Bitcoin (BTC) bulls were celebrating the digital asset’s recent surge above $10,000 for the first time this decade, but the smiles were short-lived as Bitcoin failed to hold above $10K for a meaningful amount of time.
Is this another short-lived bull run like the seven times Bitcoin crossed $10K in 2019? Or is this time different?
Daily crypto market performance. Source: Coin360.com
$10K Bitcoin in 2019
BTC USD daily chart. Source: TradingView
As can be seen in the chart above, Bitcoin crossed over the $10,000 mark on seven occasions in 2019. Each time, the leading digital asset failed to maintain its price above this level for more than a few days.
During this time, altcoins rallied as if the much-anticipated “alt season” was upon us. But as we later found out, it wasn’t, and there was still more downside to come.
So is this time around any different? Here are a few important things to consider.
Is seven the magic number in 2020?
Since Bitcoin surpassed $10K on Feb. 9, we have seen the leading digital asset rocket above and below this key psychological barrier line exactly seven times. However, the big difference here, is that it has occurred over a seven-day period, whereas in 2019 it was over a four-month period.
BTC USD daily hourly Source: TradingView
This shows that volatility has returned to the crypto market, but can we expect Bitcoin to cross up beyond the $10K price mark again in the short term? Or is this a long-overdue correction for Bitcoin that will see the price plummet further?
To determine the likely outcome, there are a few more factors I feel are worth considering at this point.
The $675 CME gap
Fighting for the bulls we have the fact that the CME closed at $10,475 on Friday, so if Bitcoin stays at its current price of around $9,800, it will leave a gap of around $675 to fill next week.
BTC USD CME Source: TradingView
Last week saw a similar size gap close on Monday, Feb. 10. However, this was closing a short gap, whereas next week is closing a high gap.
Should the CME gap fill, it means Bitcoin will rocket back over $10K and on its way to $10,500 making it the eighth time Bitcoin has surpassed $10K in 2020, which would already beat the 2019 record.
Bitcoin mining difficulty to drop for the first time in 2020
Every two weeks this year the mining difficulty has increased and at the same time so has the price of Bitcoin.
BTC mining difficulty. Source: BTC.com
However, we’re approaching a yearly first, where the mining difficulty is set to decrease by an estimated 2% in nine days’ time.
Much like the price, nothing can go up forever, and the mining difficulty is also experiencing a pullback. But while there is no guarantee that this is driving the current price of Bitcoin, I’ll be feeling a lot more bullish once the mining difficulty starts to increase again.
Bullish scenario
BTC USD daily hourly Source: TradingView
Despite the pullbacks that Bitcoin has experienced over this weekend, it has still managed to hold support in the current ascending channel that it has been in since the beginning of January 2020.
Providing Bitcoin doesn’t begin to break down below the support level throughout next week, then this would see $10,000 as the new support for Bitcoin, with key resistance being around the middle of the channel at $10,500, and $11,500 at the upper end.
Bearish scenario
BTC USD daily hourly Source: TradingView
Technically speaking, Bitcoin has broken the support of the ascending channel if you count today’s candlewick down. However, until I see a candle close below this channel I won’t be counting it as valid.
As such, support is currently around $9,700. The next level of support can be found at the 200-day moving average, which is sitting at $8,900. Should this support fail to hold, then this opens up a completely new era for Bitcoin, as historically it has never fallen below this level.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of @officiallykeith and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.
