Bitcoin (BTC) has demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining its position above the $26,000 mark throughout a week marked by sharp sell-offs in equity markets and a surging U.S. dollar. This stability is seen as a victory considering the bearish signals that could have emerged from these other market movements.
As of Friday afternoon, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization was trading at around $26,500, showing a modest increase of 0.3% since the beginning of the week.
In a report, analytics firm IntoTheBlock highlighted the noteworthy aspect of Bitcoin’s steady price performance amidst the turbulence in the stock market. They pointed out that Bitcoin’s correlation with the Dollar Index (DXY) had reached zero, signifying a complete lack of relationship between the two assets.
One contributing factor to this stability is the increasing number of long-term holders in the cryptocurrency world, commonly referred to as “HODLers.” According to IntoTheBlock, their numbers are nearing an all-time high. This could be an indication that they are refraining from selling their Bitcoin holdings in anticipation of a potential approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States.
Historically, these long-term investors have played a crucial role in sustaining Bitcoin’s price during bear markets while capitalizing on profits as new all-time highs are achieved in bull markets. The report suggested that this trend could be signaling the onset of a bullish cycle for Bitcoin.
The report added, “Though it’s unclear how long bitcoin’s outperformance will last in a worsening macro environment, on-chain data shows that its long-term investors continue to accumulate regardless.”
Bitcoin had briefly surged to $27,400 prior to the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday but encountered robust selling pressure afterward, noted Rachel Lin, CEO of derivatives decentralized exchange SynFutures.
She also pointed out that the 200-weekly moving average and the 200-daily moving average are both located around the $27,800 level, indicating substantial resistance in the coming weeks. However, Lin highlighted the support range between $26,000 and $26,500 that currently bolsters Bitcoin’s price.
In the options market, the largest open interest is observed in $24,000 put options and $35,000 call options, according to Lin, reflecting market participants’ diverse views and expectations for Bitcoin’s future trajectory.
Despite the challenges posed by equity market fluctuations and the strengthening U.S. dollar, Bitcoin stands resilient, capturing the attention of both traders and long-term investors as it navigates a complex macroeconomic landscape.
