Outlook for the remainder of the year. The ETF inflows have generally remained positive at new ATH levels, while volume remains low and price remains flat. This suggests considerable distribution from OTC sellers, namely longer-term holders, per HODL waves analysis.
It's been 3 months since breaking ATH in March, with price unable to move higher. The consolidation at higher levels remains bullish until 60K is broken to the downside (foodgates moment), which would confirm the current range (60K-70K) as longer-term distribution, rather than accumulation.
First stop will likely be a re-test of the 50 Week MA around 50K after the floodgates for selling opens below 60K. With relatively low accumulation volume, I'm not expecting it to hold as support, but instead return to the 200 Week MA around 40K, likely after a re-test of previous support in order to confirm it as new resistance (around 60K). The 20 Week MA is currently around 63K, so below this level, there will already likely be an increase in selling pressure.
The Weekly RSI is otherwise facing rejection from overbought levels >70, similar to late 2021 (minus the strong bearish divergence back then). The culmination of breaking the 20 WMA and confirming RSI rejection by returning to 60K, would be the catalyst for the break of support. As also noted (N.B.) the Mid Pi Cycle Top occurred in march, around 68K-70K, with price unable to maintain the momentum above this rising MA multiplier, unlike in December 2020 at 21K.(1) The post-halving "Miner Capitulation" has also been signalled by Hash Ribbons indicator, not so dissimilar to summer 2020 that encouraged consolidation and a miner correction.(2)
I'm not particularly expecting Path B to play out, unless there is a catalyst for a more full-blown capitulation, leading to a 65% haircut in price. Examples include ETF holders getting cold feet leading to panic as price goes below opening ETF prices , or otherwise some negative regulatory news. A -45% move down to 40K should otherwise be more then sufficient to build up momentum for a 2025 bull market reaching 100K+. Should price reach 25K to 30K levels (path B), there could be a "delay" within the usual cycle, with higher parabolic prices nearer to 200K. After the 3x from 2017 to 2021 ATH, 2x seems reasonable in 2025 however ~138K.
Last week closed below the 20 Week MA (~64K) for the first time since October 2023. Failure to reclaim this MA will signal further weakness followed by higher probability of a capitulation to lower levels. The 200 Day MA is priced around ~58K, that alongside recent closing Daily lows last month, will likely act as the "line in the sand" for the bulls to hold as support in order to maintain the current range.