- PayPal's support for Litecoin triggered the recent upward price action.
- LTC/USD loses steam towards $60 as investors sell the news; correction to $50 is likely.
Litecoin traded within a whisker of $70 in August following a remarkable recovery from March's crash. However, the crypto asset resumed the downtrend within a descending parallel channel. For more than two months, LTC/USD sustained nursed wounds but was treated to occasional pull-ups.
September's support, marginally above $40, paved the way for the ongoing recovery. Litecoin made it above the channel resistance, extending the bullish leg beyond $50. Meanwhile, the bullish pressure appears to have run into immense seller congestion under $60.
The PayPal effect is dwindling
Litecoin's rally is attributed to the newly announced crypto service by PayPal. The platform will allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Users will also be allowed to purchase goods and services from 26 million merchants using these cryptocurrencies.
PayPal CEO Dan Schulman said that the move to digital payments was imminent. Digital payments bring forth efficiency, speed as well as resilience. The decision by PayPal to include cryptos as a service appears to be one of the most significant support for the cryptocurrency industry in 2020.
As the news settle, Litecoin appears to slip into retreat. The bullish outlook to $65, as discussed earlier, is unlikely to take place, at least for now. LTC/USD is exchanging hands slightly below $55.
Rejection and reversal on the horizon
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) brushed shoulders with the overbought area. While Litecoin is not quite oversold, a decreasing volume index suggests a breakdown is in the offing. Besides, a death cross is likely to come into the picture when the 100 Simple Moving Average (SMA) crosses beneath the 50 SMA in the daily timeframe.
LTC/USD daily chart
On the other hand, support is expected at $52, but LTC might revisit the $50 level if declines persist. The TD Sequential Indicator recently flashed a sell signal in the form of a green nine candlestick, adding weight to the bearish outlook.
All the three moving averages applied to this chart, the 50 SMA, 100 SMA and 200 SMA, turned into support areas. Therefore, declines are unlikely to extend below $50.
LTC/USD 4-hour chart
According to IntoTheBlock's IOMAP model, Litecoin is facing increasing resistance heading to $60. The most robust support zone runs from $60 to $61. Previously, nearly 54,000 addresses purchased roughly 2.3 million LTC in the range.
On the downside, the most vital anchor zone holds the ground between $50 and $52. Here, around 75,000 addresses previously bought approximately 3.5 million LTC. Losses below this area are doubtful; besides, buyers' immense concentration seems to extend to $46.
Litecoin IOMAP model
Santiment, a leading provider of on-chain data, highlights a spike in Litecoin related social media mentions. The surge coincided with the news from PayPal, followed by a significant price movement upwards. Similarly, the spike in social volume is an indicator of high volatility and massive bullish action.
Litecoin social volume chart
On the other hand, it is necessary to keep in mind that increased mentions on social media platforms don't stay up forever. Eventually, investors start selling the news as social volume dwindles just as depicted on the above chart, adding to the selling pressure.
Looking at the other side of the picture
It is worth mentioning that Litecoin has room for growth until it hits the intense selling pressure at $60. Perhaps the approach to $60 could attract buyers into the market again and complete the leg up to $65. Moreover, support at $52 is likely to shift focus to $60 and $65, placing LTC in an upward trajectory.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.