Bitcoin

Bitcoin price bounces after CZ arrest rumors as traders eye $30K next

04/04/2023
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Bitcoin (BTC) hit new month-to-date lows overnight into April 4 as fresh rumors over biggest exchange Binance spooked fragile markets.

BTC/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: TradingView

BTC price returns to $28,000 after weekly lo

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD dipping to $27,240 on Bitstamp.

Its lowest since March 28, the performance followed an outbreak of claims that Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (also known as CZ), already under investigation by United States regulators, was now wanted by Interpol.

Their origin, an accidental leak of an encrypted tweet by private Twitter account @Cobie, subsequently appeared to lack evidence, and markets rebounded.

Now trading above $28,000 at the time of writing, Bitcoin was exhibiting “classic” behavior, according to Cointelegraph contributor Michaël van de Poppe, founder and CEO of trading firm Eight.

“Classic sweep of Bitcoin,” he summarized.

Van de Poppe additionally referenced the macroeconomic climate, specifically a potential end to interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

“Trend remains to be upwards, as we’re in a vacuum of ‘relief’ as the hiking process comes to an end,” he continued.

“Most likely we’ll see Bitcoin continue to $40K, but if we’ll be having a test of $25K first, I’ll be a buyer.”

A subsequent tweet declared the local lows “swept” by BTC/USD, with $30,000 as a target.

Such optimism was shared elsewhere, including by trading resource Stockmoney Lizards, which joined calls for $30,000 to hit after a “short correction.”

Related: US enforcement agencies are turning up the heat on crypto-related crime

Eyeing the equilibrium (EQ) level of the current range at $27,700, fellow trader Crypto Tony also remained upbeat.

“Holding that EQ like a champ. No short hedges unless we close solid below that level, but for now we remain in the upper half of the range,” he told followers on the day.

BTC/USD annotated chart. Source: Crypto /Twitter

U.S. recession around the corner?

On macro, changes were also afoot, with the weekend’s Opec+ oil production cut announcombining with weak U.S. economic data to pressure the dollar.

Related: Bitcoin breakout ‘matter of time’ says analysis with BTC price at $28K

The U.S. dollar index (DXY) was below the 102 mark at the time of writing.

U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) 1-day candle chart. Source: TradingView

For trading firm QCP Capital, the writing was now on the wall when it came to a looming recession.

“USD and Bond yields, both drivers of BTC, reversed sharply lower last night following the release of the ISM Manufacturing – which showed the sharpest contraction since April 2020 (in the middle of the pandemic),” it wrote in its latest market update released on April 4.

“We expect more weak US data to come out this week, further cementing the recession narrative. After many false dawns, we believe this will indeed be the lasting one.”

It noted that despite the potential for Bitcoin to benefit from the mayhem, just like with last month’s banking crisis, it remained “unproven” as a safe haven during a recession.

“If the Fed were to act quickly in a recession, just as they did during last month’s banking crisis, we expect that BTC would again moon,” it continued.

“However, in a stagflationary environment, if the Fed feel they are unable to cut rates until inflation has reached their target again, will BTC follow risk assets lower? That remains to be seen. While BTC is unproven as an inflationary hedge, it is definitely the highest beta monetary irresponsibility hedge out there.”

As Cointelegraph reported, the increase in oil prices was initially thought to risk a return of inflationary forces, allowing the Fed to continue its rate hikes.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the authors’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.