First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Languishes Below $20K as Energy Crisis in Europe Worsens

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for Sept. 5, 2022.

AccessTimeIconSep 5, 2022 at 2:11 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 4:45 p.m. UTC
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  • Price Point: Bitcoin remains below the $20,000 threshold and ether ticks up slightly on the day. Gas prices surged and the euro and pound slumped after Russia shut down gas flows through the main Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany. Traditional markets in the U.S. were mostly closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
  • Market Moves: Could ether be set for a renewed price rally ahead of the Merge?
  • Chart of the Day: Bitcoin's recent consolidation around $20,000 has taken the shape of a symmetrical triangle.

This article originally appeared in First Mover, CoinDesk’s daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context. Subscribe to get it in your inbox every day.

Price point

Bitcoin (BTC) was trading flat on the day at around $19,700. The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value hit lows of $19,400 over the weekend after witnessing a short uptick on Friday following the U.S. jobs report.

As BTC is trading below the crucial support level of $20,000, a significant break at this point could be really damaging, according to analyst Craig Erlam at Oanda.

“The following key level below here would be the June lows of around $17,500,” said Erlam in a morning markets note. “Considering the outlook for risk appetite in the near term, it's not looking good.”

Ether (ETH), which has performed slightly better than bitcoin over the last few weeks, was up 1% over the last 24 hours. The network’s much anticipated Merge is just over a week away. For altcoins, Polkadot's DOT was up 4% and Chainlink's LINK was up 3.7%.

In traditional markets, gas prices surged and the euro and pound slumped after Russia shut down gas flows through the main Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany. The decision has created more uncertainty in Europe going into the winter months. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 1.1%. Traditional markets in the U.S. were mostly closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

In the news, the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) is in discussions with crypto exchange Binance over plans to create a virtual free zone focusing on blockchain and the digital economy.

Unusual blockchain data showed 10,000 BTC, worth more than $200 million, were moved in two transactions in the last week.

And, Poolin, one of the world's largest bitcoin mining pools, sought to assure users their funds are safe while acknowledging it is facing liquidity problems. Users have been complaining about issues with withdrawals from their wallets since at least August.

Biggest Gainers

Asset Ticker Returns DACS Sector
Terra LUNA +4.6% Smart Contract Platform
Polkadot DOT +3.3% Smart Contract Platform
Ethereum ETH +1.8% Smart Contract Platform

Biggest Losers

Asset Ticker Returns DACS Sector
Loopring LRC −3.4% Smart Contract Platform
Cardano ADA −2.0% Smart Contract Platform
Decentraland MANA −2.0% Entertainment

Market Moves

Ether Derivatives Markets Continue to Heat Up Ahead of the Merge

By Omkar Godbole

Ether (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market value, looked set for renewed price rally ahead of the Ethereum Merge, according to observers tracking chart patterns.

Last week, the native token of Ethereum's blockchain broke out of a falling wedge pattern identified by two converging and descending trendlines connecting Aug. 14 and Aug. 25 highs and lows hit on Aug. 10, Aug. 20 and Aug. 28.

"The formation is solid confirmation that ETH could go up in September more than anybody thinks," Bill Noble, chief technical analyst at cryptocurrency research company Token Metrics, told CoinDesk, when asked what the wedge breakout indicates.

Ether's wedge breakout indicates the correction from the Aug. 14 high of $2,000 has ended and the uptrend from the June 13 low of $1,000 is likely to resume.

Ether four-hour price chart shows descending trend lines and breakout from falling wedge. (TradingView/CoinDesk)
Ether four-hour price chart shows descending trend lines and breakout from falling wedge. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

Prices doubled in the four weeks to Aug. 14 as equity markets regained poise and Ethereum developer Tim Beiko hinted at Sept. 19 as the deadline for the long-awaited Ethereum Merge – the technological upgrade that will transform the smart contract platform to a proof-of-stake network. The overhaul is likely to cause a drastic reduction in ETH supply and bring a store of value appeal to the cryptocurrency.

The Merge is slated to happen sometime around Sept. 15.

Traders often use technical analysis – a study of price patterns – to help make investment decisions.

The "falling wedge" pattern begins wide at the top and contracts as prices move lower, causing the two descending trend lines to converge as the pattern matures. The converging nature of trend lines represents shallower lows, a sign of decreasing selling pressure. Therefore, a breakout is taken to mean a bullish revival.

Ether exited the falling wedge on Thursday, setting the stage for a pre-Merge rally.

"Ether has broken out of a falling wedge," Lewis Harland, a researcher at Decentral Park Capital, said. "A move above $1,700 would add conviction in the bullish momentum heading into the Merge."

Read the full story here.

Chart of the Day

Bitcoin Forms a Symmetrical Triangle

By Omkar Godbole

Bitcoin's four-hour price chart shows formation of "symmetrical triangle," a pattern indicating a bull-bear tug of war. (TradingView/CoinDesk)
Bitcoin's four-hour price chart shows formation of "symmetrical triangle," a pattern indicating a bull-bear tug of war. (TradingView/CoinDesk)
  • Bitcoin's recent consolidation around $20,000 has taken the shape of a symmetrical triangle.
  • The next move depends on the direction in which the ongoing bull-bear tug of war is resolved.
  • A breakdown would open the doors to lows under $18,000 reached in June.

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CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Lyllah Ledesma

Lyllah Ledesma is a CoinDesk Markets reporter currently based in Europe. She holds bitcoin, ether and small amounts of other crypto assets.

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole is a Co-Managing Editor on CoinDesk's Markets team.


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