Deep Dive
1. Network Upgrade Support (Bullish Impact)
Overview: Bybit and Bithumb announced support for Merlin Chain’s November 7 network upgrade, which introduces ZK-Rollups for improved scalability and security (Bybit). Bithumb temporarily paused MERL deposits/withdrawals during the upgrade but confirmed trading continuity.
What this means: Exchange backing signals institutional trust in Merlin’s tech roadmap. Upgrades aim to reduce transaction costs and enhance throughput for Bitcoin-native protocols, aligning with MERL’s utility as a governance and fee token. Historically, such upgrades correlate with short-term price rallies due to reduced sell pressure during suspensions.
What to look out for: Post-upgrade performance metrics (e.g., TPS, fees) and exchange deposit/withdrawal resumption timelines.
2. Technical Breakout (Bullish Impact)
Overview: MERL broke above its 30-day SMA ($0.343) and Fibonacci 23.6% retracement level ($0.408). The RSI (14) at 59.97 suggests room for upward momentum before overbought conditions.
What this means: Technical traders often interpret breaks above moving averages and Fib levels as buy signals. The 24h trading volume of $478M (+5.43% vs. market cap) confirms liquidity-backed momentum. However, the MACD histogram (-0.0014) hints at potential near-term consolidation.
What to look out for: Sustained closes above $0.445 (swing high) could target $0.489 (127.2% Fib extension).
3. BTC Layer 2 Narrative (Mixed Impact)
Overview: Bitcoin’s dominance hit 59.38% (up 0.5% weekly), driving interest in BTC-centric ecosystems. Merlin’s TVL growth (+213% since mainnet launch) and integrations (e.g., Sui Network’s M-BTC bridge) position it as a leading BTC L2 (Merlin).
What this means: MERL benefits from Bitcoin’s market leadership but faces competition from projects like Stacks. The 24h altcoin season index (27) shows capital remains cautious, favoring high-conviction narratives like BTCfi.
Conclusion
MERL’s rally reflects a blend of technical momentum, exchange-backed upgrades, and Bitcoin’s dominance. While bullish signals dominate, monitor post-upgrade on-chain metrics and BTC’s price action for sustainability.
Key watch: Can MERL hold above $0.408 after the upgrade, or will profit-taking reverse gains?