Crypto Radar — May 17, 2026
Sunday arrived with Bitcoin consolidating near $78.388, in a sideways movement that has already lasted three sessions. With fear dominating the market for 46 consecutive days and neutral RSI at 49.40, the technical scenario suggests patience before the next directional move.
Bitcoin dominance at 60.2% shows relative strength, but cannot break the resistance of $81.725. The global market cap of $2.61 trillion remains compressed, reflecting the institutional caution that marks May.
Bitcoin: Mixed Technical Structure
Bitcoin is in a peculiar technical situation. The current price of $78.388 is squeezed between the SMA20 at $79.356 and the SMA50 at $75.438. This creates a technical "no man's land" — neither defined uptrend nor downtrend.
The bigger problem lies in long-term structure. SMA50 running 7.5% below SMA200 indicates technical bear market. Until this dynamic reverses, any rally will be seen as a correction, not a new uptrend.
Análise Técnica — Bitcoin
Neutral RSI at 49.40 leaves room for movement in any direction. Weekly support at $78.135 was tested Friday and held. Break below opens the path to $73.856, critical monthly support.
Increasing volume indicates technical decision is near. According to Michael Saylor, as reported by CoinTelegraph, discussions about Bitcoin sales to avoid "harming" the asset show that even maximalists recognize a delicate moment.
Ethereum: Selling Pressure Intensifies
Ethereum shows more concerning signs. $2.191 represents a 6% drop for the week, with RSI dropping to 34.60 — territory close to oversold.
Price action is below all relevant averages. SMA20 at $2.292, SMA50 at $2.258 — ETH needs to reclaim at least the first to signal technical relief.
Análise Técnica — Ethereum
Dominance at only 10.1% reflects relative weakness against Bitcoin. Bearish structure is more evident: SMA50 runs 13.2% below SMA200, indicating a deeper correction than BTC.
Support at $2.180 was tested twice this week. Third time's a charm — the third test usually breaks. ETH needs a strong catalyst to reverse current momentum.
Biggest Gainers and Losers
Smaller altcoins dominate the gains ranking. HYPE leads with +12.0%, followed by VVV (+11.1%) and ZEC (+7.9%). Typical weekend movement — low volume allows pumps concentrated in specific tokens.
On the negative side, QNT (-4.4%), LUNC (-3.2%) and JST (-2.2%) lead losses. Controlled losses show that selling pressure is not widespread — just concentrated in the majors.
Stablecoin Rates
Macro and Institutional Scenario
Institutional news brings mixed signals. SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities plan to offer crypto investment funds in Japan, signaling growing adoption in Asia. Nomura also aligns with the movement, according to CoinTelegraph reporting.
In Europe, Italy's largest bank doubled crypto holdings to $235 million in Q1. A sign that European institutions continue accumulating during the current correction.
DeFi continues to evolve. VerifiedX bets on the "next chapter" of Bitcoin being programmable and private, according to CoinDesk reporting. Interesting narrative, but not yet reflected in price action.
Clarity Act and Regulation
In the US, Clarity Act advances in Congress. Clear regulation is bullish long-term, but the market seems more focused on macro than legislation at this moment.
Fear & Greed at 27/100 shows persistent extreme fear. Combined with low Sunday volume, it indicates major moves are waiting for Monday.
What to Watch Tomorrow
- Bitcoin will test resistance at $81.725 again or seek support at $78.135
- Ethereum needs to reclaim SMA20 at $2.292 to invalidate bearish setup
- Institutional volume returning Monday could define the weekly direction
- Watch DXY and US treasuries — inverse correlation remains strong
Also read on ON3X: Crypto Radar — May 16: BTC Falls to $78.2K
Disclaimer: Crypto Radar is published daily by the ON3X team for informational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment recommendation. Do your own research before making financial decisions.