Bitcoin’s behavior at $47.5K mirrors the pre-breakout 2017 market

Bitcoin price succumbed to another wave of selling, but analysts say the current market structure at $47,500 mirrors the early bull-market from 2017. Crypto markets tanked again after Bitcoin (BTC) price slipped to $47,500 on Dec. 9, but most analysts agree that the price is destined to remain in the $40,000 to $55,000 range until the holiday season has passed. Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows that the early morning defense of the $50,000 support level was overwhelmed by sellers and according to independent market analyst Ben Lilly, bids at underlying support levels are not inspiring much confidence from bulls.

Here’s a look at what analysts and traders are saying about the recent price action and whether BTC’s current downside is a signal that a bear market is in the making.

Bulls aim to hold the $47,000 support

Insight into the weekly price action was provided by analyst and pseudonymous Twitter user Rekt Capital, who posted the following chart, which outlines the levels of support and resistance that are currently relevant to the price action for BTC.

Rekt Capital said, “BTC is threatening to lose this red support but no confirmed breakdown. Below red is the orange area, a strong support which ended two -25% corrections in February and September. Generally red needs to hold to avoid a drop to orange. Still holding here until further notice.”

Full-time trader and Cointelegraph contributor Michaël van de Poppe is also keeping an eye on the price action around these important support levels and posted the following chart outlining the “make it or break it” support level in the low $40,000s.

Poppe said, “Chop, chop, chop it is for Bitcoin. A crucial area to hold is that region we've touched already at $42K. The close was above $46K–47K and I'd prefer not to lose that at all.”

Pennant formation hints at an eventual bounce

Further analysis of the weekly price action for BTC was provided by analyst and pseudonymous Twitter user TechDev, who posted the following tweet outlining the formation of pennants, which have proven to be followed by bullish breakouts in the past, on the Bitcoin chart.

As expressed by TechDev at the end of his tweet, nobody ever said that making money and holding firm on the long-term outlook for BTC was easy, and the biggest rewards are reserved for those that can persevere during times of struggle like that which the market is currently facing.

Bitcoin price action resembles the 2017 market

A final bit of insight was offered by the crypto trader and pseudonymous Twitter user Nunya Bizniz, who posted the following chart comparing the price action for BTC during the 2017 bull market cycle to the current chart and hinted at a possible breakout approaching for Bitcoin in the near future.

Nunya Bizniz said, “Price action at a prior ATH that has been most similar to now was in 2017. Maybe?”

While what happens with Bitcoin price in the near future remains to be seen, it’s looking as if the handful of $100,000 predictions by the end of 2021 will fall short and possibly not occur until sometime in 2022, if at all. The overall cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $2.25 trillion and Bitcoin’s dominance rate is 40.1%.