Bitcoin bullish momentum has brought it to the edge of a critical threshold — but whether it can break past $90,000 remains uncertain. The flagship cryptocurrency surged past $89,000 on 22 April, marking its highest price since early March, yet technical and on-chain signals hint at a possible near-term pullback.
BTC Battles Key Resistance Zone
Data from TradingView and Cointelegraph Markets Pro shows that Bitcoin’s price approached the $89,000 level steadily, fuelled by strong spot buying during U.S. trading hours. However, the $90K–$91K range is now acting as a formidable resistance.
BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades
Prominent analyst Daan Crypto Trades highlighted that this range had previously served as a major support zone, which now flips into resistance. Adding to this pressure is the 200-day simple moving average (SMA), currently sitting just above $89K — a widely watched technical barrier.
“Quite a few resistances close by,” said Daan, “but a few percentage moves and you’ll break through all of them. Bulls know what to do.”
On-Chain Data Signals Caution
While the recent surge has energised markets, analysts warn of deeper resistance ahead. Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, pointed to the realised price of active traders between $91,000 and $92,000 as a significant hurdle.
This realised price, an on-chain metric that reflects the average acquisition cost of active traders, often acts as resistance in bearish phases. As Bitcoin continues to consolidate below this range, traders are watching closely for signs of either a breakout or a reversal.
Is a Pullback on the Cards?
Although momentum remains positive, the struggle to break above $90K suggests profit-taking and sell-side liquidity could slow down further gains. Analysts also warn that if Bitcoin fails to establish support above $89,000, short-term corrections may follow.
Market sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with some traders viewing this consolidation as healthy before a larger move, while others remain sceptical given the cluster of technical resistances.
What’s Next for Bitcoin Bulls?
To confirm a bullish breakout, Bitcoin must convincingly clear the $91K–$92K resistance zone and establish it as support. Until then, the crypto remains vulnerable to range-bound movement and brief retracements.
If bulls manage to push past this zone, it could open the door to new all-time highs, especially with broader macro factors such as institutional interest and ETF inflows continuing to support the market.
In the short term, however, Bitcoin traders are urged to stay cautious and watch for volume-backed moves before making aggressive entries.
