Large reversal pattern suggests a target over 40% lower than current bitcoin price

Source: www.tradingview.com

Bitcoin completed its larger reversal pattern last week. It is a "head and shoulders" top, with the left shoulder approximately the same height as the pattern's head. Our reasoning for this is that high emotional buying accompanied the left side of the pattern. This exuberance is evident in the RSI, which stayed overbought for six months (green shaded rectangle).

In juxtaposition, the right shoulder charted at a 30% discount to the bitcoin high of $68,966. Sentiment had dropped off markedly. As the pattern progressed, market momentum deteriorated. The RSI peaks moved from the exuberant green shaded area to the orange shaded area and then the weak red shaded area.

The measured move of the head and shoulders gives a downside target of around $16,500. This measurement suggests a decline of over 40% from current levels. However, price doesn't move in a straight line, and a pullback before capitulation is undoubtedly possible. The key is to recognise the pullback as the next lower peak in the series.

The problem with measured moves is that they tend to be academic. So either price hits the target, or it doesn't. Nevertheless, it suggests continued bearishness.

Another problem with targets is that a time scale should accompany them. In our view, the contractionary monetary policy is weighing heavily on bitcoin. Inflation is still a major bugbear for the Fed, and we cannot discount the likelihood of continued aggressive tightening. This siphoning of liquidity will be a headwind for the cryptocurrency market.

Moreover, crypto markets have lost credibility and trust following the collapse of TerraUSD and Tether's dip from its dollar peg. Importantly, regulators have taken notice.

Thus, we believe the target may be achieved before year-end unless there is a stark change in monetary policy and investor sentiment towards cryptocurrencies.

The key is to keep an eye on the stochastic. Bearish pressure will be intense if it falls below 20 and maintains that position (blue arrow). The longer the stochastic remains in its lower quintile, the more credible the target becomes.