NEAR Protocol Tests Key Support at $2.15 as Bitcoin Weakness Pressures Altcoins
James Ding
Oct 17, 2025 20:19
NEAR Protocol trades at $2.15 amid broader crypto market pressure, with technical indicators suggesting further downside risk as Bitcoin faces resistance above $115,000.
Quick Take
• NEAR trading at $2.15 (down 2.8% in 24h)
• Bitcoin’s rejection at $115,854 resistance creating altcoin selling pressure
• NEAR testing critical support near Bollinger Band lower boundary
• Bearish momentum indicators suggesting continued weakness
Market Events Driving NEAR Protocol Price Movement
NEAR Protocol technical analysis shows the token is primarily responding to broader cryptocurrency market dynamics rather than project-specific catalysts. The most significant driver affecting NEAR price this week has been Bitcoin’s struggle with resistance levels, particularly the rejection at $115,854 on October 15th that analysts predict could lead to a decline toward $110,000.
This macro cryptocurrency weakness has created a risk-off environment for altcoins, with NEAR price following the broader market sentiment. While Bitcoin showed a mild recovery to $115,517 on October 13th, providing temporary relief to the crypto market, the underlying technical structure remains fragile. The sharp 7.29% Bitcoin decline on October 10th, which saw the leading cryptocurrency fall from $121,704.74 to $112,714.90, established the bearish tone that continues to influence altcoin performance.
Trading on technical factors in absence of major NEAR-specific catalysts, the token is experiencing typical correlation patterns with Bitcoin during periods of market uncertainty.
NEAR Technical Analysis: Bearish Momentum Building
Price Action Context
NEAR Protocol technical analysis reveals concerning positioning relative to key moving averages. The current $2.15 price sits significantly below all major moving averages, with the 7-day SMA at $2.36, 20-day SMA at $2.68, and 50-day SMA at $2.69. This below-average positioning indicates sustained selling pressure and suggests the path of least resistance remains to the downside.
The token is closely following Bitcoin’s weakness, showing typical altcoin beta behavior during periods of crypto market stress. Volume analysis from Binance spot data shows $47.3 million in 24-hour trading, indicating moderate institutional interest but insufficient to drive meaningful upside momentum.
Key Technical Indicators
The RSI at 34.42 places NEAR in neutral territory but trending toward oversold conditions, suggesting potential for a technical bounce. However, the MACD configuration tells a more bearish story, with the main line at -0.1436 and a negative histogram of -0.0748 confirming bearish momentum remains intact.
The Bollinger Bands analysis shows NEAR trading near the lower band at $2.10, with a %B position of 0.0472 indicating the price is hugging support. While this often precedes short-term bounces, the overall trend structure suggests any relief rallies may be limited.
Critical Price Levels for NEAR Protocol Traders
Immediate Levels (24-48 hours)
• Resistance: $2.36 (7-day moving average acting as dynamic resistance)
• Support: $2.10 (Bollinger Band lower boundary and psychological level)
Breakout/Breakdown Scenarios
A break below the $2.10 support level could accelerate selling toward the $1.55 major support zone, representing the next significant technical floor. Conversely, reclaiming the $2.36 level would be the first sign of momentum shift, though sustained buying would need to clear the $2.68 resistance at the 20-day moving average.
NEAR Correlation Analysis
NEAR Protocol is exhibiting strong positive correlation with Bitcoin’s price action, following the typical altcoin pattern of amplified moves in both directions. The token’s 2.75% decline aligns with Bitcoin’s struggle at resistance levels, demonstrating limited independent price discovery in the current environment.
Traditional market factors appear to have minimal direct impact on NEAR price currently, with crypto-specific dynamics dominating the narrative. The correlation with Bitcoin remains the primary driver for short-term price movements.
Trading Outlook: NEAR Protocol Near-Term Prospects
Bullish Case
A sustained Bitcoin recovery above $116,000 could provide the catalyst needed for NEAR price to attempt a retest of the $2.36 resistance level. Technical indicators approaching oversold conditions suggest potential for a relief bounce, particularly if broader crypto sentiment improves.
Bearish Case
Continued Bitcoin weakness toward the predicted $110,000 level could pressure NEAR toward the $1.55 major support zone. The bearish MACD configuration and below-average price positioning suggest downside risks remain elevated in the near term.
Risk Management
Traders should consider stop-losses below $2.05 to limit exposure to a breakdown scenario, while position sizing should account for the elevated volatility environment reflected in the 14-day ATR of $0.28. The current technical setup favors defensive positioning until clear momentum signals emerge.
Image source: Shutterstock
