Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Bitcoin Faces Key Support Test As Volatility Tightens Near $83,500


(MENAFN- The Rio Times) The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a downward correction this morning as most digital assets trade in negative territory.

Bitcoin is holding around the $83,500 mark, down 2.29% in the last 24 hours, while Ethereum has fallen nearly 4%. This pullback follows a period of relative stability where the overall crypto market had been consolidating around the $2.7 trillion level.
Bitcoin Performance and Analysis
Bitcoin is currently trading at $83,523 on Bitstamp with a modest gain of +0.20% over the last 24 hours despite the broader intraday decline. The leading cryptocurrency has been exhibiting unusual resilience compared to previous market corrections.

As Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan noted yesterday, "Bitcoin is trading at $84,379. One month ago, it was $84,317. That's a 0.07% return over 30 days".

Yesterday, Bitcoin maintained stability around the $85,000 level, with the price standing at $85,188.62 and registering a 24-hour jump of 0.36%. However, overnight trading has seen selling pressure emerge, pushing prices lower this morning.



Technical indicators for Bitcoin show a neutral position with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 52, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is also neutral, with a recent signal line crossover suggesting a lack of strong directional bias.

Bitcoin continues to trade above its 50-day moving average but has entered what analysts describe as "a resistance accumulation zone where the strength of the initial rebound may fade".

The attached 2-hour BTC/USD chart shows Bitcoin fluctuating between $82,500 and $86,200, with repeated rejections near the $84,500–$84,700 resistance zone.

The price is currently testing support at $83,900 and $83,061, with the 200-period moving average near $82,478 acting as a key support level.

Bollinger Bands are narrowing, indicating reduced volatility, and the price is slightly below the midline, reflecting short-term bearish momentum.

If Bitcoin fails to hold above $83,000, a deeper pullback toward $82,500 or lower is possible, while a break above $84,700 could open the way to $86,200 and $88,600.
Ethereum and Major Altcoins
Ethereum is experiencing a more significant decline than Bitcoin, currently trading at $1,572.99, down 3.9%. This continues the pattern seen yesterday when ETH was trading at $1,633.57, marking a 24-hour loss of 0.24%.

Other major altcoins are also showing weakness:

  • XRP: $2.0657 (-3.59%), down from $2.14 yesterday
  • Solana: $125.763 (-3.9%), continuing its retreat from $130.14 the previous day
  • Litecoin: $75.87 (-2.52%), extending losses from yesterday's $78.46
  • Cardano: $0.6069 (-5.26%), one of today's worst performers
  • Dogecoin: $0.1540 (-3.48%), down from $0.1597 yesterday

Solana had shown remarkable strength earlier this week, adding 20% over the previous seven days as it attempted to break back into bull market territory. Today's decline suggests profit-taking after this strong performance.
Notable Market Movements
AVAX and ADA are the day's worst performers among major cryptocurrencies, both down 5.26%. This continues a trend of selective selling pressure in altcoins that was noted by analyst Michaël van de Poppe, who observed an ongoing exodus from altcoin markets with "only the most resilient investors remaining".

TRX (Tron) is the only major cryptocurrency showing positive performance this morning with a modest 0.38% gain, suggesting selective strength in certain projects.

Yesterday's market had an unusual standout with Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) becoming the top gainer with a 24-hour jump of nearly 8%, while Mantra (OM) was the biggest loser for the second consecutive day with a loss of nearly 20%.
ETF Flows and Institutional Activity
Bitcoin ETFs are showing stagnant flows, with both Invesco' and VanEck's Bitcoin ETFs reporting $0 million in daily flows. This lack of institutional movement may be contributing to the current market indecision.

The stagnant ETF flows appear to be part of a longer pattern, as Bitcoin ETFs had been on course for a fourth consecutive week of outflows. This trend suggests continued caution from institutional investors despite Bitcoin's relative price stability.
Technical Market Assessment
The broader crypto market appears to be at a critical technical juncture. After adding 8% over the previous seven days and stabilizing at $2.7 trillion, the market is testing an important support level.

As noted yesterday, "This is where the market tried to find support in the last days of March before collapsing at the start of April". For a confirmed trend reversal, the market needs to consolidate above the 200-day moving average, which is currently near $2.97 trillion.

Bitcoin's technical picture shows it trading within the Bollinger Bands, indicating a period of low volatility that often precedes a significant move.

On-chain metrics reflect stable network engagement, with active Bitcoin addresses reported at 850,000, consistent with the average over the past week.
Expert Opinions and Market Outlook
"The world is unraveling, and bitcoin is trading above $80,000. If that doesn't give you confidence in its staying power, I don't know what will," stated Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan yesterday, highlighting Bitcoin's remarkable resilience in the face of macro challenges.

Bitcoin's performance during this recent market pullback has been notably different from previous corrections. While the U.S. stock market has fallen around 12% from its February peak, Bitcoin has declined by a comparable 12.4%, significantly outperforming its historical behavior during market corrections.

According to market analysts, Bitcoin "has entered a resistance accumulation zone where the strength of the initial rebound may fade," suggesting the potential for continued consolidation before determining its next major move.
Trading Volumes and Market Liquidity
Trading volumes across major cryptocurrencies remain substantial but have declined from previous highs. Bitcoin's 24-hour volume stands at 10.93 billion USD, while Ethereum has recorded 4.31 billion USD in trading. Other notable volume figures include:

  • SOL: 444.66 million USD
  • XRP: 983.52 million USD
  • DOGE: 47.54 million USD
  • AVAX: 10.92 million USD

The global crypto market Fear & Greed Index stood at 31 (Fear) out of 100 yesterday, reflecting cautious sentiment among traders that appears to be influencing today's price action.

As the market navigates this period of uncertainty, traders will be watching key support levels and institutional flows for signals of the next significant directional move.

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