Market reviews

Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, has been dragged down to its lowest levels since January 2021 by the selling tsunami that has ripped through global markets. This crypto is already down 66% so far this year, having lost as much as three-quarters of its value (down 77.9%) from its all-time high set last November.
 

It’s another day of declines for the crypto world this Tuesday, but one cryptocurrency has been swimming against the broader tide since April.

The world’s premier digital currency has started this week with a spring in its step. Crypto prices have mirrored the year-to-date declines for equities and bonds.

Technical analysis is the study of past price action in order to gauge what the market might do in the future.

Cryptocurrencies have taken a battering over the last few months. The price of the oldest and largest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, has dropped over 50 percent since November 2021.

Bitcoin is attempting to rebound off the US$30,000 region, having dipped briefly below that psychologically-important mark earlier today. Bitcoin bulls would also have noted that forays below $30k have preceded strong rebounds on multiple episodes in 2021, including the run that ultimately ended with its current record high set back in November. Bitcoin bulls still have their work cut out for them after the recent rout, with a sustained presence above $35,000 likely required before confidence can be adequately restored and more participants would be enticed enough to return.

Bitcoin soared 8.8% on Wednesday, March 9, ending the day at $41,900. The leading cryptocurrency apparently hit a hurdle in its attempt to break out above $42k. On Thursday morning, we saw an equally strong reversal move back to $39k. As a result, Bitcoin shed 5.6% in 24 hours, while Ethereum slid 4.8%.

The last Bitcoin growth impulse confirmed the break of the downtrend: the chart rebounded resolutely from the previous upper bound of the downward trading range. However, as before in March, consolidation above the previous highs in the area of $45k is required to confirm a break in the trend.

The leading cryptocurrency has slowed down near the $45k resistance level. Investors were waiting for an important Federal Reserve meeting, at which Jerome Powell opted for a dovish rate liftoff in March. Instead of going for a 0.75 bp hike, under the current geopolitical conditions the regulator is inclined to favor a gradual increase of 0.25 bps. This factor could act as a positive driver for risk asset markets.

The cryptocurrency benchmark is approaching $45k, holding steady despite the geopolitical crisis, as well as the correction of global capital markets. The banking sector is dragging down the market for risk-sensitive assets as Russia has been expelled from Swift.

Bitcoin has been resolutely on the backfoot on Monday, February 28 as risk-sensitive assets come under heavy geopolitical pressure. The performance of the leading digital currency could depend on the outcome of peace talks aimed at resolving the situation in Ukraine. There has also been a downturn in crypto industry activity as “digital gold” has finally lost its status as a safe haven asset, due to the decoupling from precious metals.

Bitcoin has tanked 23% over the week to the critical $34k support level. This is a key pivot point for the bulls. The main reason for such a large-scale correction is news that Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine.

Bitcoin fell by 7% on Thursday, February 24, with the price action sliding below $35.5k. The main reason for such a sharp decline is the geopolitical crisis in Europe, namely Russia’s military operation in the Donbass. As a result, the demand for risk assets turned lower. At the moment, we can see that cryptocurrencies are selling off more sharply than EM stocks, although not as heavily as Russian equities. This confirms the risky nature of cryptocurrency assets and that they are not a substitute for gold.