Bitcoin returns to $42K as bets start favoring ‘short squeeze’ higher for BTC

Bitcoin (BTC) broke through $42,000 on Jan. 11 as expectations of a fresh “short squeeze” mounted.

BTC/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bitstamp). Source: TradingView

Short-term squeeze “reasonably likely”

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView followed BTC/USD as it recovered from Monday’s dip to $39,600 — its first breach of the $40,000 mark since September.

While short-term bullish prognoses were conspicuously absent on the day, attention focused on the potential for derivatives markets to spark another “short squeeze.”

With open interest near all-time highs despite the downturn and sentiment clearly favoring further downside, a surprise uptick could have the impact of “squeezing” short positions and providing some relief for bulls.

As on-chain analytics firm Glassnode noted in the latest edition of its weekly newsletter, “The Week On-Chain,” such an event is overdue. Longs have suffered almost constantly since November’s $69,000 all-time highs, and “squeezes” further occur when the market least expects a certain outcome.

“Short traders, who have not been punished for taking on increasing risk, may find themselves candidates for a near-term squeeze,” researchers forecast.

Such an event could well be amplified thanks to “tepid” demand for spot BTC and futures open interest leverage, which is approaching 2% of the Bitcoin market capitalization, Glassnode continued.

“Alongside very oversold indicators in on-chain spending activity, this suggests a short squeeze is actually a reasonably likely near-term resolution for the market,” the newsletter concluded.

Bitcoin futures open interest leverage ratio annotated chart. Source: Glassnode

For every short, there’s a long

Analysts, meanwhile, considered alternatives to the high open interest being removed via another leg down toward $30,000.

Related: ‘Most bullish macro backdrop in 75 years’ — 5 things to watch in Bitcoin this week

Despite no “wipeout” of open interest yet occurring, a surprise upside move could yet be the event that resets market composition, popular Twitter account Credible Crypto argued on the day.

“What if the major OI wipeout everyone is looking for ends up happening because of a squeeze to the upside rather than a move further down?” he quizzed in response to data from fellow analyst William Clemente.

“Happened in August ‘21 as we moved off the 30K bottom. Think we probs see that play out again. Bears bout to be wiped clean.”