The latest Bitcoin move has brought bulls back into control of the short-term chart, but the setup is not as straightforward as a clean breakout into higher prices. The 4-hour structure shows momentum building, trendline support holding, and buyers pushing through to higher highs.
However, the path to a much larger expansion still appears to have one unfinished step. The technical chart implies Bitcoin may need to revisit an important area before the next major move to at least $97,000 can develop properly.
Bitcoin Breakout Leaves One Important Level Behind
Technical analysis of Bitcoin’s price action on the 4-hour candlestick chart posted on the TradingView platform shows the leading cryptocurrency is already doing the difficult part of the setup.
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Bitcoin’s price action has moved above the long descending resistance line that had stopped previous rallies, turning the broader 4-hour structure more bullish. The breakout also came while Bitcoin continued to respect the rising support trendline that has guided the recovery since late February to April.
However, breakouts without retests are incomplete. The 4-hour chart also shows that the Bitcoin price has moved ahead of the strongest demand zone, leaving behind the $71,900 to $72,000 region as the area bears may still want to retest.
Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: TradingView
The Expansion Phase And What It Requires
The most important part of the setup is the support region around $71,900 to $72,000. However, a retest of this range would not be a sign of weakness. It would be the price action doing precisely what it is supposed to do: return to a level of proven demand and absorb remaining sell orders, create a strong buying opportunity, and establish a foundation solid enough to support an expansion to new yearly highs.
Speaking of a run to new yearly highs, the price target proposed by this analysis is a rally to at least $97,400. This means the bullish setup has some room to breathe, but not unlimited room.
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There is an invalidation level sitting at $67,500. A breakdown below $67,500 would weaken the argument that Bitcoin is only retesting before expansion. Instead, it would mean that the breakout has failed and that sellers have regained control of the short-term structure.
The broader market backdrop is helping the bullish case. Bitcoin’s rebound has coincided with heavy demand through US Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which witnessed $630 million in inflows on May 1.
Bitcoin briefly broke above $80,000 over the weekend, but the move failed to hold as the price reversed before the daily close. A daily close above $80,000 could serve as the first signal of a broader bullish expansion.
BTC 200 Day Moving Average
The next major confirmation would be a daily close above the 200-day moving average, which is currently at $83,600. Bitcoin has not closed above this moving average since October 2025, making it an important level for bulls to reclaim.
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
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