MATIC price is showing positive signs from the $0.580 zone. Polygon is rising and might gain bullish momentum above the $0.70 resistance.

• MATIC price started a fresh increase above the $0.620 level against the US dollar.
• The price is trading above $0.650 and the 100-hour simple moving average.
• There was a break above a short-term bearish trend line with resistance at $0.6350 on the hourly chart of the MATIC/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
• The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $0.680 and $0.700 resistance levels.

Polygon Price Aims Higher

After forming a base above the $0.5750 level, Polygon’s price started a fresh increase above the $0.600 pivot level. MATIC is moving higher above the $0.620 level, like Ethereum and Bitcoin.

There was a move above the $0.650 level. Besides, there was a break above a short-term bearish trend line with resistance at $0.6350 on the hourly chart of the MATIC/USD pair. The pair tested the $0.680 resistance zone. It is now consolidating gains and is well above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.5715 swing low to the $0.6800 high.

MATIC is trading above $0.650 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). Immediate resistance is near the $0.680 zone. The first major resistance is near the $0.70 level.

If there is an upside break above the $0.70 resistance level, the price could continue to rise. The next major resistance is near $0.750. A clear move above the $0.750 resistance could start a steady increase. In the stated case, the price could even attempt a move toward the $0.780 level or $0.80.

Another Dip In MATIC?

If MATIC’s price fails to rise above the $0.680 resistance level, it could start another decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $0.650 level.

The main support is near the $0.6250 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.5715 swing low to the $0.6800 high. A downside break below the $0.6250 level could open the doors for a fresh decline toward $0.60. The next major support is near the $0.5750 level.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for MATIC/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for MATIC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $0.6500 and $0.6250.

Major Resistance Levels – $0.6800 and $0.7000.

Ethereum (ETH) now offers an attractive risk-reward ratio, according to analysts at research and brokerage firm Bernstein. Despite underperforming compared to other major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), and XRP for most of 2024, Ethereum’s strong fundamentals may set the stage for a potential rally.

Why Is Ethereum Struggling? Bernstein Analysts Explain 

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency with a market cap exceeding $430 billion, may be on the verge of significant positive price action. Bernstein analysts suggest that ETH’s fundamentals remain strong despite its underperformance, making it an appealing investment opportunity.

To put Ethereum’s performance into perspective, on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, Bitcoin and Solana have surged 125% and 122%, respectively, while ETH has only managed a 57% increase.

In a client note shared today, analysts led by Gautam Chhugani highlighted several factors contributing to Ethereum’s struggles. One issue is that ETH has not established itself as a store of value to the same extent as BTC. Additionally, the leading smart contract platform faces increasing competition from low-latency Layer 1 blockchains such as Solana, Sui, and Aptos.

The note also pointed out that Ethereum’s reliance on Layer 2 blockchains, including Optimism, Arbitrum, and Base, often redirects users away from Ethereum’s main chain. This hampers user retention and limits transaction fee growth, creating a headwind for ETH’s price momentum.

Is Now The Right Time To Buy ETH?

Bernstein analysts argue that Ethereum’s outlook could improve substantially, particularly in light of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s recent election victory. Following Trump’s win, the total cryptocurrency market cap has surged over 45%, surpassing $3.5 trillion. Ethereum has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this rally, gaining 46% since the election compared to Bitcoin’s 41% and Solana’s 36%.

The analysts also noted key developments that could support Ethereum’s growth moving forward. They highlighted the increasing likelihood of staking yield approval in Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under a Trump-led, crypto-friendly Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The analysts explained:

We believe, under a new Trump 2.0 crypto-friendly SEC, ETH staking yield will likely be approved.

The analysts added that Ethereum’s current yield rate of 3% could increase to as high as 4% to 5%, which could be an attractive yield rate for investors in a declining interest rate environment. Further, the recently observed growth in Ethereum ETFs in the form of higher inflows could benefit ETH.

Although ETH ETFs had a lukewarm launch, they have recently outperformed Bitcoin ETFs in daily inflows. For instance, on November 29, spot ETH ETFs in the US attracted $332.9 million in inflows, compared to $320 million for Bitcoin ETFs.

In addition, Ethereum’s transition to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus algorithm in September 2023 and the protocol’s burn mechanism have stabilized ETH’s total supply around 120 million. Of these, about 28% is tied in staking contracts while roughly 10% is in lending protocols or Layer 2 bridges.

With a high proportion – close to 60% – of total ETH supply unmoved in the past year, the analysts at Bernstein believe the digital asset might benefit from favourable demand-supply dynamics. At press time, ETH trades at $3,644, down 1.8% in the past 24 hours.