Stop focusing on that damned $20,000 level. It was hype and speculation having lead to the market reaching these levels. If Bitcoin doesn't reflect being worth that value, why should it go up there? The only solid bullish triggers to see the price increase significantly are LN being no longer in beta, or some financial instruments backed by actual coin supply. Till that time keep your expectations on the lower side.
I am happy with current market, where unlike other greedy people here, aren't looking for yet another empty bull run ending in the same manner, and that while knowing that it is quite profitable to act in such scenario. What we need currently is a slow but steady increase that's maintainable, and it seems that we are building on that right now. If we close the end of the year at any level above $10,000 we have done well.
You do realize that huge bull runs and giant crashes is how Bitcoin's market has always worked, right? Yes $20k was hype and speculation last year, just like $1k was hype and speculation in late 2013, and $200 was hype and speculation in Spring of 2013, and so on. People are very naturally focused on $20k because that is the all time high and when Bitcoin gets back up there from gradual growth it will signal its time for another bull run that will make $20k look like a clearance sale.
Just getting above $10k would not be doing well. Finished the year just above $10k means something went very wrong at some point during the year that made people run away from Bitcoin or afraid to buy in.
