Pi Coin has rebounded approximately 11% from its February 23 low, climbing back to the $0.174 zone, but technical analysis suggests the recovery may be forming the handle portion of an inverted cup-and-handle pattern, a bearish continuation structure that often precedes price declines.
While retail dip-buying has pushed On-Balance Volume higher, the Chaikin Money Flow remains negative and below zero, indicating larger investors may be selling into the rally, creating conditions for a potential breakdown if key support levels fail.
Pi Coin’s current price rebound is developing within an inverted cup-and-handle pattern, a technical formation typically associated with trend continuation rather than reversal. The recent rise represents the handle portion of this structure, which often appears strong but tends to fail below resistance and lead to breakdowns.
The price is approaching a critical juncture where the pattern’s validity will be tested. A move above $0.173 would show early strength returning, while a break above $0.193 would weaken the bearish pattern significantly. A move above $0.207 would invalidate the bearish structure completely.
Money and volume indicators reveal a dangerous contradiction beneath the surface recovery. The On-Balance Volume (OBV), which tracks buying volume, has been rising steadily since February 23, confirming that traders are actively buying the dip and supporting the rebound.
The Money Flow Index (MFI) reinforces this observation, having formed higher lows between February 16 and February 23 even as Pi Coin price continued falling and formed lower lows. This creates a bullish divergence in MFI, indicating that buying pressure increased while prices declined.
However, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which tracks whether capital is entering or leaving an asset, tells a different story. The CMF has been falling steadily and remains below zero, showing that overall capital is still exiting Pi Coin despite the price recovery.
This creates another bearish divergence: between February 11 and February 24, Pi Coin price trended higher while CMF trended lower. This pattern strongly suggests that larger investors may be selling into the rebound while retail traders continue buying, a behavior often observed before breakdowns.
The weakness becomes clearer when examining momentum strength relative to price structure. Between January 27 and February 25, Pi Coin price formed a lower high, confirming that the rebound remained weaker than the previous rally and that the broader trend remains downward.
Simultaneously, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) formed a higher high during this period, creating a hidden bearish divergence. A hidden bearish divergence occurs when momentum rises but price fails to break resistance, typically signaling that buyers are losing control and the rebound may soon reverse.
When this divergence appears inside a bearish chart pattern, the probability of a breakdown increases. This technical configuration suggests that even though Pi Coin price is rising, sellers may still maintain control of the broader trend.
Pi Coin is approaching the most consequential stage of this technical structure. If the price falls below $0.161, the bearish inverted cup-and-handle breakdown would likely confirm. Such a move could push Pi Coin toward $0.130 (the current cycle low) and potentially as low as $0.122, which would mark a new low and confirm that the 11% rebound was only a temporary recovery inside a larger downtrend.
(Source: TradingView)
Recovery remains possible if buyers regain control. Key resistance levels to monitor include $0.173 for early strength, $0.193 to meaningfully weaken the bearish pattern, and $0.207 to invalidate the bearish structure completely.
Until those resistance levels are reclaimed, the risk persists that Pi Coin’s rebound is not the start of a sustainable recovery but rather the setup for the next decline.
Q: What is an inverted cup-and-handle pattern and why is it bearish?
A: An inverted cup-and-handle is a bearish continuation pattern that forms after a downtrend. The “cup” is a rounding bottom, and the “handle” is a short upward consolidation. When price breaks below the handle’s support, it typically signals the downtrend will resume. Pi Coin’s current rebound is forming the handle portion of this pattern.
Q: Why do the volume indicators show conflicting signals?
A: On-Balance Volume and Money Flow Index are rising, indicating retail dip-buying, while Chaikin Money Flow remains negative, suggesting larger investors are exiting. This divergence often appears before breakdowns, as retail buying temporarily supports prices but lacks the institutional backing needed for sustainable moves.
Q: What is a hidden bearish divergence and what does it signal?
A: A hidden bearish divergence occurs when momentum indicators like RSI make higher highs while price makes lower highs. This signals that buying momentum is weakening despite price increases, often preceding trend reversal or continuation of the broader downtrend.
Q: What price levels are critical for Pi Coin’s near-term direction?
A: Support at $0.161 is critical—a break below would likely confirm the bearish pattern and target $0.130 or lower. Resistance levels to watch are $0.173 (early strength), $0.193 (weakens bearish case), and $0.207 (invalidates bearish structure).
Related Articles
Pi Network Reveals Utility-First Design for Ecosystem Tokens, Seeks Community Feedback
Pi Network Reveals Utility-First Design for Ecosystem Tokens
Pi Network Urges Mainnet Node Operators to Upgrade Before Key Deadline
Pi Network Bullish Flag Pattern Emerges, Potential CEX Listing and Whale Buying Pressure Strong Catalysts
Pi Network sets March 1 as the deadline for upgrading to node v0.5.x.