Bitcoin is struggling to sustain above $38,000, but the bulls have not given up much ground, which some analysts say increases the chance of a rally to $40,000.
Bitcoin (BTC) is trying to sustain above the overhead resistance of $38,000 for the second consecutive day and start the next leg of the uptrend. The excitement among market observers may have increased after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delayed its decision on the applications of Franklin Templeton and Hashdex exchange-traded funds.
Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart speculated in a X (formerly Twitter) post that the SEC may have taken this step “to line every applicant up for potential approval by the Jan. 10, 2024 deadline.”
While many analysts believe that the ETF listing will be a watershed moment for Bitcoin, Genesis Trading head of derivatives Joshua Lim cautioned in a X post that traditional finance investors have already bought the rumor and may exit the trade close to the ETF announcement when retail tries to get in.
Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360However, the macroeconomic conditions in early 2024 may limit the downside. Pershing Square Capital Management CEO and founder Bill Ackman said in an interview with Bloomberg that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut rates sooner than people expect. He anticipates rate cuts to start in Q1 instead of the market expectations of the middle of the year.
Could Bitcoin and altcoins witness a shallow correction before resuming their uptrend?
Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin again rose above the $37,980 resistance on Nov. 28, but the bulls could not achieve a close above it. This shows that the bears are fiercely defending the level.
BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe repeated retest of a resistance level tends to weaken it. If bulls sustain the price above the 20-day exponential moving average ($36,820), the possibility of a rally to $40,000 improves. This level may act as a significant hurdle.
If bears want to prevent the up-move, they will have to quickly pull the price below the 20-day EMA and the uptrend line. That could start a decline to the solid support at 34,800. A strong bounce off this level may keep the BTC/USDT pair inside the large range between $34,800 and $38,000 for a while longer.
Ether (ETH) again found support at the 20-day EMA ($2,006) on Nov. 27 and 28, indicating that the bulls view the dips as a buying opportunity.
ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe bulls are expected to face stiff resistance in the zone between $2,137 and $2,200, but if buyers do not give up much ground, it will increase the possibility of a rally above $2,200. If that happens, the ETH/USDT pair will complete a large ascending triangle pattern. That could start a new uptrend, with a pattern target of $3,400.
Instead, if the price turns down and breaks below the 20-day EMA, it will signal that the bears are trying to get back in the game. The pair may then slump to the 50-day SMA ($1,853).
The bears tried to yank BNB (BNB) below the $223 support on Nov. 27, but the bulls did not relent. This suggests demand at lower levels.
BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe bulls will have to force the price above the 20-day EMA ($235) to start a meaningful recovery. The BNB/USDT pair could then attempt a rally to $265, where the bears may again offer a stiff resistance.
If the price again turns down from the 20-day EMA, it will suggest that the bears are trying to flip the level into resistance. That will enhance the prospects of a fall below $223. If this level gives way, the pair may collapse to $203.
XRP (XRP) has been stuck between the moving averages for the past few days, indicating indecision among the bulls and the bears.
XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe slightly downsloping 20-day EMA ($0.61) and the RSI near the midpoint do not indicate an advantage either to the bulls or the bears.
If buyers kick the price above the 20-day EMA, the XRP/USDT pair may rise to $0.67. Instead, if the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA and skids below the 50-day SMA ($0.58), it will signal that bears are trying to seize control. The selling could accelerate further if the pair plunges below $0.56.
Solana (SOL) snapped back from the 20-day EMA ($54.71) on Nov. 28, indicating that the sentiment remains positive.
SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe bulls will try to push the price above the immediate resistance at $62.10. If they succeed, the SOL/USDT pair could climb to the local high at $68. The bulls will have to overcome this obstacle to invalidate the head-and-shoulders pattern. The failure of a bearish pattern is a bullish sign. That may start a sharp rally in the pair to $85.
The $51 level remains the key support on the downside. A break and close below this level could start a deeper correction toward the 50-day SMA ($42.25).
Cardano (ADA) slid to the 20-day EMA ($0.38) on Nov. 27, but the bulls held their ground. This suggests that lower levels are being aggressively bought.
ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe higher lows of the past few days improves the prospects of an upside breakout. If the bulls shove the price above $0.40, the ADA/USDT pair could pick up momentum and climb to $0.42 and later to $0.46.
Time is running out for the bears. If they want to make a comeback, they will have to tug the price below the 20-day EMA. That may hit stops of short-term traders and the pair may fall to the solid support at $0.34.
Dogecoin (DOGE) has been repeatedly taking support at the 20-day EMA ($0.08), indicating that lower levels are being purchased.
DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the positive territory indicate that the path of least resistance is to the upside. Buyers will try to propel the price to $0.09 and next to $0.10, where they are likely to encounter selling by the bears.
On the downside, the 20-day EMA remains the key level to watch out for. If this level crumbles, the DOGE/USDT pair may drop to the 50-day SMA ($0.07) and subsequently to the crucial support at $0.06.
Related: SoFi Technologies to cease crypto services by Dec. 19
Toncoin (TON) has been trading above the 20-day EMA ($2.37) for the past few days, but the bulls are struggling to push the price to $2.59. This suggests that demand dries up at higher levels.
TON/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe bears will try to gain the upper hand by yanking the price below the moving averages. If they manage to do that, the TON/USDT pair could decline to the psychological level of $2 and then to $1.89.
On the upside, the first hurdle is at $2.59. If buyers surmount this resistance, the pair could rally to $2.77. Sellers may offer stiff opposition in the zone between $2.77 and $2.90, but if bulls do not allow the price to dip below $2.59, a new uptrend to $4.03 could begin.
Chainlink (LINK) again found support at the 20-day EMA ($14.07) on Nov. 28, indicating that the bulls are vigorously guarding this level.
LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe LINK/USDT pair is likely to face selling at the $15.40 mark as the bears have successfully held this resistance during three previous attempts. If the price turns down from $15.40, it will increase the likelihood of a drop to $12.83.
On the contrary, if bulls drive the price above $15.40, the pair may challenge the local high at $16.60. The up-move could resume, and the pair may reach $18.30 if this level is surpassed.
Avalanche (AVAX) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($19.35) on Nov. 28, indicating that the sentiment remains positive and traders are buying on dips.
AVAX/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe bulls will have to overcome the resistance at $22 to strengthen their position. The AVAX/USDT pair may then rise to $24.69. Sellers are likely to mount a strong defense at this level because if this resistance is taken out, the pair could travel to $28.50 as there is no major resistance in between.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down from $22, it will suggest that bears remain active at higher levels. The advantage will tilt in favor of the bears if they sink the pair below $18.90.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.