Bitcoin (BTC) price has been consolidating within a roughly $3,000 range since April 9 as the 200-day SMA trendline remains a stubborn barrier.
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and Bitstamp shows that BTC price oscillates within a tight range between $83,000 and $86,000, as shown in the chart below.
BTC/USD four-hour chart. Cointelegraph/TradingView
Key factors behind Bitcoin’s flat price action include:
Trump tariffs breed market uncertainty
One significant factor contributing to Bitcoin price flatlining is the White House’s semiconductor and technology tariff inconsistency.
Key points:
Bitcoin price rallied on April 11 after US President Trump announced tariff exemptions for an array of tech products, including smartphones, chips, computers, and semiconductors.
On April 13, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick walked back on this announcement, saying that the tariff relief on electronics was temporary.
This was later confirmed by President Trump, who stated that the tariff rate would be announced next week, adding that there would be flexibility for some companies in the sector.
This flip-flopping breeds uncertainty, as tariffs could disrupt supply chains for tech firms, many of which are intertwined with crypto infrastructure like mining and blockchain companies.
According to capital markets commentator The Kobeissi Letter, the “Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257” note published by the White House on April 11 did not present a “new list of exemptions.”
Rather, it was a clarification that the “goods were never actually intended to be subject to 145% tariffs,” The Kobeissi Letter explained in an April 14 post on X.
“It appears that the news and most investors, along with customs enforcement themselves, never truly understood what was being tariffed to begin with. This was a complete misunderstanding by almost everyone involved.”
As a result, market participants have taken a wait-and-see approach, as clarity on policy could either ignite a rally or trigger a sell-off.
Related: Trade war vs. record M2 money supply: 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week
BTC price trapped between two key trendlines
Another reason why Bitcoin price remains stuck in limbo is that it trades within two significant levels, as shown in the chart below:
BTC price trades between the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) at $84,400 and the 200-day SMA at $87,500.
This confirms the 200 SMA as resistance and the 50 SMA as support on the daily candle chart.
The value of the RSI close to the midline at 52 suggests that there is a tug-of-war between the bears and the bulls.
Bitcoin needs to break the 200 SMA trendline and confront resistance at the $90,000 psychological level.
Falling below the 50-day SMA will likely lead to a deeper correction.
BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
Meanwhile, the Bitcoin liquidation heatmap reveals heavy ask orders around the 200-day SMA and bid positions just below the 50-day SMA, as shown in the figure below.
This further highlights the liquidity clusters that are currently containing BTC prices within the current market structure.
Bitcoin liquidation heatmap. Source: CoinGlass
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
