Bitcoin’s year-end bull trap looms as crypto enters 2026

Kitco Media
By Aaron Dishner
Published:
Updated:
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Bitcoin’s year-end bull trap looms as crypto enters 2026 teaser image

Bitcoin Technical Outlook

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Bitcoin confirmed a second TBT Bullish Divergence Cluster yesterday, yet trading volume and on-balance volume (OBV) remain weak. The prevailing scenario anticipates a bull trap rising toward $100,000 before a subsequent decline. Absent stronger volume conviction, bears may reassert control once this resistance zone is tested.

Ethereum Price Behavior

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Ethereum closed up 1.22% but failed to close inside the daily TBO Cloud, maintaining a bearish bias. On the ETH/BTC chart, price has re-entered the daily Cloud, signaling bullish consolidation. Immediate resistance lies at 0.03577 and the TBO resistance band at 0.03615, levels unlikely to be tested today without a significant volume surge.

A close-up of a bitcoin and ethereum

Market Dominance Metrics

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Stablecoin dominance remains above its daily TBO Cloud, awaiting a drop below the cloud and the 8.635% support fan. BTC.D shows no notable shifts, while ETH.D has rallied following two TBO Close Short signals on the 4-hour chart and aims for TBO resistance at 12.91%. SOL.D is printing a second daily TBT Bullish Divergence, but OTHERS.D warns of bearish reversal via a recent TBT Bearish Divergence and a TBO Close Long signal. Broader cap indicators TOTALE50.D and TOTALE100.D are declining sharply.

Traditional Financial Markets Correlation

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The DXY is tagging the daily TBO Fast line with upper-wick tests. US equities (S&P 500, DJIA, NASDAQ 100) remain above the daily TBO Cloud, set for a strong year-end close despite a second TBT Bearish Divergence Cluster on the S&P. The Nikkei holds in strong bullish mode under overhead resistance, the Shanghai Composite stays above its daily cloud, while the Hang Seng persists in bearish consolidation.

Precious Metals Trends

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Gold dipped into its daily TBO Cloud to $4,274, marking the onset of sideways consolidation. Silver is on the verge of a second daily TBT Bearish Divergence, stalling at the 1.272 Fibonacci extension and forming a weekly divergence. Platinum’s rally past $2,500 resembles a blow-off top and is printing a weekly TBT Bearish Divergence Cluster. Copper remains above its daily TBO Cloud but has lost momentum after an exhausted breakout and a historical TBO resistance at 5.78.

Altcoin Year-End Review & New Year Outlook

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Low-cap altcoins face year-end selling pressure as investors close positions for tax purposes, while select large-caps such as ETH, BNB, SOL, XMR, and BCH maintain modest gains. Historical patterns suggest a bullish buying surge at the start of the new calendar year, akin to January 2021. Charts like XMR, TON, and XPL may lead this incoming liquidity. A BTC push toward $100,000 could trigger a broad altcoin bull trap before resuming a lower trajectory.

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Kitco Media

Aaron Dishner

Co-founder and lead instructor at The Better Traders, Inc., an international crypto education company, and owner of the popular crypto bot trading YouTube channel Moonin Papa, Aaron Dishner serves over 25,000 students across 36 countries as a world-leading bot trader and crypto day trading and swing trading expert. Combining his passion for educational excellence, stemming from a professional teaching background, with his remarkable skill set in crypto trading, Aaron’s mission is to make trading safe and accessible so anyone can learn to benefit from the greatest financial revolution of our time.
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