Bitcoin has been stuck in a tight trading range for 114 days, pushing volatility to historic lows. CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn warns that this quiet spell is about to end — and when it does, the move could be sharp. He expects a 10% to 20% price swing sometime this week.
114 days of sideways
Bitcoin hasn't made a real move since early February. The daily range has shrunk to levels not seen in years. For traders, it's been a grind. Many have simply stopped looking at charts. But low volatility periods in Bitcoin tend to be the calm before a storm. The longer the squeeze, the bigger the eventual breakout.
What the analyst sees
Maartunn, an analyst at on-chain data firm CryptoQuant, pointed to the length of the consolidation as the key signal. At 114 days, this sideways stretch is one of the longest in Bitcoin's recent history. He warned that the phase is set to end with a 10% to 20% price move this week. The direction — up or down — remains an open question. The data alone doesn't tip the scales.
A move that matters
A 10% swing on Bitcoin would be roughly $5,000 to $10,000 at current levels. That kind of movement would liquidate a lot of leveraged positions, no matter which way it goes. It would also break the psychological torpor that has settled over the market. Most altcoins have been tracking Bitcoin's drift. A breakout would ripple across the board.
The week ahead
Traders are watching for a decisive push above recent resistance or a breakdown below support. Either way, the waiting game ends this week. Maartunn's call puts a timer on the action. By Friday, Bitcoin will likely have chosen a direction.
