Latest Merlin Chain (MERL) Price Analysis

By CMC AI
09 November 2025 04:03PM (UTC+0)

Why is MERL’s price down today? (09/11/2025)

TLDR

Merlin Chain (MERL) fell 14.39% in the past 24h, underperforming a crypto market that rose 2.32%. Key drivers:

  1. Bithumb’s MERL suspension (Nov 7) for network upgrades disrupted short-term liquidity.

  2. Technical correction after a 17.21% 7-day rally pushed RSI into overbought territory.

  3. Broader Layer 2 sector weakness (–4.46% on Oct 28) lingering amid Bitcoin dominance.


Deep Dive

1. Bithumb Network Upgrade Impact (Bearish Short-Term)

Overview: South Korea’s Bithumb halted MERL deposits/withdrawals starting Nov 7 for upgrades aimed at improving security and scalability. While upgrades are long-term bullish, the 24h trading volume dropped 14.58% to $408.6M, signaling reduced liquidity during the suspension (Bithumb Announcement).

What this means: Temporary restrictions likely triggered sell-offs from traders reallocating funds. Historically, exchange halts create short-term volatility even if upgrades are positive.

What to watch: Resumption timeline and post-upgrade network performance.


2. Profit-Taking After Overbought Signals (Mixed)

Overview: MERL’s 7-day rally (+17.21%) pushed its 7-day RSI to 70.48 (overbought). The price retraced to $0.359, below the 30-day SMA ($0.3449) but above the 200-day SMA ($0.1684).

What this means: Traders likely took profits near the $0.382 Fibonacci resistance. The MACD histogram (+0.003) still suggests bullish momentum, but weakening RSI (61.21 today vs 70.48) hints at cooling demand.

Key level: A close below $0.326 (78.6% Fibonacci retracement) could signal deeper correction.


3. Layer 2 Sector Pressures (Bearish)

Overview: Layer 2 tokens fell 4.46% on Oct 28, with MERL dropping 16.8% that day. Bitcoin dominance (+59.21%) and muted altcoin season sentiment (index: 31) have pressured high-beta tokens like MERL.

What this means: MERL’s correlation with L2 peers (e.g., Mantle, Zora) and reliance on Bitcoin’s performance amplify downside during risk-off phases.


Conclusion

MERL’s drop reflects a mix of Bithumb-driven liquidity constraints, technical profit-taking, and sector-wide headwinds. While upgrades could strengthen fundamentals, short-term sentiment hinges on Bitcoin’s stability and MERL’s ability to hold $0.326 support.

Key watch: Can MERL’s TVL (previously $1.2B) rebound post-upgrade to renew institutional interest?

Why is MERL’s price up today? (08/11/2025)

TLDR

Merlin Chain (MERL) rose 5.43% in the past 24h, outpacing the broader crypto market’s +1.61% gain. Key drivers include exchange support for network upgrades and technical momentum.

  1. Network Upgrade Support – Bybit and Bithumb endorsed Merlin’s November 7 upgrade, boosting confidence.

  2. Technical Breakout – MERL broke key resistance levels, signaling bullish momentum.

  3. BTC L2 Narrative – Growing interest in Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions amid market-wide BTC dominance.

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?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.