Bitcoin and most altcoins have fallen to key support levels, but the current trading setup suggests traders lack the confidence to chase after an oversold bounce.
Bitcoin (BTC) and most major altcoins are struggling to find a bottom, indicating that traders are dumping their positions out of fear. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether the selling is over or could the decline continue?
UTXO Management senior analyst Dylan LeClair highlighted that the network cost basis, the average price at which Bitcoin was last moved by various investors, is $24,000 and historically, the ratio of cost basis to price has bottomed out below 1.0.
If history were to repeat itself, Bitcoin may have to fall some more to make it an attractive buy according to the metric.
Long-term investors don’t seem to be perturbed by the recent correction in Bitcoin. Glassnode data suggests that investors continue to withdraw their coins to cold storage.
“Bitcoin illiquid supply is going up relentlessly,” said Lex Moskovski, chief investment officer of Moskovski Capital.
Bitcoin and most major altcoins are nearing strong support levels. Could investors use their opportunity to buy or will the bears prevail? Let’s study the charts of the top-10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
BTC/USDT
Bitcoin has been trading below the $39,600 to $37,332.70 zone for the past two days. The buyers attempted a relief rally on Jan. 23 but could not even challenge the overhead resistance at $37,332.70. This indicates weak demand at higher levels.
The selling renewed on Jan. 24 and the bears pulled the BTC/USDT pair below the Jan. 22 intraday low at $34,008. The next support on the downside is the critical zone between $30,000 and $28,805.
The oversold level on the relative strength index (RSI) suggests that the selling may be overdone in the short term. This could attract buying from traders near the support zone. If the price rebounds off this zone, the bulls will try to push the pair above $39,600.
A break and close above the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) ($40,835) will be the first indication that the bears may be losing their grip. A trend change may be signaled after the price rises and sustains above the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) ($45,404).
ETH/USDT
Ether (ETH) plummeted and closed below the descending channel on Jan. 21, indicating an increase in selling pressure. The bulls tried to push the price back into the channel on Jan. 23 but failed.
This renewed the selling pressure on Jan. 24 and bears have pulled the price below the Jan. 22 intraday low at $2,300. The ETH/USDT pair could now decline to the psychological level at $2,000 where the buyers may provide support.
If the price rebounds off this level, the bulls will again try to push the price back into the channel. If they succeed, the pair could rise to the breakdown level at $2,652. Conversely, if the price breaks below $2,000, the pair could slide to the next major support at $1,700.
BNB/USDT
Binance Coin (BNB) plummeted below the support line of the descending channel on Jan. 21 and follow-up selling on Jan. 22 pulled the price toward the strong support zone at $330 to $320.
The buyers attempted a relief rally on Jan. 23 but the bears did not allow the price to re-enter into the channel. This indicates that bears are defending the support line of the channel. The selling resumed on Jan. 24 and the bears will try to sink the price below the support zone.
If the price sustains below $320, the BNB/USDT pair could slide to $254.50 and then to the next support at $225.40. The first sign of strength will be a break and close inside the channel. The pair could then attempt a rally to the 20-day EMA ($443).
ADA/USDT
Cardano (ADA) broke below the strong support at $1 on Jan. 22 but the long tail on the candlestick shows that bulls purchased the dip and defended the level successfully.
However, a minor negative is that the bounce off $1 could not even reach the 20-day EMA ($1.24). This suggests that bears are pouncing on minor relief rallies and not waiting for higher levels to sell.
The bears again pulled the price below $1 on Jan. 24. If they sustain the ADA/USDT pair below this level, the selling momentum could pick up. The pair could then decline to $0.80 and later to the support line of the channel.
SOL/USDT
Solana (SOL) nosedived below the $116 support on Jan. 21 and the price reached the support line of the descending channel on Jan. 22. Although bulls defended this level, they could not push the price to the breakdown level at $116. This indicates that buying dries up at higher levels.
The bears resumed their selling on Jan. 24 and are attempting to sink the SOL/USDT pair below the support line of the channel. If they succeed, the selling could pick up momentum and the pair may drop to $66 and later to $58.
The incessant selling of the past few days has pushed the RSI below 22. This indicates that selling may have been overdone in the short term and a relief rally is possible. The first level to watch on the upside is $116 and then the 20-day EMA ($131).
XRP/USDT
Ripple (XRP) broke below the Dec. 4 intraday low at $0.60 on Jan. 22. There was an attempt by the bulls to start a relief rally on Jan. 23 but it did not find any takers at higher levels.
The selling resumed on Jan. 24 and the bears are trying to pull the price to the psychological level at $0.50. This is an important support for the bulls to defend because if it cracks, the XRP/USDT pair could slide to $0.39.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price rebounds off the $0.50 support, the bulls will attempt to push the pair to the 20-day EMA ($0.72). A break and close above this resistance could signal that the selling pressure may be reducing.
LUNA/USDT
Terra’s LUNA token rebounded off the support line of the descending channel on Jan. 22, but the recovery hit a wall at $70.22 on Jan. 23. This suggests that bears have not given up and are actively selling at higher levels.
The moving averages have completed a bearish crossover and the RSI is in the negative territory, indicating that bears have the upper hand. The sellers will now try to pull the price to the support line.
If the price rebounds off this line once again, the possibility of a move back to the downtrend line increases. Alternatively, if bears sink and sustain the price below the channel, the selling could intensify and the pair may plummet to $37.82.
Related: Bitcoin ‘enters value zone’ as BTC price floor metric goes green again
DOGE/USDT
Dogecoin (DOGE) plummeted below the strong support at $0.13 on Jan. 22 but the long tail on the candlestick shows buying at lower levels. The buyers attempted to start a recovery on Jan. 23, but higher levels attracted selling.
The price turned down on Jan. 24 and the bears are attempting to pull and sustain the DOGE/USDT pair below the $0.13 support. If they succeed, the pair could start its slide toward the psychological level at $0.10.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns up from the current level, the bulls will again try to push the pair to the 20-day EMA ($0.15). A break and close above the 50-day SMA ($0.16) could keep the $0.13 to $0.19 range into play.
DOT/USDT
Polkadot (DOT) plummeted below the critical support at $22.66 on Jan. 21 and reached the next support at $16.81 on Jan. 22. Although bulls defended this level, they could not extend the relief rally on Jan. 23. This indicates a lack of demand at higher levels.
The bears resumed their selling on Jan. 24 and are attempting to sustain the DOT/USDT pair below $16.81. If they do that, the pair could extend its decline to the next major support at $10.37.
The sharp selling of the past few days has pushed the RSI into the oversold territory. This suggests that the selling may have been overdone in the short term and a relief rally could be possible.
If the price turns up from the current level and rises above $19.20, the pair could rally to $22.66.
AVAX/USDT
Avalanche (AVAX) plunged and closed below the $75.50 support on Jan. 21, completing a bearish descending triangle pattern. The bulls defended the $51.04 support on Jan. 22 but could not push and sustain the price above the 200-day SMA ($65) on Jan. 23.
This suggests that bears continue to sell on minor rallies. The bears have resumed their selling as of Jan. 24 and will try to pull the AVAX/USDT pair below the strong support zone at $51.04 to $47.66. If they succeed, the pair could plummet to $32.23.
Conversely, if the price rebounds off the support zone, it will indicate accumulation at lower levels. The bulls will then attempt to push the pair to the breakdown level at $75.50, which is an important level to watch out for.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.
Market data is provided by HitBTC exchange.
