Bitcoin price forms short-term bullish pattern, why BTC may rise to $20K

Bitcoin price is consolidating near the $19,000 level against the US dollar. BTC seems to be forming a short-term bullish pattern and could rise towards $20,000.

• Bitcoin is struggling to gain momentum on a move above the $19,200 level.
• The price is trading below above $19,400 and the 100 hourly simple moving average.
• There is a new continuous bearish trend line forming with resistance near $19,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair could start another rally unless there is a clear move below the $18,950 level.

Bitcoin price remains in a range

Bitcoin price was seen trading in an area below the $20,000 resistance zone. BTC even settled below the $19,500 level and the 100-hour simple moving average.

The last swing low was formed near $18,860 before there was a minor upside correction. The price was able to clear the 23.6% Fib retracement level for the downward move from the $19,560 swing high to the $18,860 low. The bulls even pushed the price above the $19,200 level.

However, the bears were active above the $19,200 level. Bitcoin price struggled to clear the 50% Fib retracement level in the downward move from $19,560 high to $18,860 low.

It is now trading below over $19,400 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. A short-term inverse head and shoulders pattern appears to be forming with breakdown support at $18,950. On the upside, an immediate resistance is near the $19,200 level. There is also a new connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance near $19,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com

A clear move above the trendline could send the price towards the $19,500 resistance. Any further gains could start a steady rise towards the $20,000 resistance zone.

More losses in BTC?

If bitcoin fails to rise above the $19,200 resistance zone, it may continue to move lower. An immediate support on the downside is near the $18,950 zone.

The next major support is near the $18,860 zone. A downside break below the $18,860 support zone sends the price towards the $18,550 level. Any further losses may require a drop towards the $17,800 support zone.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – MACD is now picking up speed in the bearish zone.

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

Major support levels – $18,950, followed by $18,860.

Major resistance levels – $19,200, $19,500 and $20,000.