The crypto market’s been buzzing, sure — but it’s also stuck. Big names, big moves, and big uncertainty. Everyone’s asking the same thing: when does the altcoin party start? According to seasoned trader Michaël van de Poppe, the answer’s pretty straightforward — not until Bitcoin gets back above $85,000. Period.
In a flurry of tweets that had analysts and retail traders alike leaning in, Van de Poppe laid it out clearly. Bitcoin is still king, and until it takes the throne again, altcoins are going to sit on the sidelines.
Bitcoin’s Role in a Very Nervous Market
Right now, it’s all about trust. And for Van de Poppe, that trust begins and ends with Bitcoin.
While financial headlines are stuck in a loop — inflation, interest rates, oil prices — Van de Poppe’s message is: look at the charts, not the chatter. Bitcoin is trying to claw its way back from a brutal dip. It hit over $100,000 earlier this year before falling to the $80,000 range.
Today? It’s hovering near $83,381, showing some fight. But not enough — not yet.
This, Van de Poppe argues, is the moment everything changes or nothing does.
“The confidence comes back when Bitcoin shows strength,” he tweeted. “And that strength will cascade — first BTC, then ETH, then the rest.”
Big Picture: Why Macros Matter Now More Than Ever
He’s not just pulling numbers out of thin air. His analysis ties in broader economic shifts that could set off a major bullish chain reaction across crypto.
Two sentences to consider:
The U.S. dollar looks wobbly. Gold is flying high. These usually mean one thing: risk appetite is building. Van de Poppe believes we’re inching toward a moment where:
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Central banks ease up and maybe even bring back some QE
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Oil prices soften, helping ease inflation fears
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The Chinese Yuan bounces back, rebalancing currency strength
Put these puzzle pieces together and you’ve got a real shot at Bitcoin breaking past $85,000 in the short term.
The $85K Wall and What Happens Next
Bitcoin’s current price is dancing just below a major resistance zone. That $85,000 barrier isn’t just psychological — it’s technical, too.
And Van de Poppe’s not guessing here. He’s pointing to a strong bullish divergence spotted on the BTC chart. The $80,000 level has already acted as a springboard, holding firm during recent pullbacks.
Short paragraph? Here you go:
This could be the setup traders were waiting for. He predicts that once $85,000 is broken, momentum could carry Bitcoin fast — and hard — to new all-time highs.
Ethereum: Waiting for Its Cue
Ethereum’s been getting the short end of the stick lately. It’s not crashing, but it’s not flying either. And against Bitcoin? It’s slipping. Badly.
Van de Poppe posted an eye-catching chart on the ETH/BTC weekly pair. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for Ethereum is at its lowest level ever. That’s not just dramatic — that’s historic. He’s not panicking, though. He sees it as a sign.
One-sentence paragraph: Ethereum is wildly oversold.
In simple terms? Once Bitcoin finds its feet and runs, Ethereum will catch up. It’s happened before, and if the pattern repeats, we’ll see ETH prices lift as traders shift profits from BTC to ETH. That’s the classic sequence. Bitcoin runs, then Ethereum, then altcoins.
TradingView Data Tells a Mixed Story
The charts are showing mixed signals right now, according to TradingView’s latest technical snapshot. Oscillators — things like RSI, MACD, Stoch — are sitting neutral. Not exactly screaming “buy,” but they’re not spelling doom either.
On the other hand, moving averages? Still leaning bearish.
Here’s a quick comparison for where Bitcoin stands technically:
| Indicator Type | Current Signal |
|---|---|
| RSI | Neutral (50 range) |
| MACD | Bearish crossover |
| 50-day MA | Below trend line |
| 200-day MA | Above support |
| Stochastic Oscillator | Neutral |
That divergence between oscillators and trend indicators is what’s keeping traders cautious. But Van de Poppe believes this hesitation won’t last long — not with a macro trigger looming.
What the Next Few Days Could Look Like
Timing matters. According to Van de Poppe, we could be days — not weeks — away from a breakout.
He mentioned a few things that could accelerate the move:
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A global economic shift, especially a surprise easing from a major central bank
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A Yuan rebound, helping calm dollar pressure
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Another leg up in gold, showing risk-on appetite building
Even a political shift — say, a surprise statement from the Federal Reserve — could light the fuse. That’s how close this market feels to a snapback.
The Bigger Picture: Altcoin Season Hinges on Bitcoin’s Fate
Van de Poppe’s thesis is as old as the crypto market itself: confidence flows downhill. One-sentence paragraph again: Altcoins never lead the charge.
Instead, money enters Bitcoin first. Then Ethereum. Only then — and only if those two are strong — does it start flowing into mid- and small-cap coins. Until then? Altcoin season is on ice.
If Bitcoin can break and hold above $85,000, Van de Poppe sees capital rotation kicking in. If not, altcoins may keep bleeding. And that’s where we are. A market poised. A resistance level waiting. And traders watching one chart more closely than any headline.
