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Overnight, the bitcoin price has dropped from $10,959 to $10,068 against the U.S. dollar, recording an 8.13 percent slip within a 24-hour span.
The short term downside price movement of bitcoin is speculated to be largely technical caused by the struggle of the dominant cryptocurrency to surpass a strong resistance level at $10,900.
Strong resistance below $11,000 despite positive Bakkt factor for bitcoin
On August 20, when the bitcoin price was hovering at around $10,700, technical analysts like Josh Rager and Scott Melker emphasized that the short term performance of bitcoin would depend on how the asset reacts to facing resistance at $10,900.
“This is how I am watching it on the hourly chart. Holding the major ascending support, presently in a small trading range with a likely pennant formed. Red line ($10,900) is key resistance,” Melker said, adding that it has become difficult for both bears and bulls in a trend of uncertainty.
“Hourly candle (which was also the daily close) closed above the red resistance and is presently retesting as support. Price moved out of the pennant and trading range after wicking up and down to make life difficult for bulls and bears alike,” he added.
$BTC nice big green candle on the 1D close
I wanted to see it over $10,800 and it did close, short term bullish
Will continue to watch the order book and want to see continued follow-through from buyers
(currently under weekly open from two weeks ago - will act as resistance) pic.twitter.com/Exd8hogV0p
— Josh Rager 📈 (@Josh_Rager) August 20, 2019
However, as soon as bitcoin dropped below the $10,600 level and failed to climb over heavy resistance, it demonstrated a steep fall to $10,068 within a span of minutes.
According to Rager, the drop could possibly signal a short term trend line breakdown if the asset fails to close above $10,200.
“Bitcoin possibly just made it's next lower high after rejecting of 20MA on daily and short term trend line breakdown. Currently bouncing off long term trend line and wanting to watch a close above $10,200,” Rager said.
Bakkt effect is not ready yet
The opening of Bakkt, a physically-settled bitcoin futures market operated by ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is scheduled for September 23.
The hype around the launch is said to have been mostly priced into the market and the potential effect of Bakkt on the price movement of bitcoin would depend on the actual demand portrayed by investors post-launch.
While analysts predict bitcoin to reclaim its bullish sentiment in the medium to long term subsequent to the launch of Bakkt, in the short term, technical analysts seem to be considering a quick downturn to test lower supports.
Major alternative cryptocurrencies in the likes of Ethereum, XRP, and Bitcoin Cash dropped by a similar magnitude as bitcoin in the overnight pullback by around 7 to 10 percent against the U.S. dollar.
Click here for a real-time bitcoin price chart.
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