Crypto Week — Week 17 of 2026: Complete Market Summary

Crypto Week: BTC Breaks Resistance and Tests US$ 78K

Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The crypto market experienced a week of relief, with Bitcoin rising US$ 78,684 (+6.3% in 7 days) and testing the US$ 78K resistance again. Ethereum followed the move, closing at US$ 2,416 (+4.0% in the week). What stands out: the Fear & Greed index remains at 32 points, indicating extreme fear even as prices rise.

This divergence between price and sentiment is no coincidence. Smart money is taking advantage of pessimism to accumulate positions while retail investors still hesitate. With Bitcoin dominance at 59.9% and global market cap of US$ 2.63 trillion, the market shows consolidation signals before the next directional move.

Overview of the Majors

Bitcoin broke short-term resistance at US$ 78,667 and now tests levels it hasn't seen in weeks. Ethereum remains in the background, with stable dominance at 11.1%, but also broke important resistances at US$ 2,421.

Volume of US$ 151.30 billion in 24h indicates consistent participation, without the panic spikes that marked previous weeks. The market is breathing, but still cautious.

Bitcoin: RSI at 69, Near Overbought

Bitcoin is technically interesting. RSI at 69.5 points shows buying strength, but approaches the overbought zone (70+). The price broke the 20 and 50-period averages (US$ 73,001 and US$ 70,922), confirming an uptrend in the short term.

What concerns: the 200-period average is still at US$ 85,886, 17.4% above SMA50. This long-term bearish structure has not yet been resolved. Bitcoin needs to achieve and maintain levels above US$ 85K to confirm a cycle change.

Weekly support at US$ 73,856 should hold any potential corrections. Resistance at US$ 78,667 has already been tested - if it breaks with volume, the next target is US$ 82K.

Ethereum: Following Bitcoin's Script

Ethereum mirrors Bitcoin's move, with RSI at 63.4 points and uptrend confirmed above the 20 and 50-period averages. But here the situation is more complicated: SMA200 at US$ 2,824 is 23.6% above SMA50, a larger divergence than Bitcoin's.

ETH has double work ahead. It needs to first consolidate above US$ 2,421 (current resistance) and then target US$ 2,800 to start resolving the long-term bearish structure. Support at US$ 2,265 should hold over the next few days.

Top Gainers and Losers of the Week

PENGU led gains with +12.1%, followed by SPX (+10.3%) and EDGE (+10.2%). On the opposite side, 币安人生 plummeted -19.0%, with SIREN (-7.3%) and VVV (-7.1%) completing the ranking of largest drops.

The sectoral rotation remains intense. Niche tokens sometimes soar, sometimes plummet. This indicates a still-immature market, where speculative capital migrates quickly between narratives.

Stablecoin Quotes

Macro Scenario and Regulation

According to CoinTelegraph, MiCA regulation in Europe is pressuring smaller crypto companies, creating entry barriers that could consolidate the market. In Russia, advances in crypto legislation may include criminal penalties - another sign that governments are setting the rules of the game.

In Brazil, the integration of USDC into PIX by the Central Bank represents a structural change for real-time payments. Instant BRL/dollar conversion could accelerate crypto adoption in the country, especially for remittances and international commerce.

What the Data Reveals

Morgan Stanley entering the Bitcoin ETF battle with a 0.14% fee and 16,000 consultants to distribute the product shows that American institutions still see value in the long-term crypto thesis.

Kraken processed 56 million tax forms for 2025, with a third below US$ 1. This confirms: the crypto user base continues to grow, even in a sideways market.

Lazarus Group (North Korea) remains active with US$ 578 million stolen in April, including the Kelp DAO exploit. Security remains a critical issue for institutional adoption.

What to Expect Next Week

• Bitcoin testing US$ 80K if volume sustains above US$ 150bi/day
• Ethereum seeking definitive breakthrough of US$ 2,450 to target US$ 2,600
• RSI of both near overbought - technical corrections are expected
• Fear & Greed below 35 for weeks - contrarian signal for medium-term positions
• Monitor regulatory developments in Europe and impacts on global liquidity

Also read on ON3X: "BCB Integrates USDC into PIX: Instant BRL/Dollar Conversion Changes Brazil's Payment Game" and our complete analysis on Morgan Stanley's entry into Bitcoin ETFs.