The cryptocurrency markets are set to end the second week of May on a low note.
The total market capitalization for all cryptocurrencies fell below $400 billion for the first time since April 26 on Friday, and has dropped 15.97 percent week-on-week. As of writing, the combined market value stands at $385 billion and could see a further decline as indicated by a head-and-shoulders breakdown pattern on the price charts.
Looking at notable individual cryptocurrencies, bitcoin (BTC) has depreciated by 12 percent week-on-week and has outperformed its closer rivals. For instance, ethereum (ETH) and EOS have dropped 15 percent each and Ripple (XRP) has declined by 34 percent.
Bitcoin's dominance rate, which represents its percentage of the total market capitalization, moved above 38 percent for the first time since late April. This likely indicates that money is possibly being rotated back into bitcoin from alternative cryptocurrencies, so BTC's relatively good performance this week is not surprising.
Names like NEM (XEM), stellar (XLM) and cardano (ADA) are ranked higher on the list of biggest losers among the top 25 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
The only gainers this week are two lesser-known cryptocurrencies: bytecoin (BCN) and zilliqa (ZIL).
Top weekly gainers
Bytecoin
Weekly performance: +32.70 percent
All-time high: $0.0186
Closing price on May 4: $0.006733
Current market price: $0.010005
Rank as per market capitalization: 17
Bytecoin (BCN) picked up a bid on Tuesday and rose to a fresh record high of $0.01862, according to CoinMarketCap, seemingly due to cryptocurrency exchange Binance's decision to list the cryptocurrency.
As of writing, BCN is changing hands at $0.010 - down 46 percent from record highs, but still reporting a 35 percent week-on-week rise.
Daily chart
The pullback from the record highs has neutralized the immediate bullish outlook. That said, the ascending (bullish) 5-day and 10-day moving averages (MAs) indicate the bulls are still in the game. Only a daily close (as per UTC) below $0.006 (May 8 low) would signal a bullish-to-bearish trend change.
Zilliqa
Weekly performance: +13.84 percent
All-time high: $0.2306
Closing price on May 4: $0.132311
Current market price: $0.153565
Rank as per market capitalization: 23
Zilliqa (ZIL) is the latest entrant in the list of cryptocurrencies with a market capitalization of more than $1 billion. The cryptocurrency clocked a record high of $0.2306 on May 10, according to CoinMarketCap. Its BTC-denominated exchange rate rose to a life-time high of $0.00002508 BTC yesterday and was last seen at 0.00001847 BTC on Binance.
Daily chart
Currently, the downside is being capped by the ascending (bullish) 5-day MA. The 10-day MA is also biased bullish.
However, the relative strength index (RSI) is turning lower from the overbought zone, so prices might find acceptance below the 10-day MA (currently seen in 0.000016) next week and signal bullish invalidation.
Biggest weekly losers
NEM
Weekly performance: -40.42 percent
All-time high: $2.09
Closing price on May 4: $0.431269
Current market price: $0.307124
Rank as per market capitalization: 14
NEM (XEM) fell sharply this week and is currently trading below the 50-day MA located at $0.3241, according to Poloniex.
The news flow during the week has been somewhat positive, though. For instance, Abra, the global app that allows you to buy, store, and invest in 25 cryptocurrencies, has added XEM to its platform. Further, NEM's appearance at CoinDesk's Consensus blockchain conference in New York from May 14-16 is being touted as its biggest event and has generated investor interest.
However, all that has failed to put a bid under XEM prices. It appears as though the technical failure around the $0.45 mark seems to have enticed the bears.
Daily chart
The rounding top pattern, the 5-day and 10-day MA bearish crossover and a break below the 50-day MA, as seen in the chart above, suggest scope for a further drop towards to $0.22-$0.19. The RSI is also biased to the bears and is well above the oversold territory (above 30.00), backing up the likelihood of a drop in XEM prices.
Stellar
Weekly performance: -40.22 percent
All-time high: $0.9381
Closing price on May 4: $0.43114
Current market price: $0.374065
Rank as per market capitalization: 8
Stellar (XLM) has taken a beating this week, having created multiple doji candles signaling bull exhaustion in the daily chart last week. As of writing, XLM is looking weak, courtesy of a convincing break below the key support of $0.32 and the 5-day and 10-day MA crossover. The daily RSI is also trending south, indicating a bearish setup.
So, the cryptocurrency looks set to clear the 200-day MA support, currently seen at $0.29. A close below the long-term average would expose support lined up at $0.258 (Feb. 6 low). Only a daily close (as per UTC) above $0.32 (April 25 low) would abort the bearish view.
Cardano
Weekly performance: -40.02 percent
All-time high: $1.33
Closing price on May 4: $0.360182
Current market price: $0.257219
Rank as per market capitalization: 7
Cardano (ADA) is moving more mainstream via a new partnership with Metaps Plus, one of the largest payment platforms in South Korea.
However, so far the good news has not been able to put a floor under ADA prices. ADA/USD fell to $0.2475 today - the lowest level since April 18 - and could extend losses further, courtesy of the bearish setup as seen in the chart below.
Daily chart
ADA seems to have found acceptance below the 100-day MA and the bearish bias would strengthen further if it closes (as per UTC) below $0.255 (April 25 low). The RSI is trending south and still well short of the oversold territory (hold above 30.00).
So, there is room for a further drop towards $0.18 (March 9 low). Only a daily close above the 10-day MA (seen today at $0.332) would abort the bearish view.