|

Bitcoin price eyes $25,000 bolstered by pre-Merge momentum buildup

  • Bitcoin price breaches $22,000 resistance as investors position themselves ahead of the Ethereum Merge.
  • Crypto market capitalization shows signs of a bottom, with the least resistance path shifting north.
  • Bitcoin price may retreat to collect more liquidity at the 200-day SMA before resuming its uptrend.

Bitcoin price pushed past resistance at $22,000 on Monday. This came after a market-wide rally incited by the largest cryptocurrency toward the end of last week. Investors appear to be strategizing ahead of the Ethereum Merge, which brings BTC’s $25,000 target well within reach.

Key pointers to observe ahead of the Ethereum Merge

Ethereum is about to undergo its biggest software upgrade, dubbed the Merge. The largest smart contracts token will be migrated from the proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus.

Investors expect the Bitcoin price rally to cool off ahead of the Merge and the release of the CPI data, according to Ekta Mourya, a reporter at FXStreet. Both events may lead to increased volatility in Bitcoin price owing to the changing trader perspectives and inflation levels – amid heightened volatility.

Read moreEthereum price forecast, a $2,000 revisit, the Merge and ETH blockchain vulnerability

Bitcoin price to cement uptrend after a minor retreat

Inflation levels are expected to rise in the United States, initially suppressing Bitcoin price performance. On the upside, the flagship cryptocurrency targets $25,000, but first, a pullback may take precedence. However, the four-hour chart shows a strong supply area at around $23,000.

Bitcoin price must close the day above this level to validate the upswing to $25,000. Otherwise, investors should start acclimatizing to short-term declines. Traders may confirm new short positions when BTC price breaches the $22,000 support.

 
Bitcoin price breaks above $22,000

BTC/USD four-hour chart

It is worth mentioning that Bitcoin price’s impending pullback may be short-lived if the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) reinforces support at $21,469. The region between $20,800 and $21,469 represents a massive demand zone – rendering Bitcoin price northbound.

Analysts like Michaël van de Poppe believe that the cryptocurrency market is signaling a potential bottom. He cites a bounce from the 200-week MA, which had resulted in Bitcoin price pumping to $25,000 in July. A retest followed the rally – then a strong bounce – adding credence to the bullish outlook for BTC price.

On the other hand, the Direction Moving Index (DMI) on the same four-hour chart suggests that Bitcoin price is gradually exhausting its upside momentum. A pullback is necessary to collect more liquidity before climbing to $25,000.

Author

John Isige

John Isige

FXStreet

John Isige is a seasoned cryptocurrency journalist and markets analyst committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights tailored to traders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts. He enjoys deep dives into emerging Web3 tren

More from John Isige
Share:

Editor's Picks

XRP falls toward $1.00 amid muted ETF activity
Ripple (XRP) edges lower toward the short-term $1.05 psychological support level at the time of writing on Wednesday. This marks three consecutive days of losses, undermining investor interest and the broader optimism for a potential deal between the United States (US) and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Swiss-based Taurus gives banks access to Hedera via unified digital asset platform
Taurus, a Switzerland-based digital asset infrastructure provider, announced on Wednesday that it has extended its services, targeting banks and regulated financial institutions on the Hedera (HBAR) network. Meanwhile, HBAR is paring losses, trading above $0.0650 at the time of writing. The token shows signs of stability amid a broader bearish trend.
Crypto markets trade muted, lag risk rally
Whilst hopes for a US-Iran agreement to revive the Strait of Hormuz and renewed AI-trade optimism lifted US equities to all-time highs, major cryptocurrencies remained largely sidelined on Wednesday. Bitcoin and Ether hovered near $64,000 and $1,800, respectively, extending their recent period of consolidation rather than participating in a broader risk rally they would normally follow.
Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum advance while XRP lags amid US-Iran deal optimism
Bitcoin (BTC) hovers near $64,000 at the time of writing on Wednesday, buoyed by a marginal improvement in crypto sentiment amid growing optimism that the United States (US) and Iran could potentially reach an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz this week. Ethereum (ETH) mirrors Bitcoin’s neutral-to-bullish outlook, trading toward $1,900.
Bitcoin: Bulls hold the line
Bitcoin (BTC) edges slightly lower, trading at $64,300 at the time of writing on Friday but holding firmly above a key support zone. US-listed spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) support BTC as they continued to attract institutional flows through Thursday, pointing to the fourth consecutive week of net inflows.