Bits + Bips: Bitcoin Is Deeply Oversold. Does That Mean the Bottom Is In?
Bits + Bips: Bitcoin Is Deeply Oversold. Does That Mean the Bottom Is In?
93 days agoUnchainedLaura Shin
Podcast34 min 55 sec
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are in a short-term downtrend but are extremely oversold, suggesting a sharp relief rally could be near. For long-term investors, current prices may be a buying opportunity, with a key long-term support level for ETH holding around $1,527. Aggressive investors should watch for a market rebound, as high-beta altcoins like Solana (SOL) could rally more fiercely than Bitcoin. The oversold software sector is also setting up for a counter-trend bounce, creating a potential entry point. Investors should watch for this initial bounce and then focus on buying the stocks that show the strongest leadership during the recovery.

Detailed Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • Current Trend: The uptrend that began at the 2022 low has officially reversed. The breakdown below a key support level (the Ichimoku cloud) just shy of $89,000 confirmed a bearish reversal.
  • Momentum: Long-term momentum indicators are negative.
    • The monthly MACD indicator gave a sell signal a few months ago, indicating growing downward momentum.
  • Oversold Conditions: Bitcoin is now deeply oversold on a long-term basis.
    • The monthly stochastic oscillator has just entered oversold territory. Historically, it has taken months for a major bottom to form after this occurs.
    • The weekly stochastic oscillator is showing an "oversold retest," which can be a good sign of an intermediate-term low forming.
  • Sentiment: The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index is at "extremely bearish" levels. This is often a contrarian indicator, meaning it can signal that a market bottom is near because selling pressure is exhausted.
  • Key Levels:
    • Support: There is a support zone around the $70,000 area, which is a level where the price previously consolidated.
    • Resistance: Because the price fell so quickly, there is a lack of significant resistance on the way back up. This means any bounce could be very sharp and dramatic.

Takeaways

  • The short-to-intermediate-term trend for Bitcoin is bearish. However, the market is showing signs of being extremely oversold and fearful, which are the conditions required for a bottom to form.
  • There is no clear "buy" signal yet. The analyst is waiting for momentum to shift and for signs of "downside exhaustion" before feeling confident in adding exposure. A potential buy signal from the DeMarc indicators could be one to two weeks away.
  • A sharp, short-term "oversold bounce" is a real possibility. The first move up from a bottom is often the largest, but trying to time it perfectly is very difficult.
  • For long-term investors (e.g., 10-15 year horizon), the analyst believes the secular (very long-term) uptrend is still intact. For these investors, buying at these levels may be a good opportunity within a larger bull market.
  • For traders, the high volatility presents opportunities, but caution is advised against "catching a falling knife." Waiting for confirmation of a trend change is a more prudent strategy.

Ethereum (ETH)

  • Current Trend: Like Bitcoin, ETH is in a downtrend and its short-term price action is closely tied to Bitcoin's.
  • Long-Term Outlook: The analyst sees the current downturn as a "cyclical down move, not a secular bearish reversal."
    • The ETH/BTC ratio is said to favor ETH over the "long, long term," suggesting it could outperform Bitcoin in the future.
    • A long-term uptrend line, drawn from a 2019 peak, is still intact and provides major support around $1,527. This suggests the very long-term bull market structure for ETH remains in place.
  • Oversold Conditions: Similar to Bitcoin, ETH is oversold and appears extended to the downside. The analyst is watching for signs of downside exhaustion, which could appear within the next one to two weeks.

Takeaways

  • ETH is currently in a bearish trend, moving in sync with the broader crypto market.
  • The long-term outlook remains positive. The current price action is viewed as a temporary bear cycle within a larger, secular bull market.
  • The key long-term support level around $1,527 is a crucial line in the sand for the secular bull trend.
  • Investors should apply a similar strategy as with Bitcoin: wait for signs that the downward momentum is fading and a bottom is forming before making new investments.
  • The potential for ETH to outperform Bitcoin in the long run makes it an interesting asset to watch as the market recovers.

Altcoins (including Solana)

  • Market Behavior: Altcoins generally follow the same directional trend as Bitcoin but are considered "high beta," meaning their price movements are more exaggerated.
    • They tend to underperform Bitcoin during downtrends.
    • They can "snap back in a more fierce manner" during a recovery, offering higher potential returns (but also higher risk).
    • Solana (SOL) was mentioned as an example of an altcoin whose downtrend is in sync with Bitcoin's.
  • Timing: Altcoins tend to bottom and top around the same time as Bitcoin.

Takeaways

  • For now, the trend for altcoins is down. It is best to use Bitcoin as the primary indicator for the overall market direction.
  • For aggressive investors looking to maximize returns during a market rebound, buying select altcoins could be a viable strategy, as they may rally more strongly than Bitcoin. However, this comes with significantly higher risk.
  • A useful tool for identifying opportunities is relative strength analysis. Watching an altcoin's ratio against Bitcoin (e.g., SOL/BTC) can provide early clues. If the ratio starts to turn up before the price, it can be a leading indicator of accumulation and potential outperformance.

Gold

  • Current Trend: The recent "parabolic" uptrend in gold appears to be showing signs of "upside exhaustion."
  • Technical Signals: A sell signal from the DeMarc indicators has appeared on the monthly chart, along with the first "overbought downturn" in two years.
  • Market Role: Gold has recently been trading more like a risk asset than a traditional safe haven.

Takeaways

  • The strong bull cycle in gold may be pausing or ending.
  • The analyst suggests that gold may be entering a period of a more gradual uptrend or a sideways trading range.
  • Investors who have enjoyed the recent run-up in gold should be aware that the trend is showing signs of weakening.

Software Sector

  • Current Trend: The software sector is in a downturn, and investors are looking for a "counter trend opportunity" as it becomes oversold.
  • Key Theme: The analyst notes the popular narrative that "AI is eating software," which may be contributing to the sector's weakness.

Takeaways

  • The software sector is currently oversold and in a downtrend.
  • A strategy for investors is to wait for the "first oversold bounce."
  • During this bounce, investors should pay close attention to which stocks show leadership and bounce the strongest. These leaders could be the best long-term investment opportunities once the sector finds a bottom.
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Episode Description
Crypto markets are under severe pressure, with Bitcoin sliding into one of the most oversold conditions in its history and Ethereum following closely behind. In this episode of Bits + Bips, Steve Ehrlich sits down with Fairlead Strategies founder Katie Stockton to walk through what the charts are actually signaling amid the selloff. They discuss why oversold does not automatically mean a bottom, how technicians look for downside exhaustion, and what needs to change before confidence returns for Bitcoin and ETH. Hosts: Steven Ehrlich, Host, Bits + Bips Guests: Katie Stockton, Founder and Managing Partner, Fairlead Strategies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About Unchained
Unchained

Unchained

By Laura Shin

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.