Is Bitcoin price close to a cycle top? — 5 indicators that help traders decide

2 weeks ago

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin marketplace rhythm tops are notoriously hard to time, but combining method and behavioral indicators tin connection beardown signals.

  • The MVRV-Z Score, Pi Cycle Top indicator, commercialized measurement trends, Puell Multiple, and speech inflows accurately foretell Bitcoin terms rhythm tops.

Bitcoin (BTC) might be approaching the last signifier of its existent marketplace rhythm — a melodramatic last rally followed by a crisp correction and, eventually, a carnivore market. For many, this could beryllium the long-awaited climax of the past 4 years, and large players are preparing accordingly.

Since precocious 2024, Bitcoin whale accumulation has surged. Glassnode data shows that the fig of addresses holding implicit 100 BTC has jumped by astir 14%, reaching 18,200 — a level not seen since 2017. The biggest marketplace players look to beryllium positioning for what could beryllium this cycle’s last run-up.

Number of BTC addresses holding implicit 100 BTC. Source: Glassnode

However, riding the rally is trickier than it looks and knowing erstwhile to exit is notoriously difficult. The lure of higher terms highs fuels FOMO, driving investors to bargain the top, lone to look achy drawdowns oregon adjacent liquidations.

So, however tin traders and investors spot the apical earlier the marketplace enters recession?

Bitcoin rhythm apical markers

Several method and onchain indicators, specified arsenic MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) Z-score, Pi Cycle Top, and trading measurement trends, person historically been reliable successful signaling erstwhile Bitcoin is nearing its peak.

The MVRV-Z people compares Bitcoin’s marketplace worth to its realized worth and adjusts for volatility. A precocious Z-score suggests Bitcoin is importantly overvalued comparative to its humanities outgo basis. When this indicator is astatine a humanities high, the ensuing downward inclination successful Bitcoin prices is likely.

The Pi Cycle Top tracks BTC terms dynamics utilizing moving averages. When the 111-day moving mean (111-SMA) crosses supra doubly the 350-day mean (350-SMAx2), it signals overheating. In different words, erstwhile the short-term inclination catches up to the semipermanent trajectory, a marketplace apical is in.

Historically, each erstwhile Bitcoin bull runs started with a notable surge successful MVRV Z-score, and ended with 111-SMA crossing the longer-term trend.

BTC: Pi Cycle Top + MVRV Z-score. Source: Marie Poteriaieva, Glassnode

Additionally, little trading volumes during terms increases tin beryllium a informing sign, often signaling weakening momentum and imaginable for a reversal. On-balance measurement (OBV), which registers cumulative measurement flow, is simply a invaluable metric for tracking this process. When OBV diverges from the terms action, it is often an aboriginal reversal signal. 

The 2nd limb of the 2021 bull tally was a large example. While BTC terms was hitting higher highs of $68,000 (compared to the erstwhile all-time precocious of $63,170), trading volumes moved successful a antithetic direction, decreasing from 710,000 BTC to 628,000 BTC. This created a bearish divergence betwixt terms and volume, suggesting that less marketplace participants were supporting the rally — a classical motion of waning momentum.

BTC/USD 1-day, OBV. Source: Marie Poteriaieva, TradingView

Profit-taking metrics

As marketplace rhythm tops approach, semipermanent holders and Bitcoin miners often commencement locking successful profits. Some invaluable metrics that tin way it are the Puell Multiple and speech flows.

The Puell Multiple Indicator looks astatine miners' gross comparative to its 365-day average. High readings bespeak miners whitethorn commencement selling aggressively, and are often seen adjacent marketplace tops.

Large inflows to exchanges are usually signs of distribution, arsenic investors hole to merchantability their coins. 

BTC full transportation measurement to exchanges + Puell Multiple. Source: Marie Poteriaieva, Glassnode

Individually, these indicators tin people assorted shifts successful marketplace trends. Combined, they often align with rhythm tops.

Related: Sorry bears — Bitcoin investigation dismisses $107K BTC terms treble top

The 15% rule

Historic terms enactment observations mightiness travel successful handy, too. Crypto marketplace expert Cole Garner shared his exit playbook based connected whales’ behavior. His roadmap includes 3 steps:

  1. Euphoria. Bitcoin moves vertically for weeks, with monolithic $10,000+ regular candles.

  2. Whiplash. Bitcoin experiences its sharpest correction of the bull cycle. The curved parabolic trendline that’s supported the rally is breached — a wide awesome that the apical is apt in. Meanwhile, altcoins and meme tokens whitethorn proceed pumping a small longer.

  3. Complacency. Measure 15% beneath Bitcoin’s all-time high. That’s the merchantability zone. Order books connected large exchanges often amusement a partition of merchantability orders astir this level — a apt organization exit point.

According to Garner, the 15% (or 16%) regularisation works not lone successful crypto but successful accepted markets arsenic well.

Historical stroke off-tops: BTC, ETH, gold, Nasdaq, Nikkei, Broadvision, 3D Systems. Source: Cole Garner

No azygous indicator tin pinpoint the nonstop infinitesimal to exit, particularly successful a shifting macro environment. But erstwhile aggregate signals align, they go hard to ignore. The last limb of a Bitcoin bull marketplace is thrilling, but knowing erstwhile the euphony mightiness halt is cardinal to locking successful profits.

This nonfiction is for wide accusation purposes and is not intended to beryllium and should not beryllium taken arsenic ineligible oregon concern advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed present are the author’s unsocial and bash not needfully bespeak oregon correspond the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

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