Bitcoin (BTC) saw weakness at the Jan. 25 Wall Street open as United States equities fell in step. 

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

BTC price faces stiff resistance

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD heading below $22,500 after failing to crack resistance near five-month highs.

U.S. stocks saw a weak start to the session, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index down 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively at the time of writing.

Bitcoin bulls had themselves faced trouble attempting to push into an area of liquidity above $23,400, this so far remaining unchallenged and home to a significant number of would-be short liquidations.

Traders remained on the fence, hoping that a clearer trading signal would come after several days of essentially sideways price action.

“This is what I am looking for on Bitcoin with a corrective wave now, followed by another leg up to my $25,000 overall,” Crypto Tony commented alongside an explanatory chart.

“Invalidation is if we began to breakdown from here.”

BTC/USD annotated chart. Source: Crypto Tony/ Twitter

Cointelegraph contributor Michaël van de Poppe was also opting to wait and see on the day.

“Patiently waiting for Bitcoin to drop beneath $22.3K or breaking and reclaim $23.1K. In between I don't see much of an interesting set-up,” he told Twitter followers.

Some optimistic takes remained, including that from Crypto Ed, who eyed a potential higher low for BTC/USD setting the stage for new highs.

Fellow trader Kaleo even suggested that $30,000 would be Bitcoin’s next target.

Bitcoin correlation to gold surge

A topic of interest beyond price action meanwhile focused on Bitcoin’s correlation with both gold and stocks.

Charles Edwards, CEO of crypto investment firm Capriole, noted that Bitcoin was continuing its historical tendency to play "catch-up" with gold.

“There is a relationship between Bitcoin and gold and gold is pumping,” he wrote.

“When you lag the gold price, it's easier to see. Bitcoin tends to top between 0-6 months after gold and bottom 0-3 months after gold. This gap is approximate and will likely close with time.”

BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD annotated chart. Source: Charles Edwards/ Twitter

Bitcoin’s correlation to gold stood at practically 100% on the day.

BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD chart. Source: TradingView

Conversely, Kaleo hoped for a “decoupling” from the S&P 500, with Bitcoin primed to break out to the upside.

“BTC broke out above HTF resistance dating back to the November '21 ATH ~two weeks ago,” a further tweet stated.

“It looks like it's about to continue that trend, as it's currently on the verge of breaking out of a pennant it's been accumulating in above support.”

BTC/USD vs. S&P 500 annotated chart. Source: Kaleo/ Twitter