Bitcoin price drops under $30K as 'moment of truth' arrives, says trader

Bitcoin (BTC) retested the $30,000 support on Jan. 27 as a day of losses culminated in violation of the psychologically significant price level.

BTC price spooks amid GameStop row

Data from Cointelegraph Markets and Tradingview showed any bullish momentum left in Bitcoin dissipate on Wednesday after rejection at highs near $33,000.

"Another $30,000 retest for #Bitcoin," Cointelegraph Markets analyst Michaël van de Poppe summarized.

Despite aiming for another test of monthly lows, Bitcoin's price action hardly surprised regular market participants. For fellow trader Scott Melker, it was a case of "wait and see" until the longer time frames completed.

"6 hour looks the same as 4 hour. 12 hour needs 10 more hours, so barely worth watching. But the potential is there. Bottom line: no clear signal yet, but worth keeping an eye if they can build up," he wrote in part of a series of tweets on Wednesday.

The resolution of current price action would, nonetheless, be a "moment of truth" for BTC/USD, he said.

As Cointelegraph reported, attention was broadly focused on GameStop stock throughout the day, after its 700% fortnightly gains caught the attention of both the media and regulators.

Likewise defying expectations was movie theater chain AMC, which gained 240% in a day after avoiding bankruptcy.

If you don't like suits, buy $GME and $AMC. If you don't like the bankers, buy #Bitcoin

Hodl on, Redditors vow

Bitcoin, despite being a more cost-effective buy-in than at almost any time since Christmas, failed to hold the limelight.

"People have maximum interest at $40,000 per #Bitcoin, but almost zero interest at $30,000 per #Bitcoin. Interesting," Van de Poppe added.

Data from on-chain monitoring resource Whalemap highlighted an area at $29,300 as likely support in the event of a $30,000 breakdown.

Also worth noting is the Dollar Currency Index (DXY) showing its traditional inverse correlation with BTC as the markets opened on Wednesday. The DXY rebounded to its highest level in nearly two weeks while BTC and stocks pulled back. 

Cryptocurrency skeptics meanwhile used the GameStop debacle to pour scorn on Bitcoin and those who argued that decentralized investment was a beneficial phenomenon.

"Attention #Bitcoin HODLers: The only people who will walk away with any real winnings from the #GameStop short-squeeze will be those smart enough to sell. Those who HODL will likely lose it all. Bitcoin HODLers will meet the same fate if they fail to realize their paper profits," gold bug Peter Schiff tweeted.

A glance at the subreddit used for stocks plays, r/Wallstreetbets, meanwhile showed that user strategies focused on hodling, not selling, their newly profitable stock — at the expense of unprepared hedge funds.

"Retail reflexivity in action in traditional markets," commented trader Philip Swift, adding: 

Quotes in this article taken from previously published sources have been lightly edited.