- Bitcoin price navigates its way through a choppy market.
- Institutional investors return to the crypto market as retail traders step back.
- Whales erect walls preventing Bitcoin price from sustaining an uptrend.
Bitcoin price is back below $20,000 after tagging a weekly high at $20,400. The flagship cryptocurrency could have hit bottom, but internal and external forces prevent a bullish trend reversal. Bitcoin price is expected to keep moving between $18,500 and $20,400 in the short term.
Bitcoin price comes under the immense institutional influence
Michael Safai of Dexterity Capital believes that institutional investors return to the crypto market while retail traders step back. His observation comes amid an ongoing Bitcoin price range-bound movement. Safai reckons that the game has effectively changed from checkers to chess.
We might have been playing checkers two years ago – we're playing chess now.
Bitcoin price is range-bound, but for how long?
Bitcoin is trading between $18,500 (lower range limit) and $20,400 (upper range limit). Its sideways price action has formed a rectangle pattern, implying general market indecision.
The 50-day SMA (Simple Moving Average), red, provides BTC with immediate support, while the 100-day SMA, blue, limit price movement to the upside. The bellwether cryptocurrency must hold above the 50 SMA to avoid testing the rectangle support, which could heighten the risk of a southbound breakout.
BTC/USD eight-hour chart
The DMI (Directional Movement Index) negative divergence from the price is raising the probability of further losses ahead of the new week. Similarly, the OBV (On Balance Volume) indicator validates the pessimistic forecast as it slopes further below the one million mark.
In other words, Bitcoin price is at a greater risk of exploring downhill levels. Furthermore, investors holding 1,000 and more BTC are yet to stop their selling activities. The chart below from Glassnode reveals a 7.64% decline from 2,292 to 2,117 addresses – between March 21 and October 8, 2022.
-638008113561897933.png)
Bitcoin Number of Addresses with Balance ≥ 1k
Overhead pressure tends to intensify as whales offload their bags. Unless this selling spree dies, it would be imperative to say that the journey downstream is far from over.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Bitcoin holds $84,000 despite Fed’s hawkish remarks and spot ETFs outflows
Bitcoin is stabilizing around $84,000 at the time of writing on Thursday after facing multiple rejections around the 200-day EMA at $85,000 since Saturday. Despite risk-off sentiment due to the hawkish remarks by the US Fed on Wednesday, BTC remains relatively stable.
Crypto market cap fell more than 18% in Q1, wiping out $633.5 billion after Trump’s inauguration top
CoinGecko’s Q1 Crypto Industry Report highlights that the total crypto market capitalization fell by 18.6% in the first quarter, wiping out $633.5 billion after topping on January 18, just a couple of days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Top meme coin gainers FARTCOIN, AIDOGE, and MEW as Trump coins litmus test US SEC ethics
Cryptocurrencies have been moving in lockstep since Monday, largely reflecting sentiment across global markets as United States (US) President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade wars take on new shapes and forms each passing day.
XRP buoyant above $2 as court grants Ripple breathing space in SEC lawsuit
A US appellate court temporarily paused the SEC-Ripple case for 60 days, holding the appeal in abeyance. The SEC is expected to file a status report by June 15, signaling a potential end to the four-year legal battle.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Market uncertainty lingers, Trump’s 90-day tariff pause sparks modest recovery
Bitcoin (BTC) price extends recovery to around $82,500 on Friday after dumping to a new year-to-date low of $74,508 to start the week. Market uncertainty remains high, leading to a massive shakeout, with total liquidations hitting $2.18 billion across crypto markets.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.