Merlin chain (MERL) Surge

On December 10, Bitcoin (BTC) experienced a sharp rally during U.S. trading hours, reaching a high of $94,640 before pulling back to around $92,000. Continued Coinbase premium suggests strong institutional accumulation. Analysts note that retail sentiment remains weak and may only recover if BTC reclaims $100,000. Technically, BTC has broken out of a descending trendline on the daily chart with increasing volume. A retest of support levels around $92,000 or $90,540 could offer long opportunities, with a break below $90,540 invalidating the bullish structure. Key resistance lies near $98,000. Ethereum (ETH) shows stronger momentum with four consecutive bullish daily closes, breaking above $3,260. However, the 4-hour chart suggests a pullback may be due. Resistance is seen at $3,380 and $3,480, while supports are at $3,230, $3,150, and $3,060. Solana (SOL) has been relatively weak, struggling to break $147. A decisive move above $147.50 could open the path toward $154–$158, provided it holds above $138.85. Both long and short opportunities are possible around key levels. MERL remains in a clear downtrend, with repeated rejections near $0.50. The critical level to watch is $0.20, which aligns with project cost bases and retail psychological support. A break below could trigger further declines. ZEC is showing signs of a potential short-term correction with a 1-hour rising wedge and M-top pattern. Long positions are advised to take profit around $440 levels due to emerging bearish divergence. Overall, institutional optimism is growing, but retail participation remains low. A sustained bullish move across major cryptocurrencies may require stronger price momentum and broader market confidence.

Merlin Chain (MERL), a Bitcoin layer-2 solution, surged 16% amid increased on-chain activity, reaching a new all-time high in Open Interest at $75.79 million. This reflects strong bullish sentiment, with a taker Buy/Sell Ratio of 1.05 indicating dominant buying pressure. Spot market accumulation and exchange outflows further support the upward trend. However, the liquidation heatmap suggests potential downside risk, as unfilled liquidity clusters below current levels could trigger a short-term pullback. Despite the bullish momentum, recent buying hasn't fully offset prior selling pressure, leaving some risk of volatility.

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a sharp divergence. Major coins like ETH and XRP are declining sharply, while some altcoins show volatile, mixed performances. ETH dropped over 5%, breaking below the key $3,000 support and falling to around $2,916. It faces resistance at $2,980, $3,050, and $3,080. If the downtrend continues, support levels to watch are $2,950, $2,920, $2,880, and $2,800. Technical indicators like MACD and RSI suggest bearish momentum remains. XRP broke below $1.95, with its price falling to around $1.855. Key resistance levels are at $1.90, $1.92, and $1.95. If it fails to rebound, further decline toward $1.82 or even $1.765 is possible. In contrast, RATS shows strength with three consecutive bullish daily candles, forming a W-pattern. A pullback to around $0.000035 may present a buying opportunity, with a potential rise toward $0.00005. MERL surged 17%, possibly due to low-liquidity manipulation. A short position around $0.46-$0.48 is suggested, with downside targets at $0.40 or even $0.35. ASTER dipped to $0.765 but quickly recovered. It may be forming a descending wedge—wait for a clearer bottom signal before entering. FOLKS shows a pump-and-dump pattern, with a gradual decline after a sharp rise. A low-leverage long-term short position could be profitable. Overall, major coins like ETH and XRP remain bearish short-term. RATS offers a potential long opportunity on dips, while MERL and FOLKS may be suited for short strategies. ASTER requires more observation. Given high market divergence, focus on a few selective trades.

December 22: BTC, ETH, SOL, LIGHT, MERL, PIPPIN Market Analysis Bitcoin saw low liquidity and reduced volatility over the weekend but halted its downward trend, climbing back to around $90,000. The weekly chart shows signs of stabilization, with limited downside and potential upside in the coming month. Macro conditions currently don’t support further decline. BTC is trading at $89,240, still in a broad consolidation range. Key resistance is at 89.5K–90K; a break above could signal further gains. Key support lies at 87,900, with major resistance near 100,000 and strong support around 78,000–79,000. ETH has consolidated and reclaimed $3,000. Long positions can consider partial profit-taking or break-even stops. Next targets are $3,144 and $3,269. A pullback to $2,980–$2,950 may offer entry opportunities. SOL has shown weak momentum, with less than 3% gains over three days. It faces strong resistance near $134, making it a candidate for shorting. Further downside is expected after a potential brief rebound. LIGHT experienced a sharp drop with little buyer reaction. Such altcoins often have short cycles and high risk. Caution is advised—avoid FOMO. Better opportunities may lie in tokens like XPIN, NIGHT, and BEAT after clearer signals emerge. MERL has repeatedly failed to hold above $0.50 due to heavy selling pressure, especially with large unlocks in mid-December. A drop toward $0.30 is likely, making it a candidate for short positions with a stop above $0.52. PIPPIN has surged over 200% but shows signs of a double top formation on the daily chart, indicating a likely peak. The second peak was missed but confirms a probable reversal. Overall, the market remains cautious with selective opportunities. Major coins like BTC and ETH show resilience, while altcoins require careful timing and risk management.