Could BTC's Trendline End Not with a Bang But a Whimper?Primary Chart: Fibonacci Channel and Symmetrical Triangle
Title alludes to a well-known excerpt from T.S. Elliot's poem called "The Hollow Men":
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Setting Aside Bias Temporarily to Allow Greater Flexibility in Analysis
Many of my recent posts on cryptocurrencies have been presented with a bearish bias. A bearish view has been warranted, after all, because the technicals have left almost no room for a bullish short-term or intermediate-term view. Some of my recent posts have been neutral, however, to evaluate and explore more fully all possibilities within the context of support and resistance levels, price action and other technical factors.
Unfortunately, BTC's price chart has not yet turned bullish given the price structure. And positive / bullish divergences mentioned by some long-term crypto investors cannot count until they are confirmed by a reversal in trend structure.
This post attempts to set aside bias temporarily to present a variety of technical evidence as objectively as possible. The goal is to remain relatively neutral to allow a more complete examination of the price charts and technicals without the influence of a particular predetermined goal or conclusion. This might allow for greater flexibility to follow the unexpected turns that prices often take.
BTC's Relative Strength in Recent Weeks
In a recent bearish post, after listing several arguments for the bears, I discussed one argument for the bulls—BTC's relative strength. On October 2, 2022, my post stated: "One argument for the bulls is that BTC's sideways chop action has resulted in its relative strength becoming quite impressive. Equity indices have been plummeting sharply since mid-August 2022 with little reprieve. But BTC during this time has largely chopped sideways after losing a few key levels in late August and early September 2022."
This relative strength can be examined more closely by looking at a spread chart that divides one instrument's price by the price of an index or some other price reference for comparison. The chart below shows a spread (or ratio) chart of BTC / SPX, showing BTC's relative strength compared to a leading equity index, the S&P 500 ( SP:SPX ).
Supplementary Chart A: Spread Chart Showing BTC's Relative Strength vs. SPX
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Note how this spread chart has broken above a nearly 11-month downward trendline. Some may draw the conclusion too quickly that this suggests a trend reversal, such as from a downtrend to an uptrend. But a break above a down trendline by itself merely suggests a shift from that particular downtrend to either a less steep downtrend or a more neutral trend, which could then lead to a period of sideways chop for some time or it could lead to a trend reversal as well. But a reversal to an uptrend requires a change in trend structure, which is a process that takes time to form and has not occurred yet.
Another aspect of BTC's relative strength exists. It has not broken its June 2022 lows as many equities and equity indices have done. Until that changes—it could break those lows at any time—this technical evidence is an alternative way of viewing BTC's relative strength.
BTC's relative strength has improved even though BTC has largely churned and chopped sideways for the past weeks and months. This is because many asset classes have been steadily declining, some even plummeting, since mid-August 2022 peaks. Any asset or instrument will have relative strength when it moves sideways while equity indices continue to decline. The sideways consolidation will be discussed in greater detail in the next section.
BTC's Recent Consolidation and Volatility Compression
BTC's price has chopped steadily around a key Fibonacci level of $19,246 for the past several weeks since mid-September 2022, and even for a number of days in late August 2022 as well. This consolidation has been noteworthy given that equity indices have plummeted during this time. When an asset moves sideways while equity indices steadily decline results in relative strength (outperformance) of that asset as discussed in the previous section.
Supplementary Chart B: Recent Consolidation Range Containing Price
And during this lengthy consolidation, the compression in volatility has been quite significant. The next chart compares the levels of volatility by using a famous volatility indicator called the Bollinger Bands (set at 2 standard deviations from the mean) on a daily chart. Parallel channels have been drawn over various sections of the Bollinger Bands to give a visual comparison of the volatility levels and volatility compression levels over the past several months. Note how wide the Bollinger Bands expanded as a result of the high volatility associated with steep selloffs. And the periods of volatility compression (squeezes) often preceded those periods of high volatility and large directional moves downward.
Supplementary Chart C: Bollinger Bands (2 Standard Devations) with Channels for Visual Aid in Comparing Volatility Levels
Most importantly, note how the tightly compressed the current volatility in price has become, i.e., note how narrow, the Bollinger Bands are now. They are more narrow perhaps than at any other time during this bear market. If history is any guide, such a period of compressed volatility (a squeeze) implies that a sizeable increase in volatility associated with a large directional move will soon follow. Because the trend has been down, the odds would seem to favor a downward flush. But BTC's relative strength causes one to wonder whether a massive bear rally may be imminent.
So traders should be prepared for any scenario where price could move dramatically. This is why my stance became more neutral for purposes of a thorough evaluation of price action. Because BTC is at a make-or break juncture in the short-to-intermediate term, it helps to stay open to all possibilities rather than staying rigidly fixated on the obvious bearish view. Being flexible and nimble can help traders remain more keenly aware and prepared for shifts that can occur at any time.
VWAPs and Linear Regression Channel
Even if the charts may be shifting in subtle ways, some of the technical evidence still firmly supports the existence of a downtrend. Shorter-term VWAPs \ show that the current price remains under the volume-weighted average price for a variety of different lookback periods. This means that the average buyer is losing money and the average seller remains in control for each of these VWAP periods.
Supplementary Chart D: Various VWAPs from All-Time High, March 2022 High, June 2022 / YTD Low, and August 2022 High
Further, longer-term VWAPs remain in favor of the bears as shown in a separate post from September 24, 2022 (linked as Supplementary Chart E below). The linear regression channel from the all-time high to the present, which was drawn a few days ago (also linked as Supplementary Chart E), suggests that the downtrend remains very much in effect, and that evidence should not be dismissed.
Supplementary Chart E: Linear Regression Channel and Long-Term VWAPs
Price at Apex of Various Consolidation Triangles
The consolidation in price may be viewed from another helpful perspective—the various triangles that have formed. Triangles generally develop as a narrowing trading range (consolidation) as upper and lower trendlines converge under compressing volatility conditions. The Primary Chart shows a symmetrical triangle, which by definition does not imply a direction to the breakout. Price has reached the very apex of this triangle.
Price has also reached the apex of two other right-angled triangles shown below. Right-angled triangles (also called descending or ascending triangles) do imply a directional bias via the sloping trendline that intersects with the horizontal trendline. In this case, the two alternative right-angled triangles (shown in Supplementary Chart F below) imply a downward directional breakout. But right-angled triangles, like other technical patterns and indicators, do not work perfectly to guarantee that the breakout will occur in the implied direction. Some right-angled triangle breakouts occur in a direction opposite from what is expected, which can make the breakout even more sharp because it catches market participants off guard.
Supplementary Chart F: Multi-Month Right-Angled Triangle
Supplementary Chart G: Second Right-Angled Triangle
BTC's Price at Critical Juncture
In conclusion, BTC's price now trades at a critical juncture. A breakout in price from the very apex of several different triangles could occur within a day or two. The compression in volatility has been quite substantial, implying a larger than normal directional breakout move. Combine this compression in volatility with the fact that BTC has not made a new low, has shown relative strength vs. blue-chip indices, and it would seem that traders should be prepared to react to whatever might happen.
Price has also reached the 11-month downtrend line shown on the Primary Chart as the zero line of the Fibonacci Channel. Price could continue chopping sideways right through that down trendline without much ado. That would perhaps be one of the most frustrating outcomes for bulls and bears alike, which is why the title to this article was chosen.
And at this point, it would appear that just about anything can happen—an eye-popping bear rally, a few major whipsaws up and down over the next several weeks, a major continuation move in the downtrend. Or price could just drift sideways through the 11-month downtrend line, ending it not with a bang, but a whimper. While predicting may feel satisfying, the better approach in this case may be to wait and allow price to tell us which way it wants to go.
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Author's Comments:
(1) Thank you for reviewing this post and considering its charts and analysis. The author welcomes comments, discussion and debate in the comment section. Shared charts are especially helpful to support any opposing or alternative view.
(2) This technical-analysis view does not constitute a trade recommendation or trade setup. Instead, it attempts to offer technical commentary that describes and analyzes price levels, trends, price action, or the broader technical environment as of the publication date. Technical-analysis commentary does not equate to trade setups or recommendations. Within a given price environment, traders bear responsibility for their own trading strategy, risk tolerance, and time frame, and for any due diligence associated with such trades.
(3) This technical-analysis viewpoint could change at a moment's notice, e.g., when price violates a key level of invalidation for a particular view. Further, proper risk-management techniques are vital to trading success.
(4) To the extent countertrend price moves are discussed, consider that countertrend or mean-reversion trading, e.g., trading a rally in a bear market, remains higher risk and lower probability even for the most experienced traders and investors.
DISCLAIMER: This post contains commentary published solely for educational and informational purposes. This post's content (and any content available through links in this post) and its views do not constitute financial advice or an investment or trading recommendation, and they do not account for readers' personal financial circumstances, or their investing or trading objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. Readers should perform their own due diligence, and consult a qualified / licensed financial adviser or other financial or investment professional before entering any trade, investment or other transaction.
