At 6:47 p.m. on Jan. 14, bitcoin is trading near $97,039 after another push toward the upper $98,000 area stalled. Price remains firmly above the mid-$95,000 zone, signaling consolidation rather than a reversal following the recent upside surge.
On the 1-hour chart, bitcoin continues to show a constructive structure after breaking out from the mid-$94,000 range. Price briefly pressed into the upper Bollinger Band near $98,183 before easing back toward $97,000, while the lower band sits near $93,909. Key moving averages remain well below current levels, with the 50-period moving average rising near $94,169 and the 200-period moving average around $91,807. Momentum indicators reflect cooling without breakdown. The Relative Strength Index is holding near 64.07, indicating bullish conditions that have moderated from overbought territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence remains positive, with the MACD line above the signal line even as momentum flattens.
As of mid-January 2026, the CLARITY Act is advancing through a dual-committee process in the Senate, generating optimism alongside renewed industry friction. The Senate Banking Committee, led by Senator Tim Scott, has scheduled a Jan. 15 markup after releasing materials aimed at drawing a regulatory “bright line” between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Bitcoin’s ability to hold above $95,000 has tracked expectations that clearer jurisdictional boundaries could reduce regulatory overhang. Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture Committee delayed its markup to Jan. 27 to allow Chairman John Boozman and Senator Cory Booker more time to resolve disagreements over digital commodity definitions and presidential ethics. Despite delays, lawmakers continue working to merge both drafts into a unified framework designed to move U.S. crypto markets beyond regulation by enforcement. Tensions intensified on Jan. 14 after Coinbase withdrew support for the Banking Committee draft, warning it would effectively ban tokenized equities, restrict DeFi privacy, weaken the CFTC, and eliminate stablecoin rewards. The company described the proposal as worse than the current status quo and urged lawmakers to pursue a revised, bipartisan approach.
Read more: SEC Chair Anticipates Trump Signing Crypto Market Structure Bill
Against that backdrop, focus is shifting beyond technicals toward the regulatory catalyst itself, which could determine whether bitcoin’s consolidation resolves higher. Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan wrote this week:
“The CLARITY Act is the Punxsutawney Phil of this crypto winter. If it sticks its head out but fails in Congress, the winter could continue. If instead it passes and is signed into law, we’re heading to new all-time highs.”
The analogy refers to the famous Groundhog Day tradition in which Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether winter will persist or give way to spring, underscoring how traders increasingly view the legislation as a binary event that could either prolong uncertainty or confirm a broader shift toward sustained bullish momentum already reflected in price action. Earlier this week, SEC Chair Paul Atkins told Fox Business he is confident the CLARITY Act will reach President Trump’s desk in the coming months. Atkins framed the bill as a cornerstone of the administration’s “ crypto capital” agenda, intended to replace regulation-by-enforcement with a clear, pro-innovation framework.”
Market Verdict: Bitcoin’s consolidation above $95,000 and its position above rising moving averages keep the bullish structure intact, with a decisive break above $98,000 reinforcing upside momentum. However, a loss of mid-$95,000 support would weaken the setup and open downside toward the 50-period moving average near $94,169, especially if RSI continues to cool and MACD momentum flattens.
- Why is bitcoin’s consolidation above $95,000 important for investors?
Holding above $95,000 signals strong institutional demand and suggests the recent rally is consolidating rather than reversing, preserving the broader bullish trend. - What do current technical indicators imply about bitcoin’s near-term outlook?
RSI near 64 and a positive MACD indicate bullish momentum is cooling but intact, reducing downside risk while setting up a potential continuation move. - How does the CLARITY Act influence bitcoin’s price action?
Progress on the CLARITY Act raises expectations of clearer U.S. crypto regulation, which investors view as a catalyst that could unlock new capital inflows and higher valuations. - What key levels should investors monitor next?
A breakout above $98,000 could confirm renewed upside momentum, while a drop below the mid-$95,000 range would raise the risk of a deeper pullback toward $94,000.
免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。
