Price analysis 2/21: BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, XRP, ADA, AVAX, DOGE, LINK, DOT

Bulls failed to hold Bitcoin price above $52,000, possibly marking the start of a short-term trend change in BTC and altcoins.

Bitcoin (BTC) has been trading sideways for the past few days, indicating a tough battle between the bulls and the bears. Will the sellers overpower the buyers and start a short-term correction, or could the buyers come out on top? That is the question on every crypto investor’s mind.

Dwindling hopes of an early rate cut by the Federal Reserve have resulted in profit booking in the S&P 500 Index. That could signal a risk-off sentiment in the near term, increasing the risk of a pullback in Bitcoin and select altcoins.

However, the dip may not change the long-term bullish view. Investors are likely to view every dip as a buying opportunity because of Bitcoin’s upcoming halving in April, which has historically been a bullish event.

What are the important support levels that may arrest the decline in Bitcoin and altcoins? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price analysis

Bitcoin is struggling to sustain above $52,000, indicating that the bears are fiercely defending the level.

If the price slips below $50,000, short-term traders may give up and book profits. That could pull the BTC/USDT pair to the 20-day exponential moving average ($48,842).

If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with force, it will suggest that the sentiment remains positive and traders are buying at lower levels. That will increase the likelihood of a rally above $52,000. The pair could then jump to $60,000.

Instead, if the price continues lower and breaks below the 20-day EMA, it will signal the start of a pullback to the 50-day simple moving average ($44,924).

Ether price analysis

Ether (ETH) turned down from the psychological resistance of $3,000 on Feb. 21, indicating profit booking by short-term traders.

In a strong uptrend, the corrections generally last between one to three days. The crucial support on the downside is $2,717. If the price snaps back from $2,717 with force, it will indicate that every minor dip is being purchased aggressively. That will enhance the prospects of a break above $3,000. The ETH/USDT pair may then rally to $3,300.

Conversely, if bears tug the price below the 20-day EMA ($2,680), it will signal the start of a deeper correction to the 50-day SMA ($2,467).

BNB price analysis

BNB (BNB) turned up after a brief correction and surged above the $367 resistance on Feb. 21, signaling the resumption of the uptrend.

The upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the overbought zone indicate that the bulls are in command. If buyers maintain the price above $368, the BNB/USDT pair could pick up momentum and surge toward $400.

The first support on the downside is at the 20-day EMA ($336) and the next is the 50-day SMA ($315). The bears will have to yank the price below the 50-day SMA to indicate a trend change.

Solana price analysis

Solana’s (SOL) rebound fizzled out at $115, and the price turned down on Feb. 19, indicating a lack of demand at higher levels.

The bears pulled the price below the neckline of the inverse head-and-shoulders pattern on Feb. 21, signaling that the bullish momentum has weakened. The 50-day SMA may act as a support, but it may not hold for long. If the support cracks, the SOL/USDT pair could start a decline to $93, which is an important level to keep an eye on.

The first sign of strength will be a rise above the downtrend line. The pair could then attempt a rally to the overhead resistance of $126.

XRP price analysis

XRP (XRP) closed above the downtrend line on Feb. 19, but the bulls could not clear the hurdle at $0.57. This suggests that every minor relief rally is being sold into.

The bears are trying to pull the price below the moving averages. If they succeed, the XRP/USDT pair could dip toward the strong support at $0.46. Buyers are expected to defend this level with vigor.

If the price rebounds off $0.46, the pair could climb to $0.57 and stay inside this range for some time. A break and close above $0.57 will suggest that the corrective phase may be over. The pair could then attempt a rally to $0.67.

Cardano price analysis

Cardano (ADA) turned down from $0.64 on Feb. 20, suggesting profit booking by the short-term traders. The price could reach the 20-day EMA ($0.57).

Buyers will have to defend the 20-day EMA aggressively if they want to keep the up move intact. If they do that, the ADA/USDT pair could rise to $0.64 and eventually to $0.68. A break and close above this resistance will signal the start of the next leg of the uptrend.

On the contrary, if the price tumbles below the 20-day EMA, it will indicate that the bullish momentum has weakened. The pair may then consolidate inside a large range between $0.46 and $0.64 for a while.

Avalanche price analysis

The bulls defended the 50-day SMA ($36) on Feb. 20, but the bears sold the recovery to the 20-day EMA ($38.22) in Avalanche (AVAX).

The 20-day EMA has flattened out, and the RSI is just below the midpoint, indicating a range-bound action in the near term. If the price breaks below the 50-day SMA, the AVAX/USDT pair may drop to $32, which is likely to act as a strong support. A solid rebound off the support could keep the pair between $32 and $42 for a few days.

On the upside, the bulls will have to drive and sustain the pair above $42 to complete the inverse head-and-shoulders pattern and gain the upper hand.

Related: Michael Saylor to forever buy Bitcoin — ‘No reason to sell the winner’

Dogecoin price analysis

Dogecoin (DOGE) bounced off the 20-day EMA ($0.08) on Feb. 18, but the bulls could not overcome the barrier at $0.09. This suggests a negative sentiment where the bears are selling on rallies.

If the price skids below the moving averages, the DOT/USDT pair could drop to the uptrend line. This is an essential level for the bulls to defend because if they fail to do that, the pair may start a descent to $0.07.

This negative view will be invalidated in the short term if the price rebounds off the current level and rises above $0.09. That opens the doors for a possible rally to the $0.10 to $0.11 resistance zone.

Chainlink price analysis

Chainlink (LINK) bounced off the 20-day EMA ($18.81) on Feb. 20, but the bulls could not build upon the recovery. The price turned down and slipped below the 20-day EMA on Feb. 21.

The next stop on the downside is the breakout level of $17.32. This level may witness a tough battle between the bulls and the bears. If the price rebounds off $17.32 with strength, the LINK/USDT pair may rise to the 20-day EMA and later to the overhead resistance at $20.85.

The zone between $17.32 and the 50-day SMA ($16.51) is likely to act as a formidable support on the downside. A break below this zone will suggest a potential trend change in the near term.

Polkadot price analysis

Polkadot’s (DOT) recovery stalled near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of $8.21, indicating that bears continue to sell on rallies.

The DOT/USDT pair has reached the 50-day SMA ($7.18), which is an important level to watch out for. If this level gives way, it will suggest that the bulls are losing their grip. The pair could then drop to the neckline and subsequently to $6.

The flattening 20-day EMA and the RSI near the midpoint suggest a range-bound action in the near term. If the price rebounds off the neckline, the pair could reach $8.21 and stay range-bound between these two levels for some time. The bulls will be back in the game on a close above $8.21.