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Bitcoin price rises past $66K as markets record falling BTC transaction fees

  • Bitcoin price has nicked $66,000, but transaction fees have dropped after peaking at $128 on April 20 halving hype.
  • BTC strength at around $60,000 continues to protect the range low of the re-accumulation range around $59,195.
  • Swiss Bitcoiners call for National Bank to buy BTC for its national reserves for independence from the European Central Bank.

Bitcoin (BTC) price upside potential is gaining steam, but it may not be enough to sustain the uptrend as experts predict bearish calls, saying it could correct before a bold move north. It comes only days after the halving, and could confirm Arthur Hayes prediction that the halving was a sell the news event. 

Also Read: Top 3 Price Prediction Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple: Altcoins come ashore after BTC halving arrival

Open Interest, funding rate FAQs

Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.

Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.

Daily Market Mover: Markets record falling Bitcoin transaction fees

Bitcoin price continues to show strength, but not enough to draw in the late bulls, at least for now. The pioneer crypto continues to enjoy the limelight following the successful completion of the halving. Now, data shows that BTC transaction fees are dwindling, which could have a bearing on Bitcoin price.  

After peaking on the halving day at $128.45, the BTC Average Transaction Fee has nosedived to $34.86 (293.2 sats/vB), representing a drop of 72.8% in under 48 hours.  The metric measures the average fee in USD when a Bitcoin transaction is processed by a miner and confirmed. Average Bitcoin transaction fees can spike during periods of congestion on the network, like it did on the halving day.

BTC average transaction fees

A drop in BTC transaction fees has the following implications:

  • It could mean increased adoption (and therefore price) as lower transaction fees entice more users to transact on the network and enjoy its cost-effectiveness in sending and receiving funds.
  • Better user experience and accessibility, especially for smaller transactions.
  • Lower fees compared to other cryptocurrencies could attract investors looking for a cost-effective option for transferring value, potentially leading to increased investment and price.
  • Miners may prioritize transactions with higher fees for better revenue.

Meanwhile, some traders and analysts are anticipating a drop in Bitcoin price, with some putting bets as low as $sub-60,000. If the price goes the other way, possibly even clearing the $73,777 all-time high to record a new peak price, it would see up to $7.24 billion in short positions liquidated, according to @Ashcryptoreal.   

Nevertheless, the bulls are showing strength near $60,000, which protects the range low of the re-accumulation range at $59,195. With this, @rektcapital says BTC may remain range-bound for the next few weeks.

Elsewhere, reports indicate that Swiss Bitcoiners plan to push for the country’s National Bank to buy BTC for its national reserves, saying it would make Switzerland independent from the European Central Bank.

BTC technical analysis: Bitcoin price is at an inflection point

Bitcoin price is confronting resistance due to the midline of the market range, the 50% Fibonacci placeholder of $66,486. This level is critical as it determines the next directional bias for the king of crypto.

However, technical indicators show the upside potential remains capped below $66,500, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) barely holding above the 50 mean level. The momentum indicator remains subdued, worsened by the position of both the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and the Awesome Oscillator (AO) still in negative territory.   

Bitcoin price is likely to suffer a rejection to $62,500, or lower, going as far as the $60,000 threshold. In a dire case, it could dip below this level for a sweep of the March 5 sell-side liquidity around $59,005.

The volume indicator is also showing reducing BTC/USDT pair volume, showing growing selling pressure. This means supply for the pair is high, providing traders with a price level to short or exit their trades. BTC could, therefore, record a market reversal ascribed to a weak trend. 

The Average True Range (ATR) indicator is low, indicating that the market is relatively stable, and traders may want to avoid entering trades at that time. As a side note, a high ATR shows that there is a lot of volatility in the market, which can present opportunities for traders to profit.

BTC/USDT 12-hour chart

Nevertheless, if the bulls can manage a decisive candlestick close above the $66,486 blockade, confirmed by a flip of the most important Fibonacci retracement level of 61.8% into support at $68,206, it would confirm the continuation of the uptrend.

The next key level to watch would be the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level of $70,656. A strong move above this level could send BTC to a new all-time high above $73,777.

Author

Lockridge Okoth

Lockridge is a believer in the transformative power of crypto and the blockchain industry.

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