Bitcoin Targets Futures Gaps as it Dips Under $90,000

Bitcoin filled one of two new futures gaps with a trip below $90,000 as analysis predicted a potential bottom level for the next BTC price cycle.

Bitcoin (BTC) dipped below $90,000 Thursday as market participants saw a classic short-term target coming next.

Key points:

Bitcoin dices with the 21-day moving average trendline as it fills open gaps in CME futures markets.
One gap remaining could see the price return to $88,000 next.
If the market reverses higher without filling it, that $88,000 gap could mark the bottom of the next BTC price cycle, says analysis.

Bitcoin price gives up $90,000

Data from TradingView showed new local lows of $89,530 on Bitstamp during the Asia trading session.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin stayed in step with gold as both assets cooled their new-year rebound, which received a push courtesy of geopolitical tensions around Venezuela.

“Important day on $BTC,” crypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe wrote in his latest analysis on X.

Van de Poppe reported a retest of the 21-day moving average (MA) at $88,900.

“It’s hit the 21-Day MA and briefly dipped beneath this level,” he continued.

“That’s not bad, it can take liquidity, although I’d favor Bitcoin to hold this level.”

*BTC/USD one-day chart with RSI, volume data. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X*

Exchange order-book liquidity led trader Daan Crypto Trades to flag $89,000 and $92,000 as lines in the sand.

“As price is back in the middle of its larger range I wouldn’t be surprised to see it chop around this region until the end of the week,” he summarized.

*BTC/USDT liquidation map (Binance). Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X*

Bitcoin futures gaps: One down, one to go

An important focus on low timeframes, however, was the fate of the open “gap” on CME Group’s Bitcoin futures market.

Related: Bitcoin ‘not likely’ to make new all-time high in 2026, new research says

Formed over the new year period, the gaps often dictate short-term BTC price targets, with BTC/USD “filling” one of them with the latest move lower.

“Are we heading for a deeper move to fill the next CME gap around $88K?” crypto education resource Coin Bureau queried in an X reaction.

Filling the second gap would take the price back near $88,200.

*CME Bitcoin futures one-hour chart. Source: Coin Bureau/X*

Commenting, pseudonymous analyst CW, a contributor to onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, called the outstanding gap a “potential risk.”

“For a stable upward trend, it’s best to eliminate this risk and then start the rally,” he told X followers Wednesday.

“However, if this gap isn’t filled, it means the bottom of the next cycle will likely be near this point.”