Bitcoin (BTC) heads into the last week of February lower but shows signs of strength as a key support level holds.
After a nervous few days on macro and crypto markets alike, BTC/USD is below $40,000, but signs are already there that a comeback could be what starts the week off in the right direction.
The situation is far from easy — concerns over inflation, United States monetary policy and geopolitical tensions are all in play, and with them, the potential for stocks to continue suffering.
Further cues from the U.S. Federal Reserve will be hot property in the short term, with March expected to be when the first key interest rate hike is announced and delivered.
Could it all be a storm in a teacup for Bitcoin, which, on a technical basis, is stronger than ever?
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Cointelegraph presents five factors that could influence price action in the coming days as storm clouds remain over the global economy.
The main story for Bitcoin traders this week comes from outside — the post-COVID economic outlook and worries over relations with Russia.
The first comes in the form of how the Fed will respond to soaring inflation and, more specifically, whether its hinted interest rate hikes will start in March as anticipated.
Such hikes are bad news for booming equities, which have had two years of unbridled gains thanks to the giant liquidity program from the Fed to counter another COVID-era demon: lockdowns and unprecedented controls on economic activity.
With the “easy money” soon to start drying up, something of a reality check could be in store for everyone.
In terms of rate hikes, too many too soon risk recession — a topic already under discussion as a potential “necessary evil” for other countries — while a light touch could, on the contrary, fail to reduce the highest inflation in 40 years.
Coupled with that, the situation with Russia and its alleged plans for Ukraine is further worrying equities.
Commodities such as oil have been conversely profiting from fears over outright war, these so far being misplaced as diplomacy limps on this week.
Overall, however, the short-term view is one of considerable uncertainty, while optimism remains for a comeback for both risk assets such as crypto and traditional stocks by the end of 2022.
There is, however, no hiding the numbers.
“Global stocks have lost another $1.3tn in mkt cap this week on heightened Russia/Ukraine risk & the potential for continual Fed rate hikes this year,” markets commentator Holger Zschaepitz summarized Sunday.
“The latter expected to halt growth & trigger a recession by 2023H1 in the US. Stocks now worth $114tn, equal to 134% of global GDP.”
Wall Street trading begins on Tuesday this week due to a U.S. public holiday.
With that, it’s been tough for the average Bitcoin day trader this month.
February has afforded only around two weeks of easy gains, with macro influences putting an end to the party the week before last.
Since then, BTC/USD has lost $40,000 support and threatened a full retracement of this month’s newly won ground.
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In the event, however, $38,000 — a level previously highlighted as essential to hold for bulls — remained intact.
The weekly close, while the lowest in several weeks, was accompanied by a fresh relative strength index (RSI) breakout on the four-hour chart, a classic signal preceding short-term price bounces.
True to form, Bitcoin then inched higher, holding around $39,200 at the time of writing. - Cointelegraph.
