Bitcoin Faces Resistance at $93,000 Amid Market Uncertainty

According to Cointelegraph, Bitcoin's rally at the start of the year encountered significant resistance near $93,000, leading to a market pullback that refocused attention on crucial support levels. Despite the fragile higher-time-frame (HTF) structure, the lower time-frame (LTF) signals indicate that bulls might still have a chance to regain control if key levels are maintained. Bitcoin faced rejection at $93,000 for the third time, causing it to slip back toward weekly lows near $89,250. The increase in open interest during this dip suggests that short positions are being established around $90,000. Strong passive bids at this level could either act as a springboard for recovery or fail, potentially opening the door to the $86,000 to $87,000 range. Following an 8% surge to $93,000, Bitcoin formed a swing failure pattern (SFP) at the same resistance level for the third time. This rejection pushed BTC down to weekly lows near $89,250, raising the risk of consolidation or bearish continuation in line with the broader HTF trend. However, the LTF structure still offers room for a bullish response. Bitcoin is currently testing a key order block between $89,200 and $90,500, where bulls could attempt fresh long entries if momentum turns positive. Adding to this support, BTC remains above the monthly rolling VWAP (volume-weighted average price), which turned bullish again at the start of 2026. In the near term, Bitcoin might move sideways into the weekly close. A decisive bullish engulfing recovery above $91,666 would mark the first confirmation of bullish continuation, forming a higher low on the LTF trend and potentially trapping late shorts positioned between $90,000 and $92,000. Open interest data supports this setup. As BTC dipped from $92,000 to $90,000, open interest climbed sharply, indicating that short positions are building. If BTC can defend $90,000, a short squeeze becomes likely. A strong daily close above $91,700 would be the first signal, paving the way for another test of $93,000. However, failure to hold above $89,000 would quickly expose internal liquidity between $86,000 and $87,000, providing sellers with a clear downside target. Data from CoinGlass shows the aggregated order book liquidity delta flashing strong passive bids around $90,000. Over the past two weeks, similar bid absorption has preceded short-term recoveries, a pattern that could repeat if buyers continue to defend this zone. Nevertheless, futures trader Byzantine General cautioned that rising open interest cuts both ways, noting that liquidations data suggests a significant amount of vulnerable longs. While a bounce at $90,000 is possible, the analyst believes it makes sense for Bitcoin to eventually take out local lows around $86,000.