Bitcoin - Escalation or Reprieve? After some time, Bitcoin has finally tested the $20k level. All the cryptos I held throughout the bull market are now below the levels where I first de-risked in January, 2021. This means that prices are now below every single one of my sell points. A move like this seemed likely to me, considering the breakdown of the 3-day 200 MA back in April. Prior to that, I liquidated most of my crypto earlier in 2022, due to a multitude of other warning signs. Here is the post from April, calling for $20k:
In my last Bitcoin analysis, I wrote about the potential for some sort of relief rally heading into the U.S. Midterm elections. Since then, price has continued to drop, but this scenario remains in play. This is not a time where I feel comfortable putting in a lot of capital, but it's a time where I'm certainly looking or opportunities. This is why I'm toying with some small alt positions to see if I can catch a bounce. Here's the last analysis:
Bitcoin now sits dangerously below the 200 week MA (teal), and must get above soon, otherwise it risks becoming major resistance. As Ethereum is now decidedly below its 2017 all-time high (near $1440 on Binance), it seems a real possibility Bitcoin will drop below the key $19-20k zone. Some liquidity still exists in the large area between $13.6k and $17.2k, so price can even venture briefly down there before any meaningful recovery for the market.
The theme of this post is ESCALATION or REPRIEVE.
What would ESCALATION look like? Well, as you might have noticed, a few major funds, platforms, and exchanges are in danger of insolvency. Many in this space were irresponsibly leveraged, most likely because they did not believe Bitcoin would ever retest its 2017 high and continue its established pattern. Escalation would mean that this creates a domino effect, until almost every exchange and firm shuts down, resulting in an extreme liquidity crisis. This could, in theory, push Bitcoin price continuously lower with no end in sight. This is what most sellers fear at the moment. And it's a very real possibility.
Now, what would a REPRIEVE look like? A reprieve is a delay in punishment. Sure, Bitcoin can bounce here and slowly grind up towards some other Moving Average resistances in the coming months. Historically, it has done this, once it reaches the 200 week MA. The way I see it, a relief rally would simply delay the inevitable. I no longer believe Bitcoin is in a long term uptrend, and instead has reversed to the downside. Almost every bullish narrative for Bitcoin price has now unwinded, in my opinion. I think the last remaining chance is forced adoption . This would mean that although most people would not choose to use it (the evidence for this already exists in El Salvador), the government could enslave everyone by buying a bunch of Bitcoin and doling out limited amounts of it to the populace once the Dollar collapses. This is the doomsday scenario Bitcoiners have been prepping for this whole time. There is an incredibly amount of irony in this. You take a currency that hardly anyone wants to use, so how do you make sure that people use it? You enlist the government and big banks. But wait, I thought big government and banks couldn't control Bitcoin? I thought that was the whole point! You mean to say Bitcoin adoption inevitably evolves into authoritarianism? WHAAAT??
You can see how this argument can end up in absurd circles with logical fallacy upon logical fallacy. But, let's say something like the scenario I wrote about above actually happens . Even in this circumstance, the government may simply end up buying a ton of Bitcoin for $1000 a piece (or lower). Depending on liquidity, this can finally push price above $100k. So, I guess I understand why Bitcoiners want to hold onto their coins no matter what. But will they hold on no matter the value?
Even so, I think the above circumstance is unlikely. Bitcoin has broken its long term trend against traditional markets, as I wrote about here:
As I've also pointed out, a currency with a fixed supply is not a great unit of exchange since it encourages hoarding and not spending. With this logic, it makes sense why Bitcoin price is decreasing rapidly in an inflationary environment - people are finally selling or spending it, and not buying it! This is because its value far exceeded the dollar over the last 10 years, so it's actually a GREAT currency....for those who bought early. Now, even those who bought at the 2017 bubble peak are merely around break-even, and at a loss if they bought Ethereum. This doesn't even take into account inflation.
Here is my post where I outlined a speculative trajectory for the coming months. So far, so good. Now, if it fails to even attempt a bounce near these levels it'll probably look even worse than that.
Nevertheless, there always exists a possibility counter to my bias. For instance, if Bitcoin can bounce hard here and clear the $37-42k resistance zone, then maintaining above $40k for many weeks, I may consider a longer term ranging market with some eventual upside. I do think there is somewhat of a chance we see some slow relief here with low volume throughout the rest of the Summer, into the fall. During this time, a select few altcoins would probably again pump and dump in a "last hurrah." This is why I have toyed with entering some small altcoin spot positions. Really, I can't help myself. It's the "I might as well" trade. Come on Bitcoin, let's just give the 200 week MA a chance!
In the event of a recovery soon, I can see a media narrative where it is blamed on the FED's perceived inability to tame inflation (meaning that although it may not be true, the market expects no matter WHAT the interest rates are, inflation will still exist, so they YOLO everything back into assets because, well, we're irrational beings). Then, as interest rates continue higher, unemployment jumps, and markets begin their true multi-year decline into the next great depression. Inflation eventually drops, but by then markets are deep into a bear market and unemployment so high that few can buy stocks or other assets. Then, we get The New Deal, Part II. All fun (and scary) speculation of course!
Thanks for sticking with me on this crazy ride!
This is not meant as financial advice - it represents only my opinion and it is highly speculative.
-Victor Cobra
