Bitcoin Rally Tests Key Level for Bear-Market Breakout

Bitcoin rebounded sharply over six weeks after falling to $66,000 in early April 2026, but the 200-day moving average remains a key dividing line in determining whether the bear market will continue. TradingShot noted that Bitcoin hit a fresh low after failing to break above the trend line from below in 2022, making the latest test critical to whether the market can reverse its medium-term weakness.

On May 6, TradingShot identified $84,000 as the most critical level for bulls to reclaim, warning that failure to break through could extend the bear market and send Bitcoin toward $50,000. On May 14, CryptoQuant put the 200-day moving average at about $82,400. Bitcoin subsequently retreated to around $79,300, while investors had already realized profits on 14,600 BTC worth nearly $1.2 billion on May 4, signaling mounting selling pressure.

Bitcoin entered a correction after hitting an all-time high of $126,200 on Oct. 6, 2025, and briefly fell to a 15-month low in early February 2026, marking a maximum drawdown of about 53%. Glassnode data has yet to show a clear reversal signal. Rekt Capital said the current bear market has lasted only about 140 days, shorter than the briefest historical cycle of 365 days.

Bitcoin rebounded to as high as $70,040 on Feb. 25 but failed to hold above the 200-week exponential moving average, or EMA, and its 2021 peak. It fell more than 1% intraday after U.S. stocks opened on Feb. 26, putting $67,000 back in focus. TradingView data showed the price had slipped below the key zone again. Rekt Capital said the 200-week EMA had turned into resistance, leaving Bitcoin at risk of further declines until it breaks above that level.

Bitcoin posted monthly losses for five consecutive months after retreating from its previous high, putting the focus on whether March could end the rare losing streak. Technical analysis compiled by Cointelegraph identified $68,330–$70,000 as the main resistance zone, while the 200-week moving average was seen as the key dividing line for the medium- to long-term outlook.

Bitcoin held on to its monthly gain on March 31, ending the five-month losing streak, but selling pressure around $70,000 continued to limit upside. In April, the market is watching whether Bitcoin can hold above its 200-week moving average. Analysts expect a decisive break above $70,000 could set up a test of $80,000 in the next phase.

Following Bitcoin’s retreat from its previous peak, most medium-term holders are sitting on unrealized losses, making a dense cost-basis zone an important threshold for identifying a trend reversal. CryptoQuant on-chain data show that holders who have owned BTC for six months to two years have an average cost basis of about $74,500. A move back above that level could ease selling pressure from investors seeking to break even and revive market demand.

Cointelegraph reported on Feb. 26, 2026, that BTC had rebounded 7.45% over two days after falling to $62,400, while support at the roughly $64,200 realized price for 18- to 24-month holders had held for the time being. CoinDesk reported on March 24 that BTC was trading at about $71,238. FxPro said the cryptocurrency would still need to hold above $75,000 to confirm that the decline was over.