Crypto Traders Watch Bitcoin's $81,000 Support as $97,000 Target Looms in 2026
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Bitcoin came within a whisker of a major breakdown this week, flushing to about $79,750 before closing back above its $81,000 support. According to Gareth Soloway's latest chart review, that $81,000 line and the $87,200 level above it are the two prices that decide whether crypto's flagship asset rips toward $97,000 or slides into his lower buy zones. Traders who want tier-one fee pricing on Coinbase can sign up through Gareth's referral link to save on trading costs.
Why Bitcoin's Bullish Structure Survived the Flush to $79,750
The bullish structure remains intact because Bitcoin closed back above $81,000 after briefly breaking it, absorbing another test of the same support. The session low near $79,750 was a flush, not a confirmed breakdown, and the recovery kept the larger pattern alive. Gareth notes that Bitcoin has been hanging in there even as the AI trade and the Nasdaq slide, a relative-strength signal that supports the case for higher prices later. Still, he holds no swing position in Bitcoin, long or short, while the asset sits inside a roughly $6,000 range. That neutrality is deliberate: the range is too tight to justify risk, and the reward only becomes clear once price resolves at one of the two key levels.
The Two Levels That Matter: $81,000 Support and $87,200 Resistance
Price is boxed between $81,000 and $87,200, and every scenario in the video hinges on which side breaks first. On the downside, $81,000 has been hammered repeatedly; a daily close below it would signal that buyers have finally failed. On the upside, $87,200 is the gate to the bullish targets. Gareth's approach is binary: above $87,200, the upside factors count; below $81,000, the bear case takes over. Between those levels, the correct position is patience, which is why he is not forcing a trade in either direction.
Three Upside Factors That Converge Near $95,000 to $97,000
A breakout above $87,200 would activate three separate technical factors that line up near $95,000 to $97,000, giving the target unusual confluence. Gareth walks through each on Coinbase's own charts:
- A rising trend line that currently sits near $91,000 and could carry the target into late November as it slopes higher.
- A measured move off the consolidation, which projects roughly $96,000 to $97,000.
- The prior pivot highs, which confirm the same zone as a logical place for sellers to reappear.
The overlap of a trend line, a measured move and old pivot highs is what makes the $95,000–$97,000 area a high-conviction target rather than a random number. Gareth also explains why he keeps his crypto money on Coinbase, citing charting and execution convenience.
The Bear Case: Below $81,000 Opens $75,500 and Then $67,000
A daily close below $81,000 would open the door to $75,500, where Gareth would buy only 25% of his intended position. The rest would be loaded in the $67,000 zone, which he treats as the deeper value area. He told Crypto Banter that he would not go all in at $75,500 because the risk of a further slide is too high to commit fully at the first support. The staged approach keeps emotion out of the trade: a partial entry at $75,500 leaves capital for the $67,000 zone if the sell-off extends. Until price proves otherwise, he still believes the cycle low is in, but the plan accounts for the possibility that it is not.
Ethereum and HBAR Setups on the Radar
Ethereum remains in a range with a heavy buy zone just below $2,000 and a $2,800 retest on a breakout. The sub-$2,000 area is where Gareth sees the best risk-reward for accumulation, while a break higher would target $2,800 as the next resistance to watch. On HBAR, he took a swing trade with Smart Money Crypto members on a retrace to the scene of the crime, with a target near $0.10. The setup relies on price returning to the level where the prior move originated, a pattern that often offers a defined stop and a clear target.
What Traders Ask Most: No Position, Fees and Emotional Trading
The most common questions from viewers center on why Gareth has no Bitcoin position, whether Coinbase fees are too high, and how to avoid emotional trading. On the first point, he is iffy on Bitcoin because the range is narrow and the resolution is unclear; sitting out is a position in itself. On fees, he acknowledges the complaints but points to tier-one pricing through his referral link, which reduces costs for active traders, including accounts that have been idle for 30 days or that joined under someone else's link. On emotional trading, his answer is a written game plan: traders without one get whipsawed because they react to each candle instead of following predefined levels. The levels to watch are $81,000 and $87,200; after those, there will be more levels, but the process stays the same.
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The Bottom Line for Crypto Traders
Bitcoin's structure survived a scare at $79,750, but the market is still boxed between $81,000 and $87,200, and the next move depends on which level breaks on a daily close. Gareth Soloway's breakdown gives traders a clear roadmap: above $87,200, three factors converge near $95,000–$97,000; below $81,000, the buy zones are $75,500 and $67,000, entered in stages. Ethereum and HBAR offer separate setups for those watching altcoins. The channel's emphasis on predefined levels and a written game plan is the takeaway that applies regardless of which scenario plays out. For traders ready to act, sign up through Gareth's Coinbase link to access tier-one fee pricing before the next move.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin flushed to about $79,750 before closing back above $81,000 support.
- A daily close above $87,200 opens a confluence of targets near $95,000–$97,000.
- A daily close below $81,000 opens $75,500, where Gareth Soloway would buy only 25%.
- The remaining buy zone sits near $67,000; he believes the cycle low is in until proven otherwise.
- Ethereum has a heavy buy zone just below $2,000 and a $2,800 retest on a breakout.
Source: Bitcoin Came THIS Close to Breaking Down: $97K Next? · Markdown version
Questions & answers
Why does Gareth Soloway hold no Bitcoin position right now?
He holds no swing position because Bitcoin is stuck in a roughly $6,000 range between $81,000 and $87,200. With the resolution unclear, he prefers to wait for a daily close above resistance or below support before committing capital.
What happens if Bitcoin closes below $81,000?
A daily close below $81,000 opens the door to $75,500, where Gareth would buy only 25% of his intended position. The remaining 75% would be deployed in the $67,000 zone if the sell-off extends.
Are Coinbase fees really too high for active traders?
Some viewers complain about fees and spreads, but Gareth points to tier-one pricing available through his referral link. Accounts that have been idle for 30 days or that joined under someone else's link can still qualify for the reduced fee tier.
How do you avoid emotional trading without a game plan?
The fix is to write down the levels and the actions before entering a trade, then follow them mechanically. Traders without a plan get whipsawed because they react to each candle instead of waiting for a daily close at a predefined level.