- Bitcoin bounces off support at $32,000 after falling sharply from levels above $38,000.
- Ethereum prepares for a massive liftoff towards $3,000, but resistance at $1,500 must come down first.
- Ripple breaks out toward $1, reminding investors that it never left the ‘game.’
In the last 48 hours, Ripple has led the rally in the cryptocurrency market, hitting highs of $0.822 for the first time in 2021. The upswing took place after Bitcoin cooled off from Friday’s upswing, in what was referred to as the 'Elon Musk pumping effect'.
Ethereum, on the other hand, retreated from highs around $1,450 after cutting shot the expected run-up to $1,500. However, Peter Brandt has flipped bullish on ETH, saying that he anticipates a significant price change.
Consequently, last week’s darling, Dogecoin, failed to keep up with its annual rally, resulting in a significant correction. The token was also displaced from the top ten leading cryptocurrencies by market capitalization and currently holds at the 13th spot and trading at $0.04.
Bitcoin rebounds from critical support
Bitcoin soared to levels above $38,000 after speculators went crazy because Elon Musk endorsed the leading cryptocurrency. As covered last week, the founder of Tesla, the world-leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, insinuated that he had bought BTC and even changed his Twitter bio to read the digital asset.
While the rally was a welcomed gesture, Bitcoin corrected sharply to the significant support at $32,000. A minor recovery has seen Bitcoin become pivotal at $34,000. At the time of writing, BTC is doddering at $34,300, as bulls fight tooth and nail to overcome the hurdle at the 200 Simple Moving Average.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence could soon validate a breakout if the MACD line (blue) crosses above the signal line. A 4-hour candlestick close above the 200 SMA will help validate the uptrend to $36,000.
BTC/USD 4-hour chart
It is worth keeping in mind that the bullish outlook toward $36,000 will fail to materialize if the hurdle at the 200 SMA remains intact. In this case, selling pressure may increase, pushing Bitcoin under $34,000 support at $32,000 is the best bet to stop BTC from plunging to $30,000 again.
Ethereum is struggling to sustain the uptrend
Following the rejection from last week’s peak ($1,450), Ethereum dived under $1,300 but found support at $1,270. As mentioned, both speculators and traders believe that Ethereum is far from its global top. Thus, a rally is expected in the near term, elevating it to highs above $1,500.
For now, attention has been channelled toward pushing Ether above the 50 SMA on the 4-hour chart. Closing the day above this level would validate the uptrend past $1,400. A break above $1,500 could mark the beginning of a massive price action heading to $3,000.
ETH/USD 4-hour chart
The Relative Strength Index must cross above the midline to show that buyers have the upper hand. If it fails to do so, ETH will likely drop to the 100 SMA, currently at $1,300. Notably, Ether recently bounced off support at $1,200, suggesting that further losses are not out of the picture yet.
Ripple eyes $1 as buying pressure soars
Ripple finally broke out of the consolidation we wrote about countless times in January. A 60% prediction made on Friday came to pass, with XRP rising significantly above $0.5. In the meantime, the cross-border cryptocurrency is trading above $0.72 amid an increased tailwind force for gains toward $1.
The least resistance path remains upwards, while higher support will help sustain the uptrend, preferably above $0.7. The 50 SMA widens the gap above the 100 SMA and the 200 SMA, adding credence to the bullish scenario.
XRP/USD 4-hour chart
The RSI in the same timeframe is quite overbought, suggesting that a reversal is not a farfetched idea. Therefore, investors must proceed with caution because a correction may lead to the loss of some gains, especially if support levels at $0.7 and $0.5 fail to hold.
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 Weekly Forecast: BTC nosedives below $95,000 as spot ETFs record highest daily outflow since launch
Bitcoin price continues to edge down, trading below $95,000 on Friday after declining more than 9% this week. Bitcoin US spot ETFs recorded the highest single-day outflow on Thursday since their launch in January.
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers
Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins.
Solana Price Forecast: SOL’s technical outlook and on-chain metrics hint at a double-digit correction
Solana (SOL) price trades in red below $194 on Friday after declining more than 13% this week. The recent downturn has led to $38 million in total liquidations, with over $33 million coming from long positions.
SEC approves Hashdex and Franklin Templeton's combined Bitcoin and Ethereum crypto index ETFs
The SEC approved Hashdex's proposal for a crypto index ETF. The ETF currently features Bitcoin and Ethereum, with possible additions in the future. The agency also approved Franklin Templeton's amendment to its Cboe BZX for a crypto index ETF.
Bitcoin: 2025 outlook brightens on expectations of US pro-crypto policy
Bitcoin (BTC) price has surged more than 140% in 2024, reaching the $100K milestone in early December. The rally was driven by the launch of Bitcoin Spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in January and the reduced supply following the fourth halving event in April.
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.