Bitcoin is currently consolidating above $115,000 as traders keenly await the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) impending interest rate decision on Wednesday. However, optimism persists, fueled by technical signals, with one analyst predicting a substantial rally.

Crypto investor Jelle highlights a recurring bullish signal from Bitcoin's weekly stochastic Relative Strength Index (RSI). The RSI is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements and generates values between 0 and 100 to identify overbought and oversold conditions in the market. An RSI value above 70 suggests that the asset is overbought, indicating that the price may be due for a decline, while a value below 30 implies that the asset is oversold, suggesting that the price may be due for an increase.

Jelle notes that the weekly stochastic RSI has turned bullish for the ninth time in the current cycle. Historically, each of these crossovers has triggered an average rally of 35%, potentially propelling Bitcoin towards $155,000.

Timothy Peterson, a Bitcoin network economist, supports this outlook, noting repeating cycle patterns offer a strong roadmap. While Peterson doesn't consider himself a believer in chart-based technical analysis, his model suggests Bitcoin could reach $200,000 within 170 days.

However, short-term caution remains. Analyst Skew points out new ask-bid liquidity (short-positioned) clustered near $116,000, describing it as the current "consensus trade" before the Fed decision. Skew warns that persistent supply and offloading into rallies indicate a top-heavy market, potentially due to market maker manipulation rather than organic demand.

Understanding the RSI

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum indicator used in technical analysis. It measures the magnitude of recent price changes to evaluate overbought or oversold conditions in the price of an asset. The RSI is displayed as an oscillator that can range from 0 to 100.

Traditional interpretation suggests that an RSI of 70 or above indicates an overbought condition, signaling a potential price decrease, while an RSI of 30 or below indicates an oversold condition, suggesting a possible price increase. However, these levels can be adjusted depending on the asset and market conditions.

Using RSI in Trading

The RSI can be used in different ways when trading: * Identifying Overbought and Oversold Conditions: As mentioned above, traders use the 70 and 30 levels to identify potential reversals. However, in strong trends, the RSI can remain in overbought or oversold territory for extended periods. * Swing Trading: The RSI can signal when to buy and sell in swing trading strategies. For example, a trader might buy when the RSI crosses below 30 and sell when it crosses above 70. * Confirming Trends: The RSI can be used in conjunction with other technical indicators to confirm market trends.

Caveats

It's important to remember that the RSI is just one indicator and should not be used in isolation. It's essential to consider other technical and fundamental factors before making any trading decisions. The cryptocurrency market is known for its volatility, and technical indicators can be unreliable at times.

Despite short-term concerns, some analysts remain optimistic about Bitcoin's potential, citing bullish signals from the RSI and historical patterns. The upcoming FOMC decision and its impact on market liquidity will likely play a crucial role in Bitcoin's price action in the near term.