Bitcoin’s price has been in a slump since hitting $108,353 on Dec. 17, and its recent drop below $92,000 has put many analysts on alert due to the looming confirmation of a bearish head-and-shoulders chart pattern. 

A few daily closes below the pattern’s neckline at $92,000 could be followed by a decline to the pattern’s target at $79,500. 

Chartered market technician Aksel Kibar has also set a Bitcoin ( BTC ) price target at $80,000 if the head-and-shoulders pattern is confirmed. 

If the pattern acts as a HS top, the price target is at 80K. This can be the pullback to the broadening pattern that completed with a breakout above 73.7K. $BTCUSD https://t.co/aWeNdWVkMz pic.twitter.com/QbGi08AfcH

— Aksel Kibar, CMT (@TechCharts) December 26, 2024

In terms of Bitcoin’s day-to-day price action, recent dips into underlying bids are being absorbed, such as the recent dip to $91,500, but each of these dip-buying instances is met by selling upon BTC’s return to the intraday range high. 

Related: BTC price ‘breakdown confirmed?’ 5 Things to know in Bitcoin this week

According to popular crypto trader Skew, “Shorts are the dominant positioning here” and “further aggressive shorting would mean the market expects an immediate breakdown” from Bitcoin’s current range. 

$BTC
Previously we had de-risking hedge flow

currently shorts are the dominant positioning here, will be watching for further aggressive shorting

further aggressive shorting would mean the market expects an immediate breakdown of from current value range

in the odds of a… https://t.co/ygLzAdNmT5 pic.twitter.com/XgInc3xo3W

— Skew Δ (@52kskew) December 30, 2024

Skew stressed the importance of the $94,000 level, saying :

“I think failure to reclaim $94K with market remaining supply heavy from spot, likely results in the final flush.” 
Does bearish Bitcoin chart pattern mean $76K BTC price before Trump inauguration? image 0

BTC/USD spot on Coinbase alongside spot and futures CVD. Source: Trdr.io

Basically, a series of four-hour closes above $94,000 during the trading day will be essential to protecting the current range. Over the last week, spot selling has been the dominant action in the market, and a majority of the perpetual futures market is tilted toward margin shorts, so holding $94,000 as the lowest rung of the range ($94,000–$99,000) would be the first step toward invalidating the bearish head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily time frame. 

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.