Bitcoin Cash Tests Critical $485 Pivot as Bearish MACD Divergence Signals Potential Reversal
Timothy Morano Oct 22, 2025 06:17
BCH price holds $478.10 (+2.7% daily) near key pivot point as technical indicators show mixed signals with bearish momentum divergence raising caution for traders.

Quick Take
• BCH trading at $478.10 (up 2.7% in 24h) • No major news catalysts driving current price action • Testing critical $485.87 pivot point with bearish momentum signals • Following broader crypto market recovery alongside Bitcoin gains
Market Events Driving Bitcoin Cash Price Movement
Trading on technical factors in absence of major catalysts, Bitcoin Cash price action reflects the broader cryptocurrency market's modest recovery session. No significant news events have emerged in the past 48 hours specifically impacting BCH, leaving technical analysis as the primary driver for short-term price discovery.
The 2.66% daily gain comes as Bitcoin posted positive returns, with BCH maintaining its typical correlation to the flagship cryptocurrency. However, the modest bounce appears more corrective than indicative of renewed bullish momentum, particularly given the bearish technical backdrop that has developed over recent weeks.
With institutional flows remaining subdued and no major partnership announcements or regulatory developments affecting Bitcoin Cash specifically, traders are focusing on key technical levels to guide positioning decisions.
Bitcoin Cash Technical Analysis: Bearish Momentum Amid Corrective Bounce
Price Action Context
BCH price currently trades below all major moving averages except the 200-day SMA at $486.54, highlighting the weakened intermediate-term trend. The current price of $478.10 sits precariously between the 200-day average and the critical $485.87 pivot point, creating a narrow decision zone for near-term direction.
Most concerning for bulls is the positioning relative to shorter-term averages, with BCH trading significantly below the 20-day SMA ($532.26) and 50-day SMA ($563.63). This structure suggests any bounce attempts face substantial overhead resistance. Volume on Binance spot market reached $54.88 million, indicating moderate participation but lacking the conviction typically seen in sustained reversals.
Key Technical Indicators
The MACD configuration presents the most bearish signal in the current setup, with the main line at -26.76 well below the signal line at -21.20. The histogram reading of -5.56 confirms negative momentum remains intact despite today's modest price gain. This divergence between price action and momentum suggests the bounce may prove temporary.
RSI at 34.68 provides a more neutral reading, sitting neither oversold nor overbought, which leaves room for movement in either direction. The Stochastic oscillator (%K: 22.09, %D: 22.78) remains in oversold territory but hasn't yet generated a clear reversal signal.
Critical Price Levels for Bitcoin Cash Traders
Immediate Levels (24-48 hours)
• Resistance: $500.10 (12-day EMA confluence) • Support: $443.20 (previous support level and Bollinger Band lower boundary area)
Breakout/Breakdown Scenarios
A decisive break below $443.20 support could trigger accelerated selling toward the $400 psychological level, with limited technical support until the $350-380 range. Conversely, a sustained move above $500 would need to contend with the 20-day moving average cluster around $532, making any rally attempt a two-stage process.
BCH Correlation Analysis
• Bitcoin: Following Bitcoin's positive session with typical 0.7-0.8 correlation intact • Traditional markets: Limited direct correlation to S&P 500 movements in current session • Sector peers: Tracking alongside other major altcoins in modest recovery trade
The correlation to Bitcoin remains the dominant factor, with BCH price movements closely mirroring BTC's technical structure and sentiment shifts.
Trading Outlook: Bitcoin Cash Near-Term Prospects
Bullish Case
Recovery above $500 psychological resistance combined with improving MACD histogram readings could target the $532-563 moving average cluster. Volume expansion above 80 million daily would support such a scenario, particularly if Bitcoin maintains its current momentum.
Bearish Case
Failure to hold the $485 pivot point risks a test of $443 support, with broader crypto market weakness potentially accelerating downside pressure. The bearish MACD setup suggests limited buying interest at current levels.
Risk Management
Conservative stop-loss placement below $460 for long positions, with profit-taking consideration near $500-510 resistance zone. Given the 14-day ATR of $31.63, position sizing should account for potential 6-7% daily volatility swings.
Image source: Shutterstock