Bitcoin (BTC) Bulls Take Back Seat, $4,850 Holds The Key

• Bitcoin price started a major downward move after it failed to stay above $5,150 against the US Dollar.
• The price declined below the $5,080 and $5,000 support levels to enter a short term bearish trend.
• There is a key declining channel in place with resistance at $5,040 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair could decline further towards the main support near $4,850, where bulls could take a stand.

Bitcoin price failed to hold the key $5,220 and $5,150 supports against the US Dollar. BTC even dipped below $5,000 and it may continue to slide towards the key $4,850 support area.

Bitcoin Price Analysis

Recently, there was a bearish reaction below the $5,350 support in bitcoin price against the US Dollar. The BTC/USD pair started a major downward move after sellers managed to push the price below the $5,220 and $5,150 support levels. It opened the doors for more losses, with a close below $5,150 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. The price even broke the $5,000 support area and traded close to the $4,920 support area.

A swing low was formed at $4,922 and the price is currently consolidating losses. It tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent drop from the $5,463 high to $4,922 low. There is also a key declining channel in place with resistance at $5,040 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The pair could spike above the $5,040 and $5,050 levels. However, upsides are likely to be contained near the $5,080 and $5,100 levels. The main resistance is near the $5,150 level, above which bitcoin price could test the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent drop from the $5,463 high to $4,922 low.

The current price action is suggesting more losses below the $4,920 support level. The next main support is at $4,850, which was a resistance earlier. Bulls are likely to take a stand near $4,850. If they fail to protect $4,850, the price could test the $4,720 support.

Looking at the chart, bitcoin price clearly struggled in the past two sessions and settled below the $5,150 support. In the short term, there could be an upside correction, but upsides are likely to be capped near $5,080 or $5,100. Therefore, there are chances of another downside push below $4,920 before bulls appear near the $4,850 support area.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is showing negative signs in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD recovered recently from 30 and it is currently near the 40 level.

Major Support Levels – $4,920 followed by $4,850.

Major Resistance Levels – $5,040, $5,080 and $5,150.