Bitcoin Price Eyes Triangle Breakout Above $6.4K
Bitcoin is again restricted in a narrowing price range, but technical studies indicate scope for a bullish breakout.
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Oct 18, 2018 at 11:15 a.m. UTC:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/OGZQ7WQ3O5E4DEIWDXE74XZBRM.jpg)
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Bitcoin (BTC) is again trading in a narrowing price range above $6,400, but the lateral trading may soon give way to a rally, according to technical studies.
So far, however, a bullish follow-through has not materialized, possibly because buyers are waiting for a more credible evidence of bearish invalidation.
Also standing in the way of a potential rally are a number of major key resistance levels, as discussed yesterday.
Should BTC clear these key obstacles, then traders may feel convinced that the cryptocurrency has bottomed out again at the 21-month EMA support and could push prices higher toward long-term falling trendline resistance above $7,000.
The above scenario could play out if the three-day long narrowing price range (triangle pattern) is breached on the higher side. Interestingly, the moving averages on the short duration charts are aligned for a potential break above the triangle resistance.
At press time, BTC is trading largely unchanged on the day at $6,440 on Coinbase.
Hourly chart
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The 50-, 100- and 200-hour exponential moving averages (EMAs) are trending north, indicating a bullish setup. Further, the stacking order of the 50-hour EMA above the 100-hour EMA, above the 200-hour EMA is a classic bullish signal.
As a result, BTC is more likely to cut through the upper edge of the triangle, currently at $6,460.
Another sign of a possible building directional change comes from the choppiness index, which has dipped below the 38.2 percent level.
So, it seems safe to say that triangle breakout, if confirmed, could yield a sharp move higher, possibly toward $6,800.
Daily Chart
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Over on the daily chart, BTC has cleared the trendline falling from July highs and the 5-day and 10-day EMAs are beginning to rise in favor of the bulls.
Thus, prospects of a triangle breakout are high.
View
- A triangle breakout looks likely and if confirmed, would signal a continuation of the rally from the Oct. 15 low of $6,151 and open the doors to $6,800.
- A downside break of the triangle would shift risk in favor of a re-test of the 21-month EMA of $6,123.
Disclosure: The author holds no cryptocurrency assets at the time of writing.
Bitcoin image via Shutterstock; charts by Trading View