• Bitcoin price shed 10% in the last two weeks and shows signs that this trend will continue.
  • Whales seem to be making a comeback and are looking to accumulate BTC should it slide lower.
  • A flip of the $25,000 psychological level into a support floor will trigger a continuation of the uptrend to $30,000.

Bitcoin price shows a clear sign of exhaustion after its explosive move in 2023. The first leg of a downswing has begun, but further confirmation is required to know where BTC is headed. Whales, on the other hand, are on the move and poised to buy the dip.

Also read: How US CPI on Valentine's day could spell disaster for Bitcoin price

Bitcoin price hints at weakening structures

Bitcoin price produced a bearish divergence in the third week of January. After setting up a local top at $24,255, BTC has shed roughly 12% so far. The recent selling pressure pushed BTC to tag the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). 

As a result of the continuous bearish daily candlestick closes, the Momentum Reversal Indicator (MRI) produced a green ‘one’ buy signal. This technical formation forecasts a one-to-four up candlesticks for the big crypto. However, since this buy signal is happening near the local top, the chances of it panning out are low.

Due to the support from the 200-day EMA and the inflation numbers announcement, there is bound to be a huge spike in volatility that could propel Bitcoin price to tag the bearish orderblock, aka supply zone, extending from $22,628 to $23,350. This area is a good place for short-sellers to start building up their positions. 

The target for these short positions would be a retest of the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $19,699.  

While this short-term retracement might seem bearish, it is not. The 2023 bull rally produced a higher high above the November 5 swing high at $21,480, denoting a shift in the market structure on a daily timeframe. Technically, this move could be the start of an uptrend and the bearish case explained above is just a retracement before the bullish continuation.

Assuming this outlook plays out, the $18,199 support level, present just below the 200-day SMA, is a good place to start buying the dips.

BTC/USDT 1-day chart

BTC/USDT 1-day chart

BTC whales are in a world of their own

While Bitcoin price has been tanking for the last two weeks, the Whale Transaction Count metric shows a considerable spike. These transactions worth $1,000,000 or more are considered as a proxy of whales or high net worth investors.

If these transactions are seen increasing after a rally, these whales are sending their tokens to book profits; hence it can be viewed as a sell signal. On the contrary, if this metric denotes a large spike after a sell-off, it would indicate that these high net worth investors are buying the dips.

Currently, the large transaction metric shows an uptick from 150 to 280 in the last five days.

BTC whale transaction count

BTC whale transaction count

To add more credence to whales’ behavior, investors can look at the gunpowder, aka stablecoins, these entities hold. The last time whales holding stablecoins spiked was in late December 2022, before BTC kick-started a 49% upswing in the following month.

Currently, Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) whales holding between 100,000 to 10,000,000 stablecoins have noted a stark spike in the last 48 hours. 

BTC stablecoin whales

BTC stablecoin whales

This uptick in whale transaction count, followed by an increase in stablecoin holdings, suggest one thing for investors -  that high net worth investors are preparing to buy the dip. Extrapolating from these charts, one can assume that the sell signals noted from a technical perspective are ephemeral and will make way for the 2023 bull run to continue.

 


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


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Is Altcoin Season here as Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high?

Is Altcoin Season here as Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high?

Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high of $98,384 on Thursday, with altcoins following the suit. Reports highlight that the recent surge in altcoins was fueled by the victory of crypto-friendly candidate Donal Trump in the US presidential election.

More Altcoin News
Shanghai court confirms legal recognition of crypto ownership

Shanghai court confirms legal recognition of crypto ownership

A Shanghai court has confirmed that owning digital assets, including Bitcoin, is legal under Chinese law. Judge Sun Jie of the Shanghai Songjiang People’s Court shared this opinion through the WeChat account of the Shanghai High People’s Court.

More Cryptocurrencies News
BTC hits an all-time high above $97,850, inches away from the $100K mark

BTC hits an all-time high above $97,850, inches away from the $100K mark

Bitcoin hit a new all-time high of $97,852 on Thursday, and the technical outlook suggests a possible continuation of the rally to $100,000. BTC futures have surged past the $100,000 price mark on Deribit, and Lookonchain data shows whales are accumulating.

More Bitcoin News
Shiba Inu holders withdraw 1.67 trillion SHIB tokens from exchange

Shiba Inu holders withdraw 1.67 trillion SHIB tokens from exchange

Shiba Inu trades slightly higher, around $0.000024, on Thursday after declining more than 5% the previous week. SHIB’s on-chain metrics project a bullish outlook as holders accumulate recent dips, and dormant wallets are on the move, all pointing to a recovery in the cards.

More Shiba Inu News
Bitcoin: New high of $100K or correction to $78K?

Bitcoin: New high of $100K or correction to $78K?

Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high of $93,265 in the first half of the week, followed by a slight decline in the latter half. Reports highlight that Bitcoin’s current level is still not overvalued and could target levels above $100,000 in the coming weeks.

Read full analysis
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP