In early January 2022, Bitcoin climbed back above $43,000. According to CoinDesk, buyers had held support near $40,000, and the bounce suggested the cryptocurrency was starting to recover after a near-30% decline from its all-time high near $69,000 in November.
That January move did not happen in isolation. The $43,000 area and the $45,000-$48,000 band above it framed Bitcoin’s price action across several distinct periods, and dated reports from 2021 through 2026 show how those levels were tested, defended, and eventually left behind.
Bitcoin Holds Support Near $43,000
In its January 2022 analysis, CoinDesk noted that the relative strength index (RSI) on the four-hour chart was approaching overbought levels, similar to late-December, while the daily RSI continued to rise from oversold levels. That combination suggested buyers could remain active on dips even as the short-term trend stayed down.
Given that downtrend, CoinDesk said upside appeared limited toward the $45,000-$48,000 resistance zone, and weekly and monthly momentum signals remained negative. In other words, the recovery above $43,000 was a short-term bounce inside a market where longer-term momentum signals were still negative.
Why $43,000 Acted as Support
The $43,000 area was widely watched as support in early 2022, and it continued to matter months later. In April 2022, Yahoo Finance reported that Bitcoin was stabilizing above $43,000 after a nearly 10% decline from the $48,000 mark earlier in the week, and that a move above $45,000 was needed for further upside.
The $45K–$48K Resistance Zone
The upper boundary of the range had a longer history. In August 2021, Forbes reported that Bitcoin surpassed $45,000 after breaking free of its prior range, climbing to $45,303.66 and testing resistance near that psychological level.
Sellers defended the overhead zone across multiple periods. From 2021 through early 2024, Bitcoin repeatedly tested the $43,000 support and the $45,000-$48,000 resistance zone, and that range defined the market during the period.
What Changed by February 2024
In February 2024, the zone began to give way. CNBC reported that on February 8, 2024, Bitcoin surpassed $45,000 for the first time since January 12 — the day after trading of U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs began — increasing 3.19% to $45,526.51, according to Coin Metrics.
Where Bitcoin Traded After the Range Broke
The old range looks very different against later price history. On July 9, 2025, CNBC reported that Bitcoin rose to a fresh record above $112,000, hitting a high of $112,052.24 and last trading up 1.9% at $110,947.49. Later the same month, on July 14, 2025, Reuters reported that Bitcoin rose more than 3% to a record high of $123,153.22 before easing, last up 0.5% at $119,750.86.
Reports in 2026 continued to track technical levels well above the old $45,000-$48,000 ceiling. In May 2026, NewsBTC reported that Bitcoin started a fresh increase and cleared the $80,000 zone, consolidating and potentially aiming for more gains above the $80,500 level. In July 2026, an analysis published on bitcoinfoundation.org said Bitcoin had reclaimed the $65,000 level, describing it as one of the critical short-term technical levels for the bulls.
Timeline at a Glance
- August 2021: Bitcoin surpassed $45,000, climbing to $45,303.66 and testing resistance near that level (Forbes).
- January 2022: Bitcoin returned above $43,000 after buyers held support near $40,000 (CoinDesk).
- April 2022: Bitcoin stabilized above $43,000 after a nearly 10% decline from the $48,000 mark (Yahoo Finance).
- February 8, 2024: Bitcoin surpassed $45,000 for the first time since January 12, increasing 3.19% to $45,526.51 (CNBC).
- July 9, 2025: Bitcoin set a fresh record above $112,000 (CNBC), and on July 14, 2025 it reached a record high of $123,153.22 (Reuters).
- May 2026: Bitcoin cleared the $80,000 zone (NewsBTC).
- July 2026: Bitcoin reclaimed the $65,000 level (bitcoinfoundation.org).
For readers looking back at this period, the takeaway is historical rather than predictive: the $43,000 support and the $45,000-$48,000 resistance zone defined Bitcoin’s market structure from 2021 through early 2024, until the zone began to give way in February 2024. Each of the dated reports above describes conditions at the time it was published; none of them is a forecast or an investment recommendation.