Market Overview: Bitcoin
This week, Bitcoin reversed upwards, forming a breakout mode pattern on the weekly chart. This development has been anticipated for weeks, as the price had over 20 bars of sideways movement. From this balanced setup, a new trend will likely emerge, and multiple scenarios can play out. This analysis will explore those possibilities and their implications for traders in the coming weeks.
Bitcoin
The Weekly chart of Bitcoin
The market is currently in a tight trading range, a type of small trading range characterized by a limit order market behavior. In this scenario, traders are buying near recent lows and selling near recent highs, without clear momentum. As the market moves sideways, it demonstrates mean reversion behavior, typical of broad channels or trading ranges, where traders exploit short-term overbought or oversold conditions. However, with no clear trend, the market currently lacks an “always in” direction, which could typically provide a more actionable bias for traders.
The current setup is a breakout mode pattern, a common formation in contracting markets, often resembling a triangle. This pattern reflects a 50% probability of a breakout in either direction. Such patterns are attractive to stop order traders, who expect a breakout will result in a strong move with favorable risk-reward ratios, typically targeting a 2:1 reward for each dollar risked. This setup produces a positive trader’s equation, as the balanced odds combined with favorable reward potential make it an appealing opportunity.
On the bullish side, stop order traders would place buy orders above the lower high of the triangle, around $65,100, with stops below the lower low, around $49,000, and a target near $95,000. Bears, on the other hand, will sell below the higher low at $52,500, with stops above $70,000, aiming for a move towards the lows of 2023.
The pattern also reflects the vulnerability of limit order traders who may be caught trying to buy low and sell high, only to be forced to exit positions in a disappointing or margin call scenario: this dynamic is especially common in crypto markets, where forced liquidations often exacerbate price moves. Traders may also deploy options strategies, such as the long straddle, which benefits from a sharp move in either direction but carries the risk of time decay (theta) if the market fails to break out soon.
The Daily chart of Bitcoin futures
On the daily chart, the market cycle also reflects a trading range, but with broader price swings, allowing swing traders to capitalize on moves from the low to high ends of the range. Although the always in direction currently suggests a bullish bias, as we are in a tight bull channel, this directional bias is often faded within trading ranges, and traders can take advantage of fading the always in side, especially if it fits into a positive trader’s equation.
The triangle pattern discussed in the weekly analysis is visible here as well. This pattern represents the same breakout mode, offering traders a chance to catch a potential breakout move early. However, this comes with the risk of being trapped in a false breakout. For instance, there may be trapped bulls from earlier buy signals, particularly those who bought above the August 8th high, only to see the market reverse shortly after. While some of these traders may have been stopped out already, those with stops below the lower low of $49,050 could still be holding on, creating potential resistance as they attempt to exit their positions.
At present, the price is sitting in the middle of the triangle, which is generally a poor spot to take action. Many traders are waiting for the levels mentioned in the weekly analysis to trigger either a bullish or bearish move. Some traders might attempt to anticipate the breakout on the daily chart to secure a better risk-reward profile, but this introduces the risk of being trapped on the wrong side of the trade.
For example, if a trader enters long now, expecting the breakout to happen, and the price reverses, they may hit their stop loss. At that point, it becomes psychologically more challenging to reverse positions, especially knowing that the breakout mode still offers a 50% chance of failure, making it more likely to erode a trader’s confidence. The safest strategy in a contraction pattern like this is to wait for the breakout to confirm direction by triggering the mentioned weekly levels, before taking any decisive action.
In conclusion, the market is in a state of contraction, with a breakout mode pattern forming on the charts. This provides equal opportunities for both bulls and bears. Patience and careful observation of key levels are essential for traders in the coming weeks or days.
We’d love to hear from you! What price action do you see unfolding? Feel free to share your insights and observations with us—we encourage discussion and exchange of ideas. Let’s keep the conversation going as we navigate the market together. If you found this analysis helpful, please share it with others, and let’s keep building this beautiful community of price action traders!
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I am not following BTC (to insane spreads for intraday trading, and to volatile to hold longterm (extremely long term a binary bet if going to zero or heaven)
Not why I comment. You make a have very nice chart with the color codes. (And if you are the same person that makes the Eod video analysis an extra “tip of my imaginary hat” for those. I am working on view every day you make them as a part of journaling/postmarked analyse!
Hi Per Erik, thanks for your thoughtful comment!
I understand your concerns about Bitcoin being volatile and having large spreads, especially for intraday trading. I’ve found that Bitcoin is actually a great asset to trade, particularly on higher time frames like the 240-minute chart. If you’re familiar with the “always in approach” (as outlined here: https://www.brookstradingcourse.com/futures-market/always-in-swing-trading/), I’ve had success using it on Bitcoin’s 240-minute chart.
Regarding volatility, professional traders don’t shy away from volatile assets; they simply adjust their position size to manage risk. Volatility is neither good nor bad—it just requires proper risk management. By adjusting your risk per trade in line with an asset’s volatility, you can maintain consistency, whether you’re trading Bitcoin or any other asset.
As for Bitcoin going to zero, I believe that after so many years in the market, it’s quite unlikely. That said, its high volatility reflects the fact that the market is still uncertain about its ultimate utility. For now, Bitcoin is perceived as various things: an uncorrelated asset, a momentum asset, a store of value, a medium of exchange in countries with unstable monetary systems, and other utilities.
Also, I’m not the one who creates the End of Day videos, but I completely agree—they’re an excellent resource for improving trading skills. Credit for those goes to Joseph Imbornone and Brad Wolff, who is also the author of the Emini & Forex Daily Reports.
Best of luck on your trading journey! Don’t hesitate to stay active in the Brookstradingcourse forum, the Emini & Forex Daily Reports, weekly reports, and other resources available to traders. Participating in those will refine your skills over time! A great example is Eli, a student that participates a lot in the comments section, and you can check how he/she improved the knowledge with a short period of time… just by asking and taking advantage of this awesome community!
Josep
hoping it breaks to the upside! thank you for your analysis
Hey Drew, thanks for your comment! Let’s keep an eye on key levels for confirmation, and manage risk no matter which way it goes. Glad you found the analysis helpful!
Best of luck with your trading!