Key takeaways

• BTC is down 1% in the last 24 hours and is now trading below $113k.
• The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points today.

FOMC meeting dominates headlines

Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP) are currently bearish as they are struggling to break above key resistance levels. Bitcoin has dropped below 113k and is now trading around $112,950 per coin.

This price action comes after Bitcoin’s price was rejected at the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level. The bearish performance in the last few hours comes ahead of the FOMC meeting in a few hours.

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points, a move that could see Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies rally in the near term. The rate cut is expected despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which caused a financial data backlog in the last three weeks. 

Bitcoin could hit $120k if the bullish trend resumes

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Bitcoin has underperformed in the last 24 hours. The bearish performance comes after Bitcoin retested and faced rejection from the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $115,137 earlier this week. It is now down 1% in the last 24 hours and is currently trading below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $112,950.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart hovers around 60, indicating a bullish bias among traders. Furthermore, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) showed a bullish crossover on Sunday, supporting the bullish thesis.

If Bitcoin holds its price above the $112k level and closes its daily candle above $115,137, it could extend the rally toward the key psychological level at $120,000.

However, failure to close above the $115,137 resistance level could see Bitcoin lose its recent momentum and decline toward the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $106,453.

Bitcoin price is struggling to recover above $112,500. BTC is now consolidating and might decline if there is a move below the $110,800 level.

• Bitcoin started a recovery wave above the $110,800 zone.
• The price is trading above $111,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
• There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $110,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair might start another decline if it stays below the $113,000 zone.

Bitcoin Price Faces Key Hurdles

Bitcoin price started a fresh recovery wave from the $110,000 zone. BTC managed to climb above the $110,800 and $111,200 resistance levels.

The bulls were able to push the price above the 50% Fib retracement level of the key decline from the $113,372 swing high to the $110,039 low. However, the bears remained active near the $112,600 zone and prevented more gains.

The 76.4% Fib retracement level of the key decline from the $113,372 swing high to the $110,039 low acted as a resistance. Bitcoin is now trading above $111,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a bullish trend line forming with support at $110,800 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $111,750 level. The first key resistance is near the $112,000 level. The next resistance could be $112,550. A close above the $112,550 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $113,000 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $114,200 level. The main target could be $115,000.

Another Decline In BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $112,550 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support is near the $110,800 level and the trend line. The first major support is near the $110,500 level.

The next support is now near the $110,000 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $108,800 support in the near term. The main support sits at $107,500, below which BTC might decline sharply.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $110,800, followed by $110,000.

Major Resistance Levels – $112,550 and $113,000.

Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.