We have stagnant prices because the buying frenzy is over (that ended in early 2018) and the panic selling frenzy has also appeared to stop, at least for a while
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So if you ask me, that can be explained only if you admit or take into account there is a massive amount of shorts at play, which limit the price action in both directions. Indeed, there is still a possibility of a breakout, either via extreme manipulation aimed at wiping away these shorts or via somebody actually having an intention to buy or sell enough bitcoins that no buying or selling wall will be able to hold back
I 100% agree with you here. I must admit that I can't really see shorts at play and really affecting the price, but it seems pretty obvious at some point, specially when the price went on a boring and sideways pattern at $6K-$6.5K for months, and they're using bots for all we know to create a situation wherein they can really book profits in short amount of time.