Bitcoin approached local highs again over the weekend and closed the week at around $88,000—surprisingly without any significant fluctuations. The market also ignored the record expiration of options worth approximately $24 billion. At the end of the year, a different question than usual is beginning to be addressed: will this be the first “red” post-halving year in history?
Volatility has disappeared. Even $24 billion in options did not upset the market
While not long ago, a single major news item was enough to cause a sharp movement, in recent days Bitcoin has seemed almost “sedate.” A series of short fakeouts indicated nervousness, but none of them developed into a trend. Traders on BITmarkets are thus watching one of the most interesting contrasts of the end of the year: the price is high, but the market is behaving as if it were waiting for a signal.
Some analysts point out that the pace could have been slowed down in the short term by the massive expiration of options, an event that is usually associated with higher volatility. This time, however, paradoxically, there was a calming down. It resembles a scenario where the market first “clears” so that it can move without unnecessary noise.
The RSI is sending a signal. At the same time, the psychological annual candle is breaking.
A bullish RSI divergence has appeared on the three-day chart – a pattern that, according to trader Jelle, has preceded two significant local bottoms in the past. This time, a similar signal is appearing again, and close to key support. Technically, this gives the market an argument for a rebound, although confirmation is still lacking.
At the same time, a topic is opening up that Bitcoin has not yet experienced in this form: if the year closes in the red (currently around -6%), it would be the first negative post-halving year in history. This could undermine the dogmatic belief in four-year cycles, which the market has long taken for granted. And as Keith Alan of Material Indicators points out, this time it may not be the wick that decides, but the closing price.
