Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptos declined on Tuesday, tracking losses in stocks. Some analysts are watching for signs of a decisive breakout or breakdown beyond $40K. Meanwhile DOGE pared most of yesterday’s rally.Read MoreFeedzy
Most cryptocurrencies extended losses on Tuesday, tracking declines in stocks.
Bitcoin (BTC) remains in a downtrend over the past two weeks as traders await a decisive move above or below the $40,000 price level. For now, alternative cryptos (altcoins) have gone in and out of favor over the past month, indicating uncertainty among market participants.
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Stocks were also lower on Tuesday, giving back most of the late-March rally. Selling pressure has been dominant so far this year as investors reduced their exposure to both stocks and cryptos. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar is approaching a one-year high, which has been a headwind for BTC’s price.
?Bitcoin (BTC): $38,279, -4.85%
?Ether (ETH): $2,842, -5.78%
?S&P 500 daily close: $4,175, -2.81%
?Gold: $1,902 per troy ounce, +0.46%
?Ten-year Treasury yield daily close: 2.77%
Bitcoin, ether and gold prices are taken at approximately 4pm New York time. Bitcoin is the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX); Ether is the CoinDesk Ether Price Index (ETX); Gold is the COMEX spot price. Information about CoinDesk Indices can be found at coindesk.com/indices.
Most analysts agree that bitcoin is set for a volatile price move, but the direction remains uncertain. Some indicators suggest a breakdown could occur, while others point to a short-term price bounce.
Currently, the options market places a 60% probability that BTC will trade above $36,000 in May.
In the bitcoin futures market, the average daily basis, or the difference between the spot price and futures price, reached a one-year low. Typically, a rising basis indicates bullish sentiment among futures traders.
“The basis has only reached similar lows on two prior occasions in the last year: in July, prior to the summer short squeeze, and in February. The July low coincided with the market bottoming, whereas the February low was followed by more consolidation in BTC,” Arcane Research wrote in a Tuesday report.
Also, there are signs that futures traders are becoming more active. The open interest in BTC perpetuals is currently near a one-year high, after climbing steadily since early March, with more intensive growth in recent days,” Arcane wrote.
Sentiment has been slightly bearish in the futures market, which could increase the chance of a short squeeze if BTC’s price jumps unexpectedly.
On the flip side, technical indicators remain neutral, although some analysts are on watch for a possible breakdown in price.
“Bitcoin has a breakdown pending confirmation this week below $40,000,” Katie Stockton, managing partner at Fairlead Strategies, wrote in a report. “If confirmed, risk would increase to secondary support near $27,200.”
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Most digital assets in the CoinDesk 20 ended the day lower.
Top Gainers
There are no gainers in CoinDesk 20 today.
Top Losers
Sector classifications are provided via the Digital Asset Classification Standard (DACS), developed by CoinDesk Indices to provide a reliable, comprehensive and standardized classification system for digital assets. The CoinDesk 20 is a ranking of the largest digital assets by volume on trusted exchanges.
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