So far, our lowest BTC price for this correction cycle has been about $5,774, so if BTC prices go down to $5k, it is likely going to cause additional fear from the HODLers and confidence from the bears to attempt to push it lower. And $5k is more than 13% lower than $5,774, so it would not be any kind of minor nor insignificant development.
So any meaningful challenge or ability to go below $5,774 could cause such further down momentum, and surely $5k is more of a negative challenge than $5,500, and even though you could be correct that the longer term upward trend would not be significantly affected by such negative price movement, it would still cause some issues and delays and even inspire further BTC price battles.
It's hard to say exactly where this trading range breaks down. The June lower low makes it harder to assess for me. It breaks up > $7,430 (Bitfinex price). Peter Brandt says below ~ $5,600, supply sets in. Wherever that magic breakdown point is, I think it would take us significantly below $5,000. Based on Tim West's TAM method, I believe the target is something like $3,700.
1) I think that a lot of folks use Bitstamp prices in order to have more stable predictions that are based on non-margin traded exchanges, and bitstamp has proven pretty consistent for price references.
It doesn't matter. This is a long term pivot, visible on the 1-day and 1-week charts. You can use $7,412 (Bitstamp) if you prefer. The exchanges generally stay in lockstep and definitely reflect the same long term price structures.
I largely agree with you, but there is a bit of ease of reference, and sometimes during high volatility periods, the various exchanges go a bit out of kilter - even though on the macro-level there is usually not BIG differences.
2) What does $5,600 supply sets in, mean? That is a kind of breaking point arena? You don't believe that there could be a lot of support even below the mid-$5ks?
The idea is that we've been trading in a range for many months, with a bottom in the $6,000 area. Once that bottom is decidedly lost, all the trapped buyers from this whole year will start selling.
I understand what you are saying, and I don't buy it. Perhaps, I would agree that if something like $5,200 is breached then both loss of confidence would occur from the HODLers and additional confidence of bears would trigger around that point, perhaps. I understand the theory, I just don't personally engage in such a practice or advise anyone to sell their bitcoins on the way down in preparation for such event that might not happen. Accordingly, in my thinking it remains better to continue to buy on the way down and to prepare to buy on the way down, if the BTC price actually does go down and breaches these various possible support levels.
This is what Brandt said specifically: "Just to be very precise (since I know my trolls will screen shot this all), 5750 to 5900 is solid support in BTC. The bear case (and plead of UNCLE) does not begin unless market has decisive close below 5600 -- but then target would be sub $3k". He paints it as a descending triangle breakdown.
https://twitter.com/PeterLBrandt/status/1037500744151097344Fair enough, and I merited your post based on your providing the link and explaining your position, even though I have my reservation about how much anyone should be relying on supposed gurus, whether masterluc or Brant or any other wisdom of the crowds assigned guru.
The emphasis is on a decisive close below. Not just a wick that propels us right back above $6,000 again, but a clear breakdown that sends marginal holders running for the exits. I'm sure you've seen those kind of decisive selloffs before.
I agree that those kinds of sell offs happen from time to time (and some times create their own momentum, as you suggest), and as you likely realize they are based on a set of probabilities of breaking through each level of support, and as you break through each level of support, then breaking through the next level of support becomes more likely merely because you have broken through the higher level of support and thereafter support can become resistance. However, since each of these occurrences is based on probabilities rather than certainty, we have to be careful regarding how much we bet on such an occurrence taking place and hopefully on an individual level we don't assign such event to become more probable than it really is merely based on theory and past occurrences that might not play out in the current situation based on other unknown factors.