Failure above $1.60 may signal a dead cat bounce, with downside risk toward $0.80.
Gaming token Axie Infinity is up by more than 15% in the past 24 hours as bulls show a notable bounce off the $1.20 support level.
The AXS price ticked up amid heightened trader activity, with the intraday surge pushing the cryptocurrency towards the top 100 by market capitalization.
However, with sentiment across the market still fragile, the big question is whether the upward move signals renewed bullish momentum or merely a fleeting “dead cat bounce”.
AXS is among the top altcoin gainers with double-digit advances on February 9, 2026, posting gains that outpace all top 10 coins by market cap.
This outperformance coincides with Bitcoin’s steady hold above $70,000, bolstered by fresh institutional buying such as Binance’s acquisition of 4,225 BTC as it looks to convert its $1 billion SAFU Fund into BTC.
While the buying, much like Strategy’s (formerly known as MicoStrategy) BTC purchase over the past weeks, has not triggered bulls, stability has benefited small altcoins.
Notably, trader interest in AXS has also spiked following recent announcements from Sky Mavis, the developer behind Axie Infinity, regarding the rollout of bAXS.
The token offers in-ecosystem utility as well as staking and gameplay rewards, and bulls have shown excitement since the news.
AXS recently surged to highs near $3 earlier in the year, before plummeting sharply amid last week’s market bloodbath.
The intraday gains of over 15% has therefore emboldened bulls, who targeted strength above $1.50.
Accompanied by a 250% spike in trading volume, AXS rose to above $1.56 as of writing.
The 4-hour chart shows a potential falling wedge breakout, with the RSI and MACD signaling room for more gains.
However, the broader crypto market remains mired in bearish sentiment.
Weakness, despite the impending bAXS airdrop, also saw bears retest the downtrend line from above $4.54.
Losses may mean fleeting gains or what analysts call a “dead cat bounce” scenario.
The outlook of the RSI on the 4-hour chart suggests fresh selling may strengthen this prospect.
In this case, a breakdown below the pivotal $1.20 support could accelerate downside momentum, potentially driving AXS toward lows of $0.80.
Prior accumulation zones sit here and might offer relief.
On the downside, a decisive close above $1.60 could invalidate the short-term bearish setup and allow buyers to test horizontal resistance near $3.00.
