Crypto Radar - Friday, 04/17/2026
Bitcoin broke through the $78,000 resistance level this Friday, ending the week with a 5.3% gain and renewing optimism after weeks of sideways consolidation. The move happens even with the fear index still pinned at 32 points, signaling that smart money is buying while retail hesitates.
BTC dominance rose to 59.8%, confirming that investors are seeking safety in the leading cryptocurrency before venturing into altcoins. ETH followed the move with $2,407, up 4.3% on the day.
Market Overview
The global market cap of $2.62 trillion represents an important recovery after the March scare. Trading volume robust at $148.92 billion confirms there is real liquidity supporting this move, not just weekend FOMO.
According to CoinDesk, momentum traders were waiting for exactly this signal. Breaking through the weekly resistance opens space for a test of $82,000 in the next sessions, a level that coincides with the 200-period moving average.
Bitcoin: RSI Heating Up, Structure Still Bearish
BTC is trading above the 20 and 50-period averages, a technically bullish setup in the short term. The RSI of 68.90 shows there is still room for more upside before entering overbought territory, but not much.
The problem lies in the bigger picture: SMA50 still 17.4% below SMA200, maintaining the bearish bias in the medium term. It's like a boxer who won a few rounds, but is still behind on the overall scorecard.
Critical support at $73,856. Losing this level would invalidate the breakout and open the way to $65,970. Immediate resistance confirmed at $78,281, exactly where it was testing today.
Análise Técnica — Bitcoin
Ethereum: Following Bitcoin's Playbook
ETH reproduces the same pattern as BTC: bullish movement in the short term, but medium-term structure still concerning. RSI of 62.90 offers more safety margin than Bitcoin for a potential correction.
The 23.6% difference between SMA50 and SMA200 is even larger than BTC's, indicating that ETH needs more time to repair the technical damage from the 2022 bear market. Support at $2,265, resistance at $2,421.
Análise Técnica — Ethereum
Altcoins: PENGU Leads, Binance Coin Plunges
PENGU exploded 11.3% leading the gains, followed by SPX (+10.4%) and SEI (+8.9%). The altcoin move is still selective, concentrated in specific tokens while most await confirmation that BTC will sustain $78,000.
On the downside, Binance Coin plunged 17.4%, likely related to regulatory issues in China. VVV and DEXE complete the trio of losers with declines of 6.6% each.
Stablecoin Rates
USDT and USDC maintain stable parity, indicating there is no significant stress in the crypto liquidity system. For Brazilians, this means conversion via stablecoins remains efficient for those looking to take advantage of dollar fluctuations.
Macro and Global Context
The news that Kraken processed 56 million tax forms in 2025 shows the growing maturity of the US market. One-third of investors had positions under $1, confirming the democratization of access to cryptocurrencies.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan created a special zone for mining with tax incentives, another sign that countries are competing to attract the crypto industry. In Brazil, we still await more concrete government moves regarding Drex and mining regulation.
Risks on the Radar
CertiK alerted that the Lazarus Group is especially dangerous with Mach-O Man attacks. Additionally, another DeFi protocol was hacked on the Sui network, with $3.5 million drained from Volo. They are reminders that security remains the number one priority in this market.
Technically, the biggest risk is Bitcoin failing to hold $78,000. A rejection here would create a classic bull trap, catching those who bought the breakout off guard.
What to Watch Tomorrow
- BTC sustaining above $78,000 over the weekend
- Trading volume: does it stay robust or evaporate on Saturday/Sunday
- Altcoin movement: will they follow or await more confirmation
- BTC RSI: any approach to 75 points requires extra attention
- Regulatory news: especially from China following the Binance Coin decline
Disclaimer: Crypto Radar is published daily by the ON3X team for informational purposes only. This content does not constitute investment advice. Do your own research before making financial decisions.