiny.

Bitcoin volume in the top five digital currency exchanges totalled $2.14 billion last month, the lowest since April 2017 when volume was just $845.7 million.

The original cryptocurrency, bitcoin has dropped more than 70 pper centsince hitting an all-time high of nearly $20,000 in December 2017, a slump that has spread to all digital currencies.

A global regulatory crackdown led by the US Securities and Exchange Commission has created concerns about greater oversight and acceptance of digital currencies as payments, taking the wind out of the once red-hot virtual assets.

Early this week, however, bitcoin recovered somewhat to hit a roughly five-month high of $5,345 on the Bitstamp platform, after a major order by an anonymous buyer set off a frenzy of computer-driven trading, analysts said.

TradeBlock said in its research that as bitcoin trading volumes fell, digital asset exchanges started increasing the number of assets listed. It cited Coinbase, which has historically listed fewer assets than its peers, taking on two new currencies – Ripple and Stellar Lumens – over the last few months.

Coinbase's trading volume for March was $1.6 billion, a two-year low as well, TradeBlock data showed.

TradeBlock's research also showed that as volumes declined, digital currency exchanges began raising trading fees in 2018 and 2019.

"An increase in trading fees is in line with expectations that exchanges are looking to protect revenues, amidst continually dampened trading volumes," TradeBlock said

David

Algo-Influenced Crypto Traders Could’ve Catalyzed Bitcoin (BTC) Surge To $5,000

 

Algo-Influenced Crypto Traders Could've Catalyzed Bitcoin (BTC) Surge To $5,000

Algo-Influenced Crypto Traders Could’ve Catalyzed Bitcoin (BTC) Surge To $5,000

Algorithms Might Have Boosted Bitcoin

Just 72 hours ago, Bitcoin (BTC) suddenly spiked. Within minutes, the asset surmounted $4,200, $4,400, and $4,600, causing a cascade of Twitter activity related to the cryptocurrency market. And since then, BTC has been on the up-and-up, somehow grinding higher to $5,300 on Wednesday night — the highest level the asset has traded at since November, during the sell-off following the contentious Bitcoin Cash hard fork. Save for a few soothsayers, this move caught many traders with their pants down.

But, it purportedly didn’t catch advanced trading bots, which harness complex algorithms, off guard. In fact, Bloomberg claims that the move was catalyzed by such “algos.” The outlet explains that these “computer-run strategies” have historically been notorious for catalyzing market volatility and exaggerated price movements. And with algo-centric crypto traders recently flooding into the market, with there being 17 algo hedge funds launched since September, a series of computers might be what was behind Bitcoin and its brethren’s sudden moonshot.

In fact, The now-infamous $100 million order, spread across platforms like Coinbase, was described by Oliver von Landsberg-Sadie, chief executive officer of London-based crypto firm BCB Group, as likely triggered by automated software. Interestingly, Landsberg-Sadie describes algos as a way to make markets more efficient, potentially hinting that a move higher was in the works for a while now.

Other Crypto Catalysts?

While algorithms are purported to be behind this move, but not the subsequent slow and steady uptrend, others claimed that this move was catalyzed by something else entirely.

As reported by Ethereum World News following Monday’s price action, industry trader The Crypto Dog explained that this move was simply price seeking liquidity. With there being relatively little volume, as seen by the lack of a large green candle below, this might not have been the ‘whale buy order’ that some looked to. And once $4,200 was breached, there was little friction in the order books in the mid-$4,000s, in spite of there being important resistance zones in that region. Thus, a short squeeze, or “cascading liquidations” as The Crypto Dog called it, perpetuated Bitcoin’s brief spike to $5,000+.

Crypto Quantamental expressed a similar sentiment, but with a more bullish tone. He explained that the move was simple, with there being weeks of consistent gains, a clear move to test the $4,200 resistance, a declining long-short ratio, and massive “air” above $4,200 to drive the move.

However, these clear-cut explanations haven’t stopped mainstream media outlets and common Joes and Jills from continuing to throw theories, as they try to make their narratives stick. As we explained earlier today, CNBC’s “Squawk Box” drew attention to an April Fools’ Day joke from a fellow trade publication as a catalyst. This, of course, wasn’t the case at all, as the article in question was released 18 hours prior to the price surge. By the same token, Gizmodo explained following the price bump that Bitcoin wasn’t sustainable, bringing up the whole debate of a monetary asset that uses electricity isn’t viable

 

By Nick Chong April 4, 2019

David

Crypto Strategist Says Bitcoin Futures Pushed BTC Price, As Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin Futures Volumes Soar

Crypto Strategist Says Bitcoin Futures Pushed BTC Price, As Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin Futures Volumes Soar

Crypto Strategist Says Bitcoin Futures Pushed BTC Price, As Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin Futures Volumes Soar

Bitcoin futures had a strong start on Tuesday as the Cboe and CME April contracts increased by over 16% to $4,805.

#Bitcoin futures soaring 16 percent to their highest levels since November pic.twitter.com/WLW4yDumYv

 

— CNBC Futures Now (@CNBCFuturesNow) April 2, 2019

In a note to Barron’s, Gabor Gurbacs, digital asset strategist at VanEck, says he believes Bitcoin’s recent price spike to its highest level since November 2017 was triggered by the futures market.

Says Gurbacs,

“CME Bitcoin futures expired last Friday. A large chunk of positions were rolled (buying) into the new front month BTC futures contract. Over the weekend, heavy spot Bitcoin and over-the-counter buying followed the Bitcoin futures contract expiration pushing BTC price up slowly and gradually. As the price moved up in increments, over $500 million shorts have been liquidated on leveraged crypto derivatives trading platforms around the world.”

Bitcoin surged over 17%, reaching as high as $5,100 on Tuesday, followed by a widespread altcoin rally with double-digit gains. Bitcoin is currently trading at $5,012 at time of writing, according to data compiled by CoinMarketCap.

Trading volumes of altcoin futures including Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin have also experienced higher growth in recent weeks. Crypto Facilities, a subsidiary of San Franciso-based crypto exchange Kraken reports trading volume of $150 million for its crypto-derivative products.

Before Crypto Facilities was acquired by Kraken, its Litecoin futures contracts had an average notional volume of $15 million per month, and its Bitcoin Cash contract volumes were roughly $10 million per month.

Last month those volumes soared, reaching $100 million and $50 million for Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, respectively.

In an interview with CoinDesk, Sui Chung, head of indices and pricing products at Crypto Facilities says,

“We began to onboard Kraken users … [and] that’s basically given us better exposure to the communities around Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, and I think what we’re seeing is those communities have a pretty strong interest in trading derivatives for Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, respectively,”

Based in London, Crypto Facilities is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. According to Chung, customer demand for regulated crypto futures that pay out in the underlying cryptocurrencies are driving the market.

“I think there was always demand from those communities for a strong derivatives contract that is collateralized and paid out in that coin because there are contracts in other markets … where the base asset is Litecoin but they pay out in Bitcoin. Our contracts are paid out in Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.”

In February, after the Kraken acquisition, Crypto Facilitates reported that $1 billion in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash futures were traded on its platform.

 

David

Bitcoin (BTC) Encounters Resistance As Crypto Attempts To Break Higher

Bitcoin (BTC) Encounters Resistance As Crypto Attempts To Break Higher

Bitcoin (BTC) Encounters Resistance As Crypto Attempts To Break Higher

Bitcoin Holds Key Support But Remains Under Resistance

On Monday, Bitcoin (BTC) continued to move higher. As of the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is currently sitting at a valuation of $4,164, up 1.25% in the past 24 hours.

Per Josh Rager, an advisor to Blackwave and TokenBacon, this only cements the fact that Bitcoin is holding above its 200-week moving average (200 WMA), which has been an essential level of resistance for the asset since 2015. In fact, a number of analysts have looked to this line of support as an indicator of Bitcoin’s long-term health. Rager touches on this himself.

He writes that if BTC breaks under the 200 WMA, “new lows and a prolonged bear market” would likely be in the asset’s cards, underscoring the importance of that level. And he may have a point. Considering the fact that Bitcoin has held above this support for years, and at extremely important ‘make or break’ periods, like now, a foray under the level could deal a large blow to long-term believers.

However, taking Bitcoin’s recent price action into account, some are adamant that a continued move higher is more likely. But, Rager makes it clear that are continued rally isn’t likely to come easy. The 200-day moving average (200 DMA) — the spiritual successor of the 200 WMA, if you will — has been a foreboding presence in crypto markets since early-2018, as it has become an overarching level of resistance for Bitcoin. And in spite of BTC’s recent move above the auspicious $4,000 level, the 200 DMA still sets above, at a casual ~$4,500.

If history is any indicator, BTC will have immense trouble breaking past that level, unless there is an ample amount of buying pressure.

Bitcoin’s Move Higher Won’t Be Easy

Recent order book analysis done by Bleeding Crypto has confirmed that Bitcoin perpetuating the ongoing rally won’t exactly be an easy task. He explains that as it stands, there is an $80 million sell wall above BTC at $4,200. This, of course, is a sign that should make bulls wary. It accentuates that market whales aren’t exactly ready for a move higher, as such entites look to continue to depress the cryptocurrency market through foreboding sell orders.

And this sell wall, which recently resulted in a rejection of a $4,200 breakout, has led some traders to lean bearish for the time being. Crypto UB recently explained that with this market continuing to see “long lower wicks” with little follow through, coupled with decreasing buy orders heading into resistance at $4,200, he remains in a “day trade short position.”

In other words, unless Bitcoin sees an uptick in buying pressure shortly, a slight pullback could very well be in the cards.

 

By Nick Chong April 2, 2019

David

Bitcoin market update – BTC/USD has the second positive monthly closing in succession

 

Bitcoin market update – BTC/USD has the second positive monthly closing in succession

  • BTC/USD settled above $4,100 during Asian hours.
  • The coin is positioned for further upside towards $4,200.
  • Bitcoin (BTC) hit the highest level since the end of February during early Monday trading and settled above $4,100. Moreover, the first digital asset logged the second winning month in succession for the first time since the end of 2017.

At the time of writing, BTC/USD is changing hands at $4,110, mostly unchanged both since the beginning of Monday and on a day-on-day basis. Meanwhile, compared to the previous Monday, the coin grew by 2.4%.

“Bitcoin is at its highest level in more than a month this morning, currently testing resistance around $4,200 per coin. Some analysts might note that it seems the long-term bear trend line has now been broken. However, trendlines may be drawn differently by each chartist so this isn’t the purest indicator out there. What’s more pertinent at the moment is the 200-day moving average that draws ever nearer,” Mati Greenspan, senior market analyst at eToro commented.

Bitcoin’s technical picture

BTC/USD continues moving within an upside channel with the upper boundary at $4,161. As the RSI points to the North, which means that BTC/USD has a chance to test the above-said barrier. This level may serve as a short-term resistance and trigger a downside correction towards $4,100, and, possibly, $4,000. This critical support must remain unbroken to allow for another bullish leg towards $4,200.

On the downside, a sustainable move below $4,000 will trigger a strong sell-off with the initial aim at $3,900.

BTC/USD, 4H chart


 

Tanya Abrosimova

FXStreet

Bitcoin market update - BTC/USD has the second positive monthly closing in succession

David