Top 5 cryptocurrencies to watch this week: BTC, AVAX, ALGO, XTZ, EGLD

China has attempted to stifle the crypto sector’s growth on several occasions in the past 12 years but barring a minor blip, the blanket bans on crypto-commerce have not altered the long-term growth of cryptocurrencies. This shows that no one country, even if it is the second-largest economy in the world, can halt the emergence and growth of cryptocurrencies.

Deutsche Bank analyst Marion Laboure said in an update on the bank’s website that Bitcoin (BTC) is likely to “remain ultra-volatile in the foreseeable future” as most people buy it either for investment or for speculation rather than using it as a medium of exchange.

However, Laboure believes that Bitcoin could become “the 21st century’s digital gold” and the trend could continue for centuries with no major control by the government.

At Morningstar’s yearly investment conference, Dennis Lynch, the head of asset management at Counterpoint, likened Bitcoin to the South Park cartoon character Kenny. Lynch said: "I like to say that bitcoin's kind of like Kenny from South Park — he dies every episode, and is back again.”

As the effect of the China FUD diminishes, let’s study the charts of the top-5 cryptocurrencies that may remain strong in the short term.

BTC/USDT
Bitcoin has once again bounced off the 100-day simple moving average ($41,002), suggesting that bulls are attempting to defend this level aggressively. The bulls will now try to push the price above the 20-day exponential moving average ($45,178).

The downsloping 20-day EMA and the relative strength index (RSI) in the negative zone suggest that bears have the upper hand. If the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, the possibility of a break below the 100-day SMA will increase.

Such a move will complete the bearish head and shoulders pattern, which has a target objective at $32,423.05.

The bulls will have to push and sustain the price above the overhead resistance at $48,843 to open the doors for a possible rally to $52,920. A break and close above this level could signal the resumption of the uptrend.

The BTC/USDT pair is witnessing a tough tussle between the bulls and the bears near the neckline. The bulls have pushed the price above the 20-EMA and will next try to clear the overhead hurdle at $45,200.

If they can pull it off, the pair could climb to $49,000. Conversely, if the price turns down from the current level, the bears will try to pull the price below the critical support zone at $41,000 to $39,600. A violation of this zone may indicate the start of a downtrend.

AVAX/USDT
Avalanche (AVAX) is trading inside an ascending channel pattern. The long tail on today’s candlestick suggests that bulls are aggressively buying on dips to the 20-day EMA ($61).

The rising moving averages and the RSI in the positive zone indicate advantage to buyers. The AVAX/USDT pair could now try to retest the all-time high at $79.80. This is an important level to watch out for because a break above it could signal the resumption of the uptrend.

The pair could then rally to the resistance line of the channel and the bullish momentum may pick up if this hurdle is crossed.

Conversely, if the price turns down from the current level or the overhead resistance and breaks below $60.04, it will suggest the start of a deeper correction to the 50-day SMA ($45).

The pair has bounced off the 100-SMA and the bulls are attempting to sustain the price above the 20-EMA. If they manage to do that, the pair could start its northward march to $79.80 where the bears may again mount a stiff resistance.

On the downside, the critical level to watch is the support line of the channel. A break and close below this support will be the first indication that the bulls may be losing their grip. If the price slips below $60.04, the decline could extend to $55.

ALGO/USDT
Algorand (ALGO) is trading below the 20-day EMA ($1.77) but the long tail on today’s candlestick suggests that bulls are attempting to defend the support at $1.51.

If bulls drive and sustain the price above the downtrend line, it will suggest that the short-term correction could be over. The ALGO/USDT pair could then rise to $2.15 and then to $2.55.

Alternatively, if the price turns down from $1.84, the pair could again drop to $1.51. If the bulls defend this support, the pair may remain range-bound between $1.84 and $1.51 for a few days.

A break and close below $1.51 will signal a possible change in trend. The pair could then slide to the next support at $1.15.

The pair is trying to rebound off the strong support at $1.51 but the recovery may hit a barrier at the moving averages and then again at the downtrend line.

If the price turns down from the overhead resistance, it will indicate that sentiment remains negative and traders are selling on relief rallies. That will increase the likelihood of a break below $1.51.

This negative view will be negated if the price rises and sustains above the downtrend line. The bulls will then make one more attempt to resume the up-move.

Source: cointelegraph.com