Crypto Industry News:

Japanese regulators are rethinking some cryptocurrency restrictions. This time it's about those related to the use of stablecoins, such as Tether

The Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) will lift the ban on the domestic distribution of foreign-issued stablecoins in 2023, the Nikkei news agency reported.

"Japan's new stablecoin regulations will allow local exchanges to support stablecoin trading, subject to asset preservation through deposits and a cap on remittances. If stablecoin payments spread, international remittances could become faster and cheaper," the report said.

Allowing the distribution of stablecoins in Japan will also require more anti-money laundering control regulations, the FSA noted. On Monday, the Office began collecting opinions on the proposal to lift the ban on stablecoins in Japan. As previously reported, the Japanese parliament passed a law prohibiting the issuance of stablecoins by non-bank institutions in June 2022.

The latest change will have a significant impact on cryptocurrency trading services offered in Japan. Currently, no local exchange offers trading in stablecoins such as USDT or USDC.

Technical Market Outlook:

The BTC/USD pair had made a local high at the level of $17,055 in form of a Pin Bar candlestick pattern on H4 time frame chart and local low at the level of $16,271. The market keeps trading below 100 MA on the H4 time frame chart and is trading below the intraday technical resistance seen at $17,057. The volatility is still limited despite the recent spike down, so the trading rage is seen between the levels of $16,268 - $17,057. Any breakout below the range low would extend the corrective cycle towards the level of $15,984 (November 28th low). On the higher time frame, like weekly, there is a clear test of the 50 WMA located at the level of $15,600, so any breakout below the moving average and a weekly candle close below moving average will be considered as another indication of the down trend continuation.

Weekly Pivot Points:

WR3 - $17,153

WR2 - $16,998

WR1 - $16,916

Weekly Pivot - $16,845

WS1 - $16,746

WS2 - $16,688

WS3 - $16,533

Trading Outlook:

The down trend on the H4, Daily and Weekly time frames continues without any indication of a possible trend termination or reversal. So far every bounce and attempt to rally is being used to sell Bitcoin for a better price by the market participants, so the bearish pressure is still high. The new yearly low was made at $15,555 and if this level is violated, then the next long-term target for bulls is seen at $13,712. On the other hand, the gamechanging level for bulls is located at $25,367 and it must be clearly violated for a valid breakout in the longer term.