Timothy Morano
Dec 18, 2025 09:44
Optimism (OP) faces near-term decline to $0.22-$0.24 range amid bearish momentum, but strong support at $0.29 could trigger medium-term rally to $0.37-$0.42 targets.
OP Price Prediction: Technical Setup Points to Volatile December Ahead
Optimism (OP) finds itself at a critical juncture as December 2025 draws to a close, with multiple technical indicators painting a mixed picture for the Layer 2 scaling solution. Trading at $0.27, OP sits precariously near its 52-week low while analysts debate whether this represents a capitulation bottom or further downside ahead.
OP Price Prediction Summary
• OP short-term target (1 week): $0.22-$0.24 (-18% to -11% from current levels)
• Optimism medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.37-$0.42 range (+37% to +56% upside potential)
• Key level to break for bullish continuation: $0.35 resistance
• Critical support if bearish: $0.27 strong support, then $0.22
Recent Optimism Price Predictions from Analysts
The latest OP price prediction from leading analysts reveals a cautiously optimistic but divided outlook. Blockchain.News issued the most bearish short-term forecast on December 16, targeting $0.22-$0.24 based on deteriorating momentum indicators, with RSI at 39.13 signaling potential further weakness before any year-end recovery materializes.
However, the same publication’s December 15 Optimism forecast painted a more constructive medium-term picture, highlighting $0.37-$0.42 targets contingent on OP maintaining the crucial $0.29 support level. This bullish scenario assumes emerging MACD momentum can overcome current headwinds.
StockInvest.us echoed similar medium-term optimism with their $0.37-$0.42 OP price target, emphasizing the need for OP to decisively break above $0.35 resistance. Meanwhile, CMC AI’s analysis focused on fundamental catalysts, particularly the integration of RLUSD stablecoin and wXRP bridging functionality, which could enhance Optimism’s DeFi ecosystem liquidity.
The analyst consensus suggests a “lower first, higher later” scenario, with short-term pain potentially giving way to meaningful upside if technical levels hold.
OP Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Volatile Consolidation
Current Optimism technical analysis reveals a token under significant pressure, yet approaching oversold conditions that historically precede rebounds. With OP’s RSI at 35.01, the momentum oscillator sits in neutral territory but trending toward oversold levels below 30, which could trigger algorithmic buying.
The MACD histogram at -0.0011 confirms bearish momentum remains intact, though the narrow spread between MACD (-0.0187) and signal line (-0.0175) suggests momentum is decelerating rather than accelerating to the downside. This technical setup often precedes trend reversals when combined with oversold RSI readings.
OP’s position relative to Bollinger Bands tells a compelling story, with the token trading at -0.01 below the middle band and touching the lower band at $0.27. This configuration typically indicates either continuation of the downtrend or, if volume accompanies any bounce, a potential reversal signal.
The stark reality facing OP becomes apparent when examining moving average resistance: the token trades 69.97% below its 52-week high of $0.91, with all major moving averages acting as overhead resistance. The SMA 7 at $0.29, SMA 20 at $0.31, and SMA 50 at $0.35 form a dense resistance cluster that any sustainable rally must overcome.
Optimism Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for OP
The bullish OP price prediction scenario hinges on successful defense of the $0.27-$0.29 support zone, which represents both the 52-week low and the critical SMA 7 level. If this support holds, the path toward $0.37-$0.42 targets becomes viable, representing a potential 37-56% upside from current levels.
Technical confluence supporting this Optimism forecast includes the oversold RSI approaching the 30 level where buying typically emerges, combined with OP’s position at the lower Bollinger Band, which historically acts as dynamic support. Additionally, the decreasing MACD histogram suggests selling pressure is waning.
For the bullish case to materialize, OP must reclaim the $0.31 level (SMA 20) and generate sustained volume above 15 million daily to confirm accumulation. The ultimate OP price target of $0.42 aligns with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement from the recent decline, a level where profit-taking typically emerges.
Bearish Risk for Optimism
The bearish scenario gains credence if OP fails to hold the critical $0.27 support, opening the door to the $0.22-$0.24 range highlighted in recent analyst predictions. This downside represents an additional 11-18% decline and would likely trigger stop-loss cascades from leveraged positions.
Key risk factors supporting a bearish Optimism technical analysis include the persistent MACD bearish divergence, the rejection at multiple moving average levels, and the broader crypto market’s seasonal weakness in late December. Additionally, OP’s correlation with Ethereum’s performance creates vulnerability if ETH faces its own technical challenges.
A break below $0.22 would target the psychological $0.20 level, representing a 26% decline from current prices and potentially establishing a new 52-week low.
Should You Buy OP Now? Entry Strategy
The current technical setup suggests a layered entry approach rather than aggressive accumulation. For traders asking “buy or sell OP,” the answer depends heavily on risk tolerance and timeframe.
Conservative Entry Strategy:
– Initial 25% position if OP holds above $0.27 for 48 hours
– Add 25% on any dip to $0.24-$0.25 range with volume confirmation
– Final 50% allocation on break above $0.31 with sustained volume
Risk Management:
– Stop-loss: $0.21 (22% below current price)
– First profit target: $0.35 (+30%)
– Second profit target: $0.40 (+48%)
The key technical level to monitor remains the $0.29 SMA 7, which has acted as both support and resistance throughout December. A decisive break above this level with volume exceeding 15 million would validate the bullish medium-term thesis.
OP Price Prediction Conclusion
Our comprehensive OP price prediction suggests a challenging path ahead for Optimism in the immediate term, with high probability of testing $0.22-$0.24 support before any meaningful recovery. However, the medium-term Optimism forecast remains constructive, targeting $0.37-$0.42 by January 2025.
Confidence Level: Medium for short-term decline, Medium-High for medium-term recovery
Key Indicators to Watch:
– RSI approaching oversold levels below 30
– Daily volume exceeding 15 million on any bounce
– Successful defense of $0.27 support over 48+ hours
– MACD histogram turning positive
Timeline: Short-term weakness likely through December 25, with potential reversal signals emerging by year-end if support levels hold. The medium-term recovery phase could extend through January 2025, contingent on broader crypto market stability and successful technical level reclaims.
The ultimate success of this OP price prediction rests on Optimism’s ability to leverage its improving fundamentals, including enhanced DeFi integrations, while navigating the challenging technical landscape that has defined Q4 2025.
Image source: Shutterstock
Source: https://blockchain.news/news/20251218-price-prediction-target-op-022-024-short-term-before-037
