Bitcoin – Can the Bulls Muster Up a Weekend Rally?

Bitcoin stuck in the ranges through the early part of the day, with the Bitcoin bulls needing to put some life back into the market to support a breakout.

Price action through the week was limited for Bitcoin, with a 0.06% gain on Friday one of only two days in the week where Bitcoin managed to avoid the red.

3-days in the red left Bitcoin down 0.88% for the current week, with Bitcoin now having fallen short of the 23.6% FIB Retracement level of $6,757 since 18th October, as the steam comes out of Bitcoin and the broader market.

After a relatively range bound start to the day on Friday, Bitcoin rallied to a morning high $6,597.4, breaking through the first major resistance level at $6,575.57 before falling back to the earlier part of the day’s ranges, with resistance at $6,600 pinning Bitcoin back on the day.

An early afternoon intraday low $6,511 held well above the day’s first major support level at $6,469.77, leaving Bitcoin at $6,500 levels through the day, a rare occurrence in the world of Bitcoin and reflective of the lack of volatility in the market.

On the news front, there was some chatter on SEC Commissioner Kara Stein’s view on the setting up of cryptocurrency funds, Stein stating that some internal guidelines on key considerations had been circulated, while she held back from confirming whether any regulated exchange traded funds would be approved before the end of the year.

The regulatory landscape continues to be one of the key obstacles for the SEC to give the green light, with the SEC Commissioner highlighting that there remains a need to get clarity on a range of regulatory issues before the markets can expect institutional money to flood in.

For now the cryptomarket and the Bitcoin bulls in particular, remain optimistic that the SEC will at least give the green light to the VanEck Bitcoin ETF, though it remains to be seen whether issues surrounding valuation, liquidity and custody have been sufficiently addressed.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was up 0.33% to $6,552.9, with Bitcoin moving from a start of a day morning low $6,524.9 to a morning high $6,560 before easing back, the moves through the early part of the day leaving the day’s major support and resistance levels untested.

For the day ahead, a hold on to $6,550 levels would support a move through the morning high $6,560 to bring the day’s first major resistance level at $6,582.73 into play, while we will expect Bitcoin to fall short of $6,600 levels for a 3rd consecutive day, with the news wires likely to remain relatively silent on the regulatory front through the weekend.

Failure to hold on to $6,550 levels through the morning could see Bitcoin give up the morning’s gain to pullback through the start of the day morning low $6,524.9 to call on support at $6,496.33 before recovering, more material losses unlikely barring particularly negative news hitting the crypto wires.

Looking at the broader market, with Bitcoin’s dominance holding at around 53.6% and the crypto total market cap hovering at around $210bn, there’s been very little action across the majors with Ethereum continuing to hold onto the number 2 spot, Ripple’s XRP struggling to close the gap in spite of the Ripple team’s successes in the real world.

Bob Mason

43 minutes ago

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis – Which Direction Can It Break Out?

Bitcoin is stuck in consolidation for yet another day as it moves back to the triangle bottom.

Bitcoin continues to move sideways inside a symmetrical triangle and range visible on the short-term time frames. Price recently bounced off the range resistance and also the top of the triangle, setting its sights back on the bottom.

The 100 SMA is below the longer-term 200 SMA to confirm that the path of least resistance is to the downside. In other words, selling pressure is more likely to persist. In that case, a break of the triangle bottom might be seen, sending price to the range support at $6,360 or onto a slide that’s the same size as the consolidation patterns.

Stochastic is also heading lower to confirm the presence of bearish momentum, but the oscillator is already dipping into the oversold region to signal exhaustion. Turning back up could revive bullish pressure and allow support zones to hold. RSI is starting to turn lower after previously cruising mostly sideways, also reflecting a pickup in selling pressure.

Investors seem wary about the launch of ICE Bakkt futures possibly as early as next month, likely recalling how the CME bitcoin futures launched last year are being blamed for the sharp drop that ensued since then. There is also some degree of wariness associated with the Tether controversy.

Looking ahead, traders could continue to hold out for any major catalysts that could spur and sustain a breakout in either direction. By the way developments are going these days, it appears that there could be further upside, particularly on positive regulatory updates and progress in institutional platforms.

Note that Fidelity will be making its institutional platform for bitcoin and ethereum more widely available as early as Q1 next year so anticipation could build up leading to it. After all, it could usher in strong inflows from banks and hedge funds eager to place bets on the industry.

Rachel Lee by Rachel Lee October 26, 2018

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Watch – Is This a Bullish Breakout Yet?

Bitcoin Price Key Highlights

• Bitcoin price has been trending lower inside a descending channel visible on its 1-hour chart.

• Price appears to be attempting an upside break as a few hourly candles are closing above the channel top.

• Technical indicators may be showing some hints of a pickup in bullish momentum.

Bitcoin price is trying to break out of its downtrend but has yet to test nearby resistance levels before sustaining a climb.
 

Technical Indicators Signals

The 100 SMA is below the longer-term 200 SMA to signal that the path of least resistance is to the downside. In other words, the downtrend is still more likely to resume than to reverse. Then again, the gap between the two moving averages is narrowing to signal slowing selling pressure and a potential bullish crossover.

Bitcoin price has yet to break past these dynamic inflection points before confirming a climb, though. And even then it would likely encounter some resistance at the $6,700 mark on its move north.

Stochastic is turning higher without even reaching the oversold area, indicating that buyers are eager to return. RSI is also on the move up and has a lot of ground to cover before reaching the overbought zone. Turning lower from that area could lead to a return in selling pressure, possibly at any of the nearby resistance levels.

Bitcoin price continues to wait for another set of positive catalysts that could allow the earlier surge to resume. For now, it is dealing with risk aversion in financial markets and uncertainty on the SEC decision for bitcoin ETF applications.

Traders might also be taking it easy leading up to the launch of ICE Bakkt bitcoin futures, especially since the ones from CME were blamed for the drop in price late last year. Still, bitcoin has a lot to look forward to in Q1 to Q2 next year on the Fidelity institutional platform.

SARAH JENN | OCTOBER 24, 2018 | 4:52 AM

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Bitcoin (BTC) – Stuck in This Short-Term Range

Bitcoin Price Key Highlights

• Bitcoin price is still treading sideways, right in the middle of its range visible on the 1-hour and 4-hour charts.

• Price has yet to break out of the current consolidation to show whether it would make a test of support or resistance.

• Technical indicators seem to be suggesting that a move towards the bottom of the range is due.

Bitcoin price still seems to be waiting for directional clues as it moves sideways in the middle of a $600-sized range.

Technical Indicators Signals

The 100 SMA is below the longer-term 200 SMA to signal that the path of least resistance is to the downside. In other words, a move lower is more likely to happen than a break higher. The moving averages also appear to be holding as dynamic resistance levels as well.

Stochastic is turning lower after recently hitting overbought levels, also suggesting a return in selling pressure. This might be enough to take bitcoin price to the bottom of its range at $6,200. RSI is already on the move down to confirm that sellers have the upper hand.

If buyers are able to step in, a move to the range top at $6,800 could be seen. A break above this could lead to a rally of the same height as the rectangle while a drop below support could lead to a selloff of the same size as well.

There are a handful of positive developments in the bitcoin industry these days, but it looks like traders are waiting for bigger announcements or might be feeling anxious while the SEC continues to mull its decision on the ETFs.

The launch of Fidelity’s institutional platform is big news as this would usher in big flows from funds, banks, and financial institutions. This would boost volumes, activity, and demand, thereby shoring up prices.

SARAH JENN | OCTOBER 22, 2018 | 4:43 AM

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Bitcoin – No Weekend Rally in Sight as the Bulls Struggle On

Bitcoin finds support early to move back through to $6,600 levels, though holding on could be an issue for the bulls if there’s no break out to $6,700.

Bitcoin gained 0.93% on Saturday, partially reversing Friday’s 1.38% fall, to end the day at $6,585.2 and increase Bitcoins gains for the week to 3.93%.

An early morning intraday low $6,511 saw Bitcoin avoid a pullback to $6,400 levels and the day’s first major support level at $6,474.97, with a broad based market rally supporting a move through the day’s first major resistance level at $6,606.27 to a late morning intraday high $6,611 before easing back to $6,500 levels.

A second break through the first major resistance level in the early afternoon saw Bitcoin struggle and fall back to $6,500 levels, with resistance at $6,600 continuing to see Bitcoin fail to break out to take a run at $6,700 levels and bring the 23.6% FIB Retracement Level of $6,757 into play.

For the Bitcoin bulls, it was another close shave, with Bitcoin managing to hold on to positive territory through the day, with the broader market also making up ground through the day, sentiment shifting from the negativity mid-week that saw Bitcoin in the red for 3 consecutive days.

On the news front, there was no material news to influence the crypto majors through the day, with upward momentum across the cryptomarket seeing Bitcoin’s dominance hover at 53.6% and the crypto total market cap rise to $210.8bn.

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At the time of writing, Bitcoin was up 0.54% to $6,617.2, with moves through the early part of the day seeing Bitcoin bounce from a start of a day morning low $6,581.2 to a morning high $6,660.8, the start of the day rally seeing Bitcoin break through the first major resistance level at $6,627.13 to come up against the second major resistance level at $6,669.07 before easing back.

For the day ahead, a hold on to $6,600 levels through the morning would support another run through the first major resistance level to bring the second major resistance level at $6,669.07 back into play.

Breaking out from any move through the second major resistance level would need the support of the broader market, with the news wires needing to remain crypto friendly through the day.

Failure to move back through the first major resistance level at $6,627.13 could see Bitcoin hit reverse later in the day, a fall through the morning low $6,581.2 to $6,569 bringing the day’s first major support level at $6,527.13 into play.

Having managed to avoid $6,400 levels since last Monday’s rally, Bitcoin will likely continue to find plenty of support at $6,500 to avoid a more material pullback in the event of a broad based market sell-off, barring materially negative news hitting the wires.

Bob Mason

FXEmpire

30 minutes ago

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member