Bitcoin Bulls Firm, Is Profit Taking Keeping Prices Below $70,000?

Bitcoin is below $70,000 despite bulls pressing on, soaking attempts for lower lows. At press time, BTC is within a bullish breakout formation, with the uptrend valid as long as the $66,000 and $68,000 levels remain. From the daily chart, the local resistance is at $72,000. If this is broken today, the odds of the world’s most valuable coin floating higher and breaching all-time highs will be highly elevated.

Price action reflects this shift in sentiment. Though BTC prices remained largely stable on the last day, it is up a decent 5% in the previous week. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. Overall, the average trading volume on the last day remained above $30 billion, multiples higher than last week’s mean reading. What this means is that traders are excited and looking for opportunities to double down.

Bitcoin daily chart for May 23

The following Bitcoin news stories are worth keeping an eye on:

  • Standard Chartered analysts think Bitcoin bulls are firmly in charge. Accordingly, they predict prices to not only breach $74,000 but register fresh all-time highs by the weekend. Still, while lofty, whether this will be the case remains to be seen.
  • Bitcoin prices are retracing, some analysts claim, because of profit taking. Even so, the correction is amid encouraging developments. For instance, the London Stock Exchange plans to list the first set of crypto derivatives in the coming days.

Bitcoin Price Analysis

The path of least resistance is northwards.

[[BTC/USD]] prices have been moving sideways for the better part of the last two trading days.

Since the May 20 bar is wide-ranging and bullish, every dip inside the bar may offer entries.

In this case, the local support remains at $66,000 and $68,000.

On the other end, a close above $72,000 may allow risk-on traders to double down, targeting $74,000 and new all-time highs.

If the breakout bar has an equally high trading volume, as seen on May 20, the race to $100,000 will be on.

Ethereum Gains 25%, Will ETH Bulls Inevitably Smash $4,100?

Looking at the daily chart, Ethereum is firm, and buyers are not yielding, looking at the formation. After a series of higher highs, the uptrend is valid. Bulls have managed to sustain prices above $3,700—a critical support line. At this pace, traders can search for entries on any pullback towards $3,700; with even more discount should there be losses toward $3,300. From the daily chart, there is minimum resistance for ETH bulls targeting $4,100.

As Ethereum buyers power on, holders are deep in green. So far, prices are relatively stable, considering the sideways movement on May 22. However, ETH is up 25% in the past week of trading. Even so, the only concern is the dip in participation. So far, the average trading volume is at $23 billion, which is way lower than that recorded earlier this week.

Ethereum daily chart on May 23

The following Ethereum news developments are worth tracking:

  • The Ethereum layer-2 ecosystem is exploding. According to on-chain data, Arbitrum, the largest of this category, has over 779,000 active addresses. This spike represents an over 3X surge over the last year. The same can be seen in Base and Optimism, where active addresses have more than doubled in the last 12 months.
  • Looking at trends, the United States SEC has an issue with ETH staking. VanEck, Grayscale, and the rest are removing the staking feature from their proposals. What this means is that should the regulator approve, issuers won’t stake to earn a yield.

Ethereum Price Analysis

[[ETH/USD]] is in a clear uptrend after breaking above two resistance levels (now support) at $3,300 and $3,700.

Since the trend is defined, traders can look for opportunities to load as long as prices are inside the May 20 range.

This is valid, especially from volume analysis.

Moreover, the uptrend is strong since bull bars are banding along the upper BB. This points to increasing momentum and rising volatility supportive of bulls.

XRP Sellers Cap Gains At $0.55: When Will Ripple Bulls Take Over?

XRP is flat when writing, but buyers have the upper hand. The strong rejection bar of May 21 was followed by a bear bar on May 22. This formation suggests that sellers were mostly in control. Even so, it remains to be seen whether bulls of early this week will shape the short to medium-term trend. At least from a technical formation, what’s important is that $0.50 holds, and bulls use it as a base to roar, ideally above the $0.60 level.

The inaction and waves of liquidation of May 22 show in price action. XRP is down 2% in the past day, while sellers have reversed gains. The coin was just up 2% in the previous trading week. If sellers are to take over, they must break below $0.46. However, this is unlikely since there has been strong rejection. Expanding prices saw volume pick up, breaking $1 billion from May 20.

XRP daily chart for May 23

As XRP moves sideways between $0.50 and $0.55, the following XRP and Ripple news will likely influence prices:

  • In what will be a huge boost for Ripple, especially in the battle against the embattled United States SEC, the White House said they are willing to work with Congress to develop a favorable, progressive regulatory framework for digital assets.
  • The United States SEC issued Uniswap, one of the largest DEX, with a Wells Notice. This is an intention to sue. In response, the DEX’s lawyers quoted several sections from the ongoing court case pitting the regulator with Ripple. 

XRP Price Analysis

[[XRP/USD]] is recovering but moving sideways.

Though the breakout of May 20 was encouraging, the lack of confirmation is a concern.

Moreover, XRP bulls have not conclusively closed above $0.55 and April 13 highs.

If buyers were to have a chance, a complete reversal backed by a wide-ranging and high-volume bar above $0.55 would confirm their presence.

Before then, the zone between $0.46 and $0.50 is worth watching.

If selling pressure from the May 21 bear bar spills over, forcing the coin below $0.46, the uptrend forecast will be invalid.

Forex Signals Brief May 22: RBNZ, UK CPI and FOMC Minutes

For the second day in a row, there were no significant economic data releases during the Asian and European sessions. However, the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April indicated a slowdown, resulting in the Canadian dollar (CAD) dropping by 50 pips across the board. The influence of comments from Federal Reserve officials remained fundamental, yet their statements were largely consistent with previous remarks from other Fed officials.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Continue reading “Forex Signals Brief May 22: RBNZ, UK CPI and FOMC Minutes”

Bitcoin Cools Off: Here’s Why BTC Will Fly Even Higher If $74,500 Is Broken

Bitcoin unexpectedly slowed down on May 21. Nonetheless, the uptrend remains, and every low could technically offer better entries for optimistic buyers. The bullish breakout remains valid since prices are trading above the $66,000 and $68,000 levels. How prices react today will shape the short to medium-term. Any upswing above $72,000 will be especially crucial.

Bitcoin is down 2% in the past 24 hours. However, the gains over the previous week are more pronounced, up an impressive 13%. As it is, every low should offer entries for buyers. This, in turn, could spark more demand, allowing traders to flow back. In the past day, over $40 billion worth of BTC was generated across major exchanges.

Bitcoin daily chart for May 22

The following Bitcoin news events are worth watching:

  • Even with BTC easing past $70,000 and clearing immediate liquidation levels, one analyst is upbeat. Taking to X, Willy Woo, a respected on-chain analyst, said the current Bull Run is halfway in. By this estimation, a close above all-time highs will open the floodgate, allowing buyers to drive the coin to new levels.
  • The rally has seen Bitcoin shorts liquidated. Since every leverage short liquidated creates a short squeeze, it might be a positive drive for BTC. If BTC breaks $74,500, over $1.4 billion worth of shorts risk being forcefully closed.

Bitcoin Price Analysis

The path of least resistance remains northward.

Though the [[BTC/USD]] price pulled back on May 21, traders might look for entries to buy the dip.

This preview is only valid as long as prices are trending above $66,000 and last week’s high of $68,000.

A close above the local resistance at $72,000 could fast-track the spike to over $74,000 and fresh new all-time highs.

Conversely, if BTC bears flow back, forcing prices below $66,000, it might deflate the current FOMO, slowing down the uptrend.

Ethereum Flying on Spot ETF Hopes, ETH Bulls Looking At $4,900

Ethereum extended gains yesterday, breaking above $3,700 as optimism around a spot ETF approval rose. Technically, the confirmation of May 20 bulls is a step in the right direction. As it is, every low may offer bulls a chance to double down, targeting $4,100 and March 2024 highs in the days ahead. Even so, buyers must also soak in all attempts to reverse losses. The zone above $3,300 will be a crucial zone for bulls to search for entries in the sessions ahead.

Reflecting the state of ETH affairs, prices are up 2% in the past 24 hours and roughly 30% in the previous week. Considering the sharp uptick in both trading activity and prices, the average trading volume shot to over $33 billion in the past trading day. This represents a more than 3X jump from last week’s average. Engagement will continue to rise as more traders explore ETH and search for entries.

Ethereum daily chart for May 22

The following Ethereum news events are worth watching:

  • Yesterday, Grayscale filed an updated 19b-4 for their spot in Ethereum ETF. The firm plans to convert its Ethereum Trust to a spot ETF just like it did for GBTC. The filing is a formal application to the United States SEC, which intends to issue the product to the client.
  • Standard Chartered says the United States SEC might approve the first spot Ethereum ETF this week. If this happens, the global bank expects inflow of between $15 and $45 billion into this product in the next year.

Ethereum Price Analysis

The Ethereum uptrend is clear, looking at the performance in the daily chart.

With [[ETH/USD]] up double digits in the past week, bulls expect trend continuation.

The $3,700 level is an interest support. Any retest to this level might offer entries. However, if there is a deeper correction held above $3,300, traders might find even better opportunities to double down.

From the Ethereum candlestick arrangement, the first target will be March 2024 highs of $4,100. Even so, considering the recent rapid expansion, ETH bulls should consider $4,900 as the next feasible target.

XRP Slowing Down As SEC Set To Lose Power: Will Ripple Hit $1?

XRP, like Bitcoin, struggled to confirm yesterday’s gains of May 20. Looking at the daily chart, it is evident that buyers have the upper hand, moving away from the descending wedge following the recent breakout. As it is, bulls are in the driving seat, and $0.50 is emerging as an anchor for this leg up. Unless there is a slowdown, forcing XRP below $0.50, the path of least resistance remains northwards.

Presently, XRP has been steady in the last day and up 7% in the previous week. This expansion has also seen the average trading volume rise roughly 2X to over $1.7 billion. The rising engagement suggests that buyers are confident, and there could be more room for gains in the sessions ahead.

XRP daily chart for May 22

Traders should closely monitor the following XRP and Ripple news:

  • Ripple plans to release a stablecoin in the coming months. The latest trademark filing reveals that the name “RLUSD” has been secured by Ripple Labs. Some in the industry now speculate that this could be the official trademarked name of the said stablecoin and USDT competitor.
  • The passing of the Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023 is crucial. With this act, powers are taken away from the United States SEC and vested in The Secretary of the Department of Commerce. The officeholder will advise the president on blockchain and DLT matters.

XRP Price Analysis

[[XRP/USD]] is encouragingly firm and likely to recover all losses of April 13.

After yesterday’s close, the series of higher highs might offer bulls an opportunity to double down on dips above $0.50.

From the daily chart, the immediate target is $0.60. Once this is reached, the bearish breakout formation of April 12 and 13 will be nullified.

If bulls continue to press on, XRP will likely float to $0.66 in a buy trend continuation formation, even reaching $1. 

Conversely, any unexpected close below $0.46 cancels out this preview, allowing bears to take over.

Bullish Breakout Continues in Ethereum, With ETH ETF Near

In January the SEC approved the Bitcoin ETF, which improved the crypto market sentiment. Now it’s the turn for a spot Ethereum ETF, which is drawing near, and the bids in the crypto market have increased once again. Bitcoin jumped above $70,000 earlier today, while Ethereum is approaching $4,000.

Ethereum ETF should get approved this week
Ethereum ETF should get approved this week

Continue reading “Bullish Breakout Continues in Ethereum, With ETH ETF Near”

Forex Signals Brief May 21: Further Slowdown in Canada Inflation

There were no economic releases yesterday with Europe and Canada being on bank holiday. The US dollar strengthened as US Treasury rates rose. However, several Federal Reserve officials spoke, and the overall narrative is that the Fed is currently on hold. The April CPI report was encouraging, but it represented only one data point.

Markets bracing for softer Canada CPI numbers
Markets bracing for softer Canada CPI numbers

Inflation was notably weak in the first quarter of 2024. As a result, the Fed has adopted a wait-and-see approach, emphasizing the need to monitor incoming data before making further policy decisions. Discussions about reducing rates have diminished, and there is even some speculation that the Fed might still consider tightening if inflation does not show

Fed’s Bostic and Daly:

  • Both officials highlight the cautious approach the Fed is taking regarding inflation reaching the 2% target. They emphasize the need for patience and continuous monitoring of inflation trends before making any decisions on policy adjustments.
  • Daly specifically mentions shelter inflation, indicating expectations for gradual improvements in this component. This suggests that the Fed is closely watching various factors contributing to inflation dynamics.

Fed’s Jefferson:

  • Jefferson acknowledges the restrictive nature of the current policy rate, indicating that despite ongoing improvements in the labor market and moderate declines in inflation, the pace of progress is not as rapid as anticipated.
  • He underscores the importance of evaluating incoming economic data and the evolving economic outlook when determining appropriate policy rates, suggesting a data-dependent approach.

Fed’s Barr:

  • Barr characterizes Q1 inflation as “disappointing” and emphasizes the need for confidence in inflation trends before considering any relaxation of monetary policy.
  • He advocates for giving the current tight policy more time to effectively address inflation concerns, suggesting a patient approach to policy adjustments.
  • Barr highlights the Fed’s readiness to “hold steady” and maintain vigilance over the economy, indicating a preference for maintaining the status quo until there is more clarity on inflation dynamics and economic conditions.

Today’s Market Expectations

Today started with the minutes from the latest RBA meeting, which were released in the Asian session.

Later we have the highlight of the day. The CPI Y0Y is predicted to be tick down to 2.8% from the previous month’s 2.9%. While this indicates a modest decrease in the year-over-year inflation rate, it remains within the BoC’s target range of 1-3%. CPI MoM is expected to be 0.5%, down from the previous year’s 0.6%. Trimmed-Mean CPI YoY is predicted to be fall to 2.9%, down from the previous year’s 3.1%. The Median CPI YoY is expected to tick down to 2.7% from 2.8% the year before, which would be bearish for the CAD.

Forex Signals Update

Yesterday the volatility was low as the economic calendar was empty, so we didn’t open many forex signals. We went long on [[EUR/USD]] and shorted the Dow Jones index, but those trades didn’t close, so we only had one signals closed. The Bitcoin signal it the take profit target as BTC pushed to

Gold Prints Another Record High at $2,450 

Last week Gold (XAU/USD) closed above $2,400 for the first time in history, suggesting that a new high was imminent. The market’s reaction to weaker-than-expected CPI data triggered a flight to safe-haven assets, such as gold, pushing the XAU/USD pair back towards $2,400. The rebound from the $2,330 support level, which previously acted as resistance during April’s consolidation period, indicated bullish market sentiment, which pushed the price higher yesterday, touching the $2,450 level. This recovery, combined with the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the H4 chart, reinforces Gold’s positive outlook.

XAU/USD – H4 chart

USD/JPY Continues the Upside Move

The [[AUD/USD]] pair experienced a notable increase last week, driven by a risk-on sentiment following disappointing US inflation data. This upward movement carried the pair above the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), which is a significant technical milestone. Currently, the level near 1.2650, corresponding to the 200-day SMA, serves as crucial support for the pair, which means that it is a good place to look for AUD/USD longs during dips.

AUD/USD – Daily Chart

Cryptocurrency Update

Booking Profit in Bitcoin As Buyers Push To $70K Again

Since March, [[Bitcoin]] has demonstrated a pattern of lower highs, indicating a potential move into a downtrend or consolidation phase. However, this pattern appears to have been disrupted by last week’s uptrend. The recent decline in Bitcoin’s price to around $61,000 presented a buying opportunity for investors, as the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) has turned into support, which aligns with our own position. Previously, technical indicators such as the 50-day and 20-day SMAs acted as resistance, hindering Bitcoin’s upward momentum. These levels have now been breached, suggesting that the 50-day moving average is likely to become a new support level on the daily chart and yesterday BTC touched $70,000 for the first time since early April, reaching our TP BTC target.

BTC/USD – Daily chart

A 20% Surge in Ethereum 

Ethereum (ETH) has experienced significant price volatility, frequently dipping below the $3,000 mark before recovering. This pattern of oscillations highlights Ethereum’s resilience, as it consistently rebounds above the $3,000 milestone. The repeated recovery indicates strong support levels below $3,000, which have been crucial in helping [[Ethereum]] bounce back from downturns. However, the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), now acting as resistance, has capped Ethereum’s advances. Following another bounce off the support zone last week, ETH’s upward momentum was halted at the 100 SMA (green). However, yesterday Ethereum surged higher after the break of MAs.

ETH/USD – Daily chart

XRP Breaks Out From Descending Wedge, Bulls Targeting $0.60

XRP, mirroring the general state of affairs across the crypto scene, is bullish. As the coin rises with the tide, prices have broken above the falling wedge. Most importantly, it is inching closer to the all-important $0.55 resistance level, marking April 13 highs. If there is follow-through and prices close above this line for the first time in roughly two weeks, prices could rally in line with May 1 and 15 bull bars.

Even with the recent expansion, the path of least resistance is still southwards. Even so, there are hints of strength. At spot rates, the coin is up roughly 6% in the last day and week after a period of sideways consolidation. The uptick in trading volume has also seen engagement rise above the $1 billion mark. Should sellers continue to lose grip, trading volume will continue rising as XRP retests and breaks $0.60.

XRP daily chart for May 21

The following XRP and Ripple news might draw more buyers into the equation:

  • As the coin builds from the $0.50 support level, on-chain data shows that whales are accumulating. Their engagement has seen over 361 million XRP moved to “strong” hands that are unlikely to liquidate. Overall, this is a net positive and might support prices.
  • Ripple, the payments company, has announced a fund to support projects launching on the XRP Ledger. The fund will specifically cater to Brazilian developers looking to deploy dapps on the Ethereum competitor.

XRP Price Analysis

[[XRP/USD]] prices are steady and in green.

While optimism is high, and bulls expect fundamental factors to drive prices, chartists are closing in on opportunities.

Since the May 20 bar is bullish and breaking above the descending wedge, every dip above $0.51 may offer entries for buyers.

The first targets will be $0.55 and May 6 highs. 

If there are more gains above these lines, XRP will easily float to $0.66, a critical resistance level.

Conversely, any dump below $0.46 will invalidate this bullish outlook.