Basic Attention Token's native token, BAT, saw a 0.76% price increase over the past hour to reach $0.1984 at the time of writing. Looking at key metrics, BAT has a market capitalization of $295.42 million and 24 hour trading volume of $9.98 million. Over the past day, BAT has increased 0.71%, while it was down 1.28% for the week. For the month, BAT was up a marginal 0.61%. However, zooming out further, BAT has decreased significantly by 25.14% during the last 6 months.

Analyzing the numbers, BAT's 0.76% short-term price increase comes after a period of sideways trading around the $0.19-$0.20 level. While positive, BAT has struggled to gain upside momentum over the past week and month. The larger downtrend of 25% over 6 months is also concerning.

Looking ahead, BAT may face resistance around the $0.20 level in the near term. To turn bullish, BAT needs to break out of its current trading range and establish support at higher levels. Traders should watch for a break above $0.205 to signal further strength. Until then, caution remains warranted given BAT's lackluster price action.

In summary, BAT’s technical picture remains neutral to bearish biased. Traders may consider waiting for a confirmed breakout and trend change before buying. Near term support is at $0.19, while resistance sits around $0.21. Some choppy ranging is likely in the interim.

Should You Buy BAT Now or Wait for a Clear Breakout?

Given BAT's lackluster price action and downtrend, traders may want to wait for a clear breakout above resistance before buying. Entering a choppy, directionless trade carries more risk than reward. While BAT could see a rally, identifying an emerging uptrend with confirmation allows better risk management. Waiting for a break above $0.21 with volume could signal a trend change to capitalize on.

Is BAT a Good Long-Term Investment Currently?

BAT does not appear to be a strong long-term investment at current prices given its technical downtrend. However, for long-term believers in the project, gradually accumulating during extended periods of price weakness can make sense. BAT still has disruptive potential in digital advertising and web monetization. If the project can deliver on its roadmap, BAT could see renewed upside interest in the future. But in the near term, caution seems prudent until BAT can regain its technical footing.

Check our guide of the most promising crypto