Crypto Radar — April 21, 2026: BTC Rises to $78.4K

Crypto Radar — Tuesday, 21/04/2026

Another strong session for Bitcoin on Tuesday, with the asset breaking through the $78,000 resistance and testing weekly highs. The 3% upward movement over the last 24 hours puts BTC at $78,383, sustaining a 5.5% rally for the week. Dominance at 59.8% shows that the king of cryptocurrencies is pulling the market upward, but Fear & Greed at 32 indicates that pessimism still dominates sentiment.

The total market records $2.62 trillion in capitalization, with robust volume of $149.68 billion. Ethereum follows the movement with gains of 4.3% in 24 hours, reaching $2,407. The current dynamic suggests a market in transition: prices are rising, but fear persists. This divergence between sentiment and price is often fuel for more significant movements.

Bitcoin: RSI Near Overbought

Bitcoin is operating in technically interesting territory. The RSI at 69.10 is approaching the overbought zone (above 70), signaling that the upward movement may be maturing in the short term. But here's the point: BTC has broken through and is sustaining above the 20 and 50-period moving averages, which are at $72,990 and $70,917 respectively.

The long-term structure still maintains a bearish bias with SMA50 17.4% below SMA200. This means we're seeing a technical bounce within a larger correction trend. The weekly support at $73,856 now acts as an important floor, while resistance at $78,440 will be the definitive test for continuation of the uptrend.

According to CoinDesk, momentum traders were waiting for exactly this signal. The breakout of $78,000 with consistent volume could trigger a short-squeeze, forcing short positions to close and amplifying the movement. The question is whether the market has the strength to sustain above this psychological resistance.

Ethereum: Accompanying the Rally

Ethereum shows relative strength superior to Bitcoin, rising 4.3% versus 3% for BTC. The RSI at 63.10 is in a comfortable zone, with no immediate overbought pressure. The price operates comfortably above the short-term moving averages, with SMA20 at $2,259 acting as nearby support.

ETH's technical structure mirrors Bitcoin's: a bounce within a larger correction trend. SMA50 is 23.6% below SMA200, indicating we're still far from a structural reversal of the downtrend. Weekly support at $2,265 will be crucial for sustaining recent gains.

Altcoins: PENGU Leads with 12.3%

Risk appetite is gradually returning. PENGU surges 12.3%, followed by SPX with 10.9% and EDGE with 9.5%. This gain profile - smaller tokens leading - indicates increasing appetite for risk, but still in a selective manner.

On the downside, 币安人生 plummets 19%, showing that volatility remains high. VVV (-6.9%) and DEXE (-6.2%) complete the day's largest losses. The rotation between winners and losers is accelerating, typical of markets in transition.

Stablecoin Rates

Macro: Global Scenario in Focus

The macro context remains complex. News of Russia advancing with crypto legislation that may include additional criminal penalties adds a layer of regulatory uncertainty. Meanwhile, North Korea remains a risk factor, with attacks totaling $578 million in April alone, according to CoinTelegraph.

On the other hand, moves like the SEC being "on the verge" of an exemption for tokenized securities onchain, as reported by CoinTelegraph, show that regulation can also evolve positively. This regulatory tug-of-war continues to be a fundamental driver for market sentiment.

What to Watch Tomorrow

• Bitcoin sustaining above $78,000 - definitive breakout or false breakout?
• BTC RSI: if it crosses 70, there may be technical correction in the coming days
• Trading volume: maintaining above $140 billion is crucial for validating the movement
• Ethereum testing resistance at $2,421
• Continuation of rally in smaller altcoins or rotation back to majors