cryptocurrencies

Jan 20 2021

Price analysis 1/20: BTC, ETH, DOT, XRP, ADA, LTC, BCH, LINK, XLM, BNB

When an asset is in an overbought condition and traders are sitting on large profits, even minor negative news and events could trigger profit-booking. This seems to have happened following Janet Yellen’s adverse comments on cryptocurrencies during a virtual hearing with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

In the same meeting, Yellen also told Congress to “act big” in order to support the U.S. economy. Another round of stimulus would probably further weaken the U.S. dollar and drive investors into assets that are considered as a store of value. This means Yellen’s comments may have inadvertently boosted the sentiment surrounding gold and Bitcoin (BTC).

*Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source:* *Coin360*

As the fundamental factors supporting the current bull run are still intact, the institutional investors who had missed out on the rally at lower levels may use the current dip to build positions.

Glassnode data shows that large investors have been aggressively adding Bitcoin to their portfolios and the number of wallets holding over 1,000 Bitcoin has risen to a new all-time high. Since the start of 2021, 164 new wallets with over 1,000 Bitcoin have been created, indicating that whales are bullish despite the current BTC price correction.

Let’s study the charts of the top-10 cryptocurrencies to spot the critical support levels where buyers may start cherry-picking.

BTC/USD

Bitcoin has broken below the symmetrical triangle pattern but the bulls are currently attempting to defend the 20-day exponential moving average ($34,626). In an uptrend, traders buy the dip to the 20-day EMA as it offers a low-risk entry opportunity and a bounce off it reiterates the strength in the trend.

The 20-day EMA is flattening out and the relative strength index (RSI) has gradually dropped from the deeply overbought territory to the midpoint, which suggests a balance between supply and demand.

If the BTC/USD pair sustains below the 20-day EMA, it could drop to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $29,688.10. The bulls are likely to defend this support aggressively. If they succeed, this level may act as the support of the range while $40,000 could act as the resistance.

The positive view could be negated if the bears sink the price below the 50-day simple moving average ($27,596). Such a move could open the possibility of a fall to the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $22,106.73.

ETH/USD

Ether (ETH) rallied to a new all-time high on Jan. 19, indicating that the bulls are in command. The upsloping moving averages and the RSI near the overbought territory suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside.

Usually, after every breakout from a resistance, the price returns to retest the level. The same has happened in the ETH/USD pair where the bulls are trying to flip $1,300 into support. If they succeed, this level will act as a new floor.

The long tail on today’s candlestick suggests traders are buying on dips below $1,300. If they manage to close the price above $1,300, the pair may attempt to resume the uptrend. If the bulls push the price above $1,438.318, the pair could rally to $1,675.

Contrary to this assumption, if the pair sinks and sustains below $1,300, the next drop is likely to be the 20-day EMA ($1,129). A bounce off this support will suggest the sentiment remains bullish, but if the bears sink the pair below the 20-day EMA a short-term top may be in place.

DOT/USD

After the sharp rally of the past few days, Polkadot (DOT) has entered a minor correction. The altcoin had today dipped to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $14.7259, which is acting as a strong support.

The long tail on today’s candlestick shows that traders are not waiting for a deeper correction to buy as they anticipate higher levels in the future. If the bulls can push the price above $19.40, the uptrend could resume with the next target objective at $24 and then $30.

Contrary to this assumption, if the bears sink the price below $14.7259, the selling may intensify and the pair could drop to the 50% retracement level at $13.2821 and then to the 20-day EMA ($12.32).

If the pair rebounds off the 20-day EMA, it will suggest the uptrend remains intact but if this support cracks, the decline could extend to $11.8383. The deeper the correction, the longer it is likely to take for the uptrend to resume.

XRP/USD

XRP rose above the 20-day EMA ($0.297) on Jan. 19 but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels, indicating traders are offloading their positions on every minor attempt to rally.

The price action of the past few days has formed a descending triangle pattern. If the bears sink the price below the $0.25 support, the XRP/USD pair could drop to the critical support at $0.169. A break below this level could resume the downtrend with the next target objective at $0.10.

On the other hand, if the bulls defend the $0.25 support and push the price above the downtrend line, the pair may rise to $0.385 and stay range-bound between these two levels for a few more days. A new uptrend could begin on a breakout and close above $0.385.

ADA/USD

Cardano (ADA) has pulled back from the stiff overhead resistance at $0.40, which shows short-term traders may be booking profits. The shallow correction and the long tail on the day’s candlestick show the bulls are attempting to flip the previous resistance at $0.34 into support.

If they succeed, the bulls will make one more attempt to thrust the ADA/USD pair above the $0.40 resistance and resume the uptrend. If they manage to do that, the next stop could be the psychological resistance at $0.50.

The upsloping moving averages suggest the trend remains in favor of the bulls but the negative divergence on the RSI indicates the momentum may be weakening. If the price sustains below $0.34, a drop to the 20-day EMA ($0.30) is likely.

A strong rebound off this support will indicate the uptrend remains intact but a break below it will suggest the possibility of a deeper correction to $0.26.

LTC/USD

The bulls pushed Litecoin (LTC) above the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $157.6904 on Jan. 19 but could not sustain the higher levels due to the bear onslaught, as seen from the long wick on the day’s candlestick.

If the bears can sustain the price below the 20-day EMA ($145), the LTC/USD pair could drop to $130 and then to $120. This is an important support to watch out for because a break below it could signal the bears are back in the game.

The flat 20-day EMA and the RSI close to the midpoint suggests a balance between supply and demand. This could keep the pair range-bound between $130 and $160. On the upside, a breakout and close above $160 may resume the uptrend.

BCH/USD

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) broke above the $539 resistance on Jan. 19, but the long wick on the day’s candlestick suggests the bears had other plans as they sold aggressively, trapping the bulls who may have purchased the breakout.

The BCH/USD pair dipped to the uptrend line but the long tail on today’s candlestick suggests the bulls aggressively defended this support. If the bulls can push the price above $539, a rally to $630 is possible.

On the contrary, if the pair breaks below the uptrend line, it will suggest the bears have overpowered the bulls. This will signal a possible trend change and the pair could then drop to the next critical support at $370.

LINK/USD

Chainlink (LINK) is currently correcting the sharp up-move of the past few days. Aggressive profit-booking by traders had pulled the price below $20.1111, but the long tail on today’s candlestick suggests strong buying at lower levels.

Both upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the positive zone suggest bulls have the upper hand. If the LINK/USD pair rebounds off the current levels, the bulls will try to push the price above $23.767 and resume the uptrend. The next level to watch on the upside is $27 and then $30.

Contrary to this assumption, if the bears sustain the price below $20.1111, the pair may drop to $17.7777, which is just above the 20-day EMA ($17.58). If the pair rebounds off this level and rises above $20.1111, the bulls will try to resume the uptrend.

This positive view will invalidate if the selling breaks the 20-day EMA support. Such a move will indicate the bulls are not buying the dips anymore, signaling a change in sentiment.

XLM/USD

Stellar Lumens (XLM) continues to trade inside the $0.26 to $0.325 range. The bulls tried to push the price above the range on Jan. 19 but failed, which shows the bears are active at higher levels.

The sellers will now try to sink the XLM/USD pair below the support of the range, but they are likely to encounter strong buying from the bulls. The upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the positive zone suggest the bulls are unlikely to give up easily.

A strong rebound off the 20-day EMA ($0.263) could extend the consolidation by a few more days. Contrary to this assumption, if the bears sink the price below the $0.26 support, the selling could intensify and that may pull the pair down to the 50-day SMA ($0.201).

BNB/USD

Binance Coin (BNB) tried to resume the uptrend on Jan. 18 and 19 but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels. Aggressive profit-booking on Jan. 19 started a correction that has reached the 20-day EMA ($40.99).

If the bears can sink and sustain the price below the 20-day EMA, the BNB/USD pair may drop to the support line of the ascending broadening wedge pattern. The bulls will attempt to defend this support and if they succeed, the pair may extend its stay inside the pattern.

Conversely, if the bears sink the price below the support line, it will complete the bearish setup, which has a target objective at $26.7273. But the pair is unlikely to plunge to the target level in a hurry because the bulls could offer strong support at $35.69.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Market data is provided by HitBTC exchange.

Price analysis 1/20: BTC, ETH, DOT, XRP, ADA, LTC, BCH, LINK, XLM, BNB

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Jan 19 2021

3 key reasons why Polkastarter (POLS) price rallied 500% since December

Polkastarter (POLS) is a cross-chain token pool and auction protocol built on the Polkadot (DOT) blockchain. It launched in October of 2020 as a way for projects to raise capital in a decentralized environment and since January the token has rallied 500% to a new high at $1.78.

Three possible reasons for the recent growth of POLS are the strong rally seen from Polkadot, strategic partnerships and exchange listings and an expanding list of token launches via auctions.

*POLS/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

The rise of Polkadot

The rising popularity of the Polkadot network is arguably the most significant influencer on the price of POLS. Similar to Kusama, Polkastarter’s association with Polkadot could attract additional user and investor attention.

*POLS price vs. Social engagement. Source:* *LunarCrush*

Polkadot’s rally began on Dec. 27, 2020, and it culminated on Jan.15 as DOT saw a 75% price increase in one week. POLS strong rally also reignited on Dec. 27 and followed a similar trajectory to DOT.

Now that DOT has flipped XRP to become the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, further price strength for Polkadot has the potential to have a positive impact on the overall performance of Polkastarter.

Exchange listings and partnerships

Prior to Jan. 14 POLS was only available on Uniswap and Poloniex. At the time its liquidity was limited and high ETH gas fees also complicated matters for those thinking about trading the token.

After the Huobi exchange announced plans to list POLS on Jan. 14, its trading volume increased from an average of $2 million to $22 million overnight.

Now the POLS community is working on being listed at OKEx and a recent tweet from the project informed supporters that the project only needs 2,000 more votes to qualify.

Listing POLS on another high-volume exchange has the potential to further boost the token’s price as more people will have access to one of the fastest-growing Polkadot based projects.

Successful auctions and token launches

Similar to the initial coin offerings (ICO) that occurred in 2017 and 2018, Polkastarter is gaining momentum due to its ability to attract capital heavy investors looking for the opportunity to get first access to the newest blockchain projects.

Polkastarter’s protocol is designed to enable cross-chain token pools and auctions as a method of raising capital in a decentralized fashion. To date, the platform has conducted 12 separate Initial Decentralized exchange Offerings (IDOs) with 20 different pools consisting of both public and private offerings. To date, only one pool failed to sell out.

The strong rally seen from DOT has only increased the desire of projects wanting to develop on top of Polkadot in order to capitalize on its growing popularity as well as avoid the challenges associated with building on Ethereum.

*List of initial decentralized exchange offerings on Polkastarter. Source: Polkastarter*

Tosdis, the most recent IDO conducted on Polkastarter, tweeted the following after its successful auction as an example of the platform’s growing popularity:

“We are really delighted to announce that our IDO on Polkastarter is sold out. POLS pool was sold out in record 30 seconds. After fixing some overloading and gas issues, the public pool was sold out in 90 minutes. We are overwhelmed by the support. Thank you and Stay tuned.”

Polkadot’s rise, successful IDOs on the Polkastarter platform and the listing of POLS on new exchanges have helped propel the value of the token to new highs and investors are optimistic that these strong fundamentals will push the price higher.

In addition to these fundamental factors, Ether’s (ETH) recent surge to a new all-time high has many analysts calling for the start of a new ‘altcoin season’. According to Raoul Pal, the CEO and co-founder of Real Vision Group and Global Macro Investor, traders are likely to plow into “higher risk alts” after Ether secures a new all-time high.

If this prediction does come to pass, it could also mean even brighter days are ahead for the Polkastarter ecosystem.

3 key reasons why Polkastarter (POLS) price rallied 500% since December

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Jan 17 2021

Top 5 cryptocurrencies to watch this week: BTC, LINK, UNI, XTZ, ATOM

Bitcoin (BTC) price has yet to recapture the $40,000 level and traders who were expecting a quick resumption of the uptrend may have been caught off guard by the recent pullback. This could have led to the liquidation of about $500 million worth of cryptocurrency futures positions in the past 24 hours.

Over leveraged positions provide the necessary ammunition during the uptrend, but they become a liability when the trend reaches an inflection point.

When the markets turn down, leveraged long positions quickly turn into a loss, resulting in margin calls from brokers. When the margin requirements are not met, the brokers dump the positions at market price, leading to a sharp plunge.

Therefore, data indicating a reduction in leveraged Bitcoin positions in the past few days is a positive sign as it decreases the risk of cascading liquidati.

*Crypto market data daily view. Source:* *Coin360*

While a sharp fall is usually avoided when the markets are not overleveraged, sustained buying is needed to maintain the higher levels. If that does not happen, the price continues to correct gradually.

Grayscale Investments has been one of the major buyers in the past few months but they now have a new competitor, Osprey Funds, which began quoting in the over-the-counter market on Jan. 15 under the ticker symbol OBTC. The firm is offering a competitive management fee structure compared to Grayscale.

This is a positive sign for crypto markets because if both these firms attract institutional investors, the buying may resume and Bitcoin can reverse course to pursue new highs.

While Bitcoin remains stuck in a range, select altcoins are running hard. Let’s study the charts of the top-5 cryptocurrencies that may be favored by the bulls in the next few days.

BTC/USD

Bitcoin is currently consolidating in an uptrend. The price action of the past few days has formed a symmetrical triangle, which generally acts as a continuation pattern. The long tail on today’s candlestick shows the bulls are buying the dips to the 20-day exponential moving average ($34,241).

The upsloping moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) in the positive territory suggest that bulls are in control. If the buyers can push the price above the triangle, the next leg of the uptrend could begin.

The first stop could be the current all-time high at $41,959.63, but if the bulls can propel the price above it, the BTC/USD pair may rally towards the pattern target at $50,000.

Contrary to this assumption, if the rebound fails to find buyers at higher levels, the bears may try to sink the price below the triangle. If they succeed, the pair may drop to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $29,688.10.

This level may attract buyers but if the bulls fail to push the price above the 20-day EMA, then the correction could deepen to the 50-day simple moving average ($26,581).

*BTC/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

The 4-hour chart shows that the bulls have purchased the drop to the support line of the symmetrical triangle but they may face resistance at the moving averages that are sloping down.

If the price turns down from the moving averages, the bears will try to sink the price below the triangle. If they succeed, a deeper correction is likely.

On the contrary, if the bulls can push the price above the moving averages, the pair may rise to the resistance line of the symmetrical triangle. A breakout of this resistance may start the uptrend.

However, if the price turns down from the resistance line of the triangle, the pair may trade inside the triangle for a few more days.

LINK/USD

Chainlink (LINK) broke above the $20.1111 resistance on Jan. 15 and followed it up with another up-move on Jan. 16, hitting a new all-time high at $22.96. But the long wick on the Jan. 16 candlestick suggests profit-booking at higher levels.

The price rebounded off the $20.1111 breakout level today, suggesting that the bulls have flipped this level to support. If the bulls can now push the price above $23, the LINK/USD pair could rally to $27 and then to $30.

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($16.25) and the RSI near the overbought zone suggest bulls are in control.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down and breaks below $20.1111, the next stop is likely to be $17.7777. This is an important support because a break below it will indicate a possible change in trend.

*LINK/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

The 4-hour chart shows the breakout above $20.1111 had pushed the RSI deep into the overbought territory, which may have attracted profit-booking from short-term traders.

However, the positive sign is that the bulls aggressively purchased the dip to the 20-EMA. If the bulls can sustain the price above $21.5709, the pair may retest $22.96. A break above this resistance may resume the uptrend. The upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the positive zone suggest bulls have the upper hand.

This bullish view will invalidate if the bears sink and sustain the price below the 20-EMA. Such a move could pull the price down to $17.7777, indicating the momentum has weakened.

UNI/USD

Uniswap (UNI) is currently in an uptrend but is facing selling above the $9 mark as seen from the long wick on Jan. 16 and today’s candlestick. If the bulls do not give up much ground, it will suggest traders are not rushing to the exit after the recent rally and are buying on dips.

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($6.15) and the RSI in the overbought territory suggest bulls have the upper hand. If the UNI/USD pair stays above the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $7.4725, the bulls will try to resume the uptrend.

If they can push the price above $9.3776, the rally could extend to $12.4597 and then to $15.

Contrary to this assumption, if the bears sink the price below $7.4725, the pair may drop to the 20-day EMA. Usually, a deep correction suggests that the momentum has weakened and that may result in a few days of range-bound action.

*UNI/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

The 4-hour chart shows the pair is currently consolidating after the recent sharp up-move. The bulls are buying the dip to the $8 support and the bears are selling above $9.

If the bulls can push the price above the $9 to $9.3776 overhead resistance, the uptrend could resume.

On the other hand, if the bears sink the price below the 20-EMA, the decline could extend to the 50-SMA. Such a move could keep the pair range-bound for a few days.

XTZ/USD

Tezos (XTZ) had been stuck inside the $2.85 to $1.85 range for the past few weeks. The bulls are currently attempting to push the price above the range and start a new uptrend.

However, the long wick on the Jan. 16 candlestick shows that the bulls are finding it difficult to sustain the price above the range. Today, the long wick and the tail on the candlestick indicates indecision among the bulls and the bears.

If the bulls can sustain the price above $2.85, the possibility of the start of a new uptrend increase. The upsloping 20-day EMA ($2.48) and the RSI above 66, suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside.

The first target objective on the upside is $3.90 and then $4.4936. This bullish view will negate if the XTZ/USD pair drops and breaks below the 20-day EMA.

*XTZ/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

The 4-hour chart shows the bulls had pushed the price above $2.85 but they could not build upon the strength, which led to a correction. However, the bulls aggressively purchased the dip to the 20-EMA and are now trying to drive the price above $3.1838. If they succeed, the uptrend could resume.

On the contrary, if the price turns down from the current levels or the overhead resistance and drops below the 20-EMA, it could correct to the 50-SMA. A break below this support could signal that the recent breakout above $2.85 was a bull trap.

ATOM/USD

Cosmos (ATOM) rose above the stiff resistance at $8.877 on Jan. 16 and made a new all-time high at $9.60. Whenever the price hits a new all-time high, it is a sign that bulls are in command.

However, the bears have not given up yet as they have pulled the price back below $8.877 and are attempting to trap the aggressive bulls. The bullish momentum could weaken if the bears sink the price below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $7.093.

Conversely, if the bulls can defend the zone between the 38.2% retracement at $8.05 and the 50% retracement at $7.572, it will suggest strong demand at lower levels.

If the price turns up from this support zone, the bulls will try to resume the uptrend. A break above $9.60 could push the ATOM/USD pair to $12.10 and then to $13.974.

*ATOM/USDT 4-hour chart. Source:* *TradingView*

Both moving averages are sloping up and the RSI is in positive territory, indicating that bulls have the advantage. The pair has bounced off the 20-EMA and the bulls will now try to push the price above the $8.877 overhead resistance.

If they succeed, the pair could rise to $9.60 and a break above it will signal resumption of the uptrend. Conversely, if the bears sink the price below the 20-EMA, it will suggest that the momentum has weakened and a drop to $7.50 and then to the 50-SMA is possible.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk, you should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Top 5 cryptocurrencies to watch this week: BTC, LINK, UNI, XTZ, ATOM

Source

Jan 14 2021

Coinbase opens the door to more crypto listings with Asset Hub

Coinbase, the San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a new platform designed to help issuers list their assets more efficiently — and, possibly, without having to go through the cumbersome listing process currently employed by the firm.

Coinbase Asset Hub is a “simple, streamlined product for issuers to list their assets and business” with the exchange, said Surojit Chatterjee, Coinbase’s CTO. “The goal is a single interface at Coinbase for digital asset issuers to manage the full lifecycle of their assets,” he said.

The platform, which was introduced on Thursday, will maintain a robust evaluation process to ensure that every asset meets Coinbase’s legal, compliance and security requirements. Beyond that, issuers can get started with Asset Hub by filling out a formal application.

The application asks the issuer to list the asset name and ticker symbol, as well as answer a few questions about their product. Applicants are then taken through the compliance review process.

Some in the industry consider a Coinbase listing to be the gold standard for cryptocurrency projects because it opens the door to tens of millions of investors. It also provides participants with an easy way to convert fiat money into digital assets without having to first deposit Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH).

Although Coinbase conducts periodic reviews of cryptocurrency projects, getting listed on the main Coinbase platform isn’t easy. Currently, over 40 assets are listed. Its professional trading platform, Coinbase Pro, provides access to over 90 assets.

2021 is shaping up to be a highly ambitious year for Coinbase. The firm is reportedly in talks with Goldman Sachs to help launch its initial public offering, which could be slated for later this year. The platform has brought in tens of billions of dollars in institutional capital over the past year, highlighting the growing demand for digital assets.

Coinbase opens the door to more crypto listings with Asset Hub

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Jan 13 2021

Wall Street Veteran Howard Marks Reconsiders Bitcoin Stance Amid Bullish Run

Despite a few setbacks, it’s safe to say that Bitcoin is continuing its forward trajectory. At the same time, several skeptics are starting to change their tone concerning the leading cryptocurrency.

The latest skeptic-turned-enthusiast is Howard Marks, the co-founder, and co-chairman of asset management giant Oaktree Capital Management.

Son Convinces Daddy

Oaktree is the largest investor of distressed securities in the world. Based in Los Angeles, the company holds about $140 billion in asset management.

In an investor memo shared earlier this week, Marks explained that he was beginning to change his skeptical views on Bitcoin, with the asset showing considerable maturity over the past few years.

Marks was a staunch critic of Bitcoin in the 2017 bull run.

At the time, the investment guru warned that Bitcoin was no more than a fad, and that investors would eventually lose a fortune when its bubble popped. In his memo, Marks explained that Bitcoin was essentially a pyramid scheme, with enthusiasts ascribing it a value based on peoples’ willingness to pay for it.

The value investor turned out to be right as Bitcoin plunged after reaching almost $20,000 per token.

However, with Bitcoin now leaving its previous all-time high in the dust, even Marks has alluded that he could have been wrong.

In his recent memo, the investor explained that he had been talking with his son, Andrew Marks, about cryptocurrencies. He added that Andrew was a strong Bitcoin enthusiast and had “thankfully” bought up a few on behalf of the family. Apparently, Andrew had been able to convince him.

As Marks explained, he had not been fully pro-Bitcoin. However, he acknowledged that he would need to at least examine the asset and its potential.

“When innovations work, it’s only later that what first seemed crazy becomes consensus. Without attaining real knowledge of what’s going on and attempting to fully understand the positive case, it’s impossible to have a sufficiently informed view to warrant the dismissiveness that many of us exhibit in the face of innovation,” the value investor said.

Wall Street Loves Crypto

Marks is just the latest Wall Street giant who appears to be warming up to crypto.

Last month, Ray Dalio, the founder of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, explained in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session that gold and Bitcoin provided the best alternative investment for people looking to divest from stocks and cash.

The billionaire hedge fund manager has previously criticized Bitcoin for its volatility and other failures as a currency.

With Wall Street stalwarts interested in crypto, there is hope that they will back some of that interest with investments. Institutional investment helped the crypto space grow last year, and with retail looking strong again, a push from top firms could take the leading cryptocurrency to unprecedented heights.

Wall Street Veteran Howard Marks Reconsiders Bitcoin Stance Amid Bullish Run

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