The price of Bitcoin (BTC), the top-ranked cryptocurrency past market capitalization, hit the psychological barrier of $x,000 only immediately rejected. Meanwhile, the sentiment is shifting from fear towards greed as the Crypto Fear & Greed Index is at present above fifty for the first time in three months.

However, altcoins have been showing weakness beyond the board. Investors are selling their altcoins to grab the Bitcoin train with the halving now less than three days away.

Crypto market daily performance. Source: Coin360

Crypto market daily performance. Source: Coin360

Bitcoin hits the psychological level of $ten,000

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

Bitcoin is showing strength every bit the halving is approaching with the hype only increasing by the day. FOMO (fear of missing out) is increasing as well, which makes people eager to step into Bitcoin and the price to rally heavily.

However, is such a rally sustainable, or volition this exist another case of "buy the rumor, sell the news"? Based on the previous halving and the previous halvings of Litecoin (LTC), this is entirely possible.

People get intrigued by the hype around the event, as they expect a short-term bullish effect to occur on the markets, and they starting time to buy into Bitcoin.

Where can we see that? In general, these movements can exist spotted in the altcoin markets. Usually, when Bitcoin sees a big rally, people FOMO into Bitcoin. I such example is Ether (ETH).

ETH BTC 1-day chart. Source: TradingView

ETH BTC 1-day nautical chart. Source: TradingView

While the USD value of Ethereum is remaining relatively stable (as the price has been hovering betwixt $197 and $215 in the past two weeks), the BTC pair is getting absolutely hammered.

Just why? It's because people are selling their altcoins to catch up to Bitcoin. Ether has seen a selloff of 20% in the BTC pair in the contempo week, while ChainLink (LINK) and Tezos (XTZ) have seen a thirty% selloff in the past ten days. Indeed, all selloffs have been seen in the BTC pair while the USD pairs take remained relatively stable.

Interestingly, previous balderdash market moves have seen similar action. For example, Bitcoin'south peak cost was during December 2022 with a loftier of $19,700. This was when at that place was a huge selloff in the BTC pairs of altcoins.

However, merely effectually this fourth dimension, the altcoins started to bounce heavily and showing strength, resulting in the biggest "altseason" the market has ever seen. The toll of Ether rallied towards $ane,300-1,400 in the month after that.

A similar structure is also forming right now. The selloff of altcoins results in depression prices enticing investors to bound back into Bitcoin. This is why today when the price of Bitcoin retraced a few hundred dollars, many altcoins bounced such equally Chainlink.

LINK BTC 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

LINK BTC 12-60 minutes chart. Source: TradingView

The toll of Chainlink lost 30% in value against BTC in the by ii weeks while the USD value remained stable. The toll retraced to support at 0.00037000 sats and then saw a potent bounciness. LINK price jumped by 18% to $four.x, which is a new three-month high.

However, the significance and the moment of the jump are the about important concepts to watch.

The bound occurred the moment that Bitcoin started to retrace. Usually, altcoins fall off a cliff when that happens. Merely this fourth dimension altcoins were jumping left and correct, while Bitcoin price started to correct.

Another example is shown hither, which is Basic Attending Token (BAT).

BAT BTC 1-day chart. Source: TradingView

BAT BTC ane-day chart. Source: TradingView

This is one of the strongest movers in the past two days as the price rallied more 40% in BTC value. Information technology lost crucial support but so dipped toward the next 1 and bounced heavily as the chart shows.

This coin also moved the moment that Bitcoin started to retrace. Simply this isn't strange as it's pretty normal to expect these movements across the lath. While some are selling altcoins to catch the Bitcoin railroad train, others are selling their BTC in this region to buy upward "cheap" altcoins.

The bullish scenario for Bitcoin

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

The bullish scenario is pretty straightforward. The level between $9,250-9,400 has to hold for the current rally to continue.

The next pace would exist a breakout of the heavy resistance zone between $10,050-x,350. Breaking and flipping this level into support would exist a good sign for the bulls. The side by side targets will then be $10,800 and potentially $xi,600-12,000, a level with an open CME gap (from Baronial 2022).

The bearish scenario for Bitcoin

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

BTC USDT 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

The bearish scenario shows a clear structure. Bold that the hype fizzles after the Bitcoin halving next week, a retrace and correction may be inevitable.

However, whether that will happen with a lower loftier or another top in the $10,050-10,350 expanse is debatable. A accident-off top could yet occur in the resistance area for confirmation of a surly divergence and potential trend reversal.

This dropdown and retrace should trigger altcoins to offset rallying as they are eager to follow Bitcoin. Hence, a breakdown below $9,400 could be a sign for them to outset recovering.

Losing the $9,400 level would be a bearish signal for the momentum of Bitcoin, but potentially a bullish signal for altcoins to catch upward.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading motility involves risk. You lot should conduct your own research when making a decision.