The total crypto market capitalization dropped on Jan. 23 with the global market value falling from $1.6 trillion to $1.5 trillion, representing a 5.5% day-on-day decline.

While trading volumes rose by 55%, it is largely due to the sell-off in the market.

Total crypto market capitalization. Source: TradingView

Bitcoin ( BTC ) price fell below $40,000 to trade at $38,521 on Jan. 23.

Most altcoins are following BTC’s price action with Ether ( ETH ) falling below the $2,200 mark and Solana ( SOL ) briefly losing the $80 support level. Binance Coin ( BNB ) also lost the $300 level which had been a key support level for the layer 1 token.

Related: Bitcoin rides new $600M GBTC offload, with BTC price eyeing 2-month low

Analysts turn bearish on BTC

Bitcoin’s recent price action has led many investors to question whether the rally to $49,000 was the top for the bull market.

According to veteran trader Bob Loukas, Bitcoin’s weekly cycle chart suggests that the price has topped.

The damage is done now, weekly cycle topped.

Mid February best case for lows IMO if it’s a price rout. March is best cycle timing for low.

Good to see some fear build up over time. https://t.co/a9qFTwULHi

— Bob Loukas (@BobLoukas) January 23, 2024

Meanwhile, another popular trader, Peter Brandt, spotted BTC trading below the $40,000 mark, saying that the price had “completed a right-angled broadening triangle negated above 42,400 $BTC,” confirming a bearish breakout.

According to the chart Brandt shared in a Jan. 22 post on X, the price target for bears is around the $34,700 zone.

General rule
Weekly chart more reliable than daily chart
Daily chart more reliable than intraday chart
Chart patterns fail more often than they work
Bitcoin has completed a right angled broadening triangle
Negated above 42,400 $BTC pic.twitter.com/oLI3rFZOHN

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) January 22, 2024

Bitfinex’s short-term target is much higher, between the $38,000 - $36,000 zone in the short term and in the long term before halving, the $32,000 mark.

Despite the ongoing correction, other analysts remained optimistic about BTC’s upside. Jurrien Timmer, director of Global Macro at Fidelity Investments, is not worried about Bitcoin’s crash. He posted the following chart on X, saying,

“In my view, the price of Bitcoin is driven by the size and growth of its network, which in turn is driven by its scarcity features (stock-to-flow) and real rates (Fed policy). As the chart shows, Bitcoin’s network is growing in line with a standard power regression curve. That means that the S-curve nature of Bitcoin’s network remains on track.”
Bitcoin’s adoption curve. Source: Bloomberg

Adding to this positive outlook, independent analyst Ali says, “This might be a temporary setback before the continuation of the uptrend” after observing the repetition of a historical sentiment cycle where BTC experiences “a brief phase of anxiety, marked by a price correction.”

#Bitcoin Sentiment Cycle: Historically, after transitioning from capitulation to hope, optimism, and finally to belief, #BTC has often experienced a brief phase of anxiety, marked by a price correction.

This pattern appears to be repeating itself, as we're currently witnessing a… pic.twitter.com/dBwX57D6cP

— Ali (@ali_charts) January 23, 2024

​​According to Ali, the ongoing correction could be due to the anxiety in the market, suggesting that a recovery may begin in the short term.

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.