Bitcoin (BTC) lingered near $23,000 on Feb. 7 as a key chart phenomenon hit for the first time in 18 months.
BTC/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: TradingView
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Battle of the Bitcoin crosses begins
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD tracking sideways overnight, having shunned volatility at the week’s first Wall Street open.
While failing to flip $23,000 to support, the pair nonetheless saw a potentially significant event on Feb. 6 in the form of a “golden cross” on the daily chart.
This refers to the rising 50-period moving average crossing over the 200-period moving average. The last time that this occurred on daily timeframes was in September 2021 — two months before Bitcoin’s latest all-time high.
BTC/USD 1-day candle chart (Bitstamp) with 50, 200MA. Source: TradingView
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The cross has been keenly watched by some crypto analysts, with Venturefounder, a contributor to on-chain data platform CryptoQuant, arguing that $25,000 could reappear as a result.
“Bitcoin goldencross just happened!” he summarized in a Twitter reaction.
“This potential correction could see BTC retest $20k (200DMA and key support), then in the bullish case, test $25k next. Make $25k support and it's nail in the coffin for the bears.”
BTC/USD annotated chart. Source: Venturefounder/ Twitter
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The picture remained complicated on the day thanks to an upcoming “countercross” on weekly timeframes, where the 50-period moving average remained on course to drop below the 200-period one — a phenomenon known as a “death cross” for its conversely detrimental impact on BTC price action.
BTC/USD 1-week candle chart (Bitstamp) with 50, 200MA. Source: TradingView
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For on-chain monitoring resource Material Indicators, it remained uncertain as to whether the golden cross alone could propel BTC/USD higher.
“Whether it's enough to get a legit test of the $25k range remains to be seen,” it wrote in part of commentary on the Binance order book.
An accompanying chart showed major resistance in the form of ask liquidity stacked at $23,500 — the first major hurdle for bulls to overcome in the event of a move higher.
BTC/USD order book data (Binance). Source: Material Indicators/ Twitter
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Powell speech "only key factor" of macro week
Another factor on the radar for Feb. 7 meanwhile came in the form of comments from the United States Federal Reserve.
Ahead of next week's macroeconomic data prints, multiple Fed officials were set to speak, with Chair Jerome Powell's words expected to be the most significant in terms of market-moving potential.
"Nothing special this week, the only key factor to watch is Powell tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps one more sweep for correction and then the party should continue rallying upwards," part of Twitter analysis by Cointelegraph contributor Michaël van de Poppe stated on Feb. 6.
Van de Poppe added that "buy the dip" might be an appropriate option on altcoins in the meantime, as Material Indicators noted was already the case with Bitcoin whales.
