Scan to download
BTC $75,612.25 +1.40%
ETH $2,355.46 +0.83%
BNB $632.45 +1.89%
XRP $1.45 +2.20%
SOL $88.22 +3.45%
TRX $0.3240 -0.97%
DOGE $0.0987 +2.62%
ADA $0.2575 +3.68%
BCH $449.79 +2.23%
LINK $9.52 +2.60%
HYPE $43.56 -2.47%
AAVE $117.16 +10.35%
SUI $0.9997 +3.16%
XLM $0.1694 +5.64%
ZEC $332.39 -3.29%
BTC $75,612.25 +1.40%
ETH $2,355.46 +0.83%
BNB $632.45 +1.89%
XRP $1.45 +2.20%
SOL $88.22 +3.45%
TRX $0.3240 -0.97%
DOGE $0.0987 +2.62%
ADA $0.2575 +3.68%
BCH $449.79 +2.23%
LINK $9.52 +2.60%
HYPE $43.56 -2.47%
AAVE $117.16 +10.35%
SUI $0.9997 +3.16%
XLM $0.1694 +5.64%
ZEC $332.39 -3.29%

divergence

Analysis: In the 6 weeks of the US-Iran conflict, the Bitcoin market has shown divergence, with institutions continuing to buy while whales and mining companies accelerate their sell-off

According to CoinDesk, amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict between the U.S. and Iran for about six weeks, the Bitcoin market is clearly dividing into two camps: "passive buyers" represented by Strategy and spot ETFs continue to absorb chips, while whales, mining companies, and some sovereign holders are turning to reduce their holdings.The selling side is showing clear signs: whale addresses holding 1,000 to 10,000 BTC have shifted from net buying to significant net selling, with the change in holdings this year moving from approximately +200,000 coins to -188,000 coins; publicly listed mining companies are also concentrating on reducing their holdings under high cost pressure, with weekly sales exceeding 19,000 BTC. Additionally, sovereign holders like Bhutan have reduced their Bitcoin reserves by about 70% since October 2024.Analysis indicates that despite market sentiment once being in an extreme panic zone, Bitcoin prices have remained fluctuating in the range of $65,000 to $73,000, showing that the price "bottom" mainly relies on support from a few institutional buyers. The current market buyer base continues to narrow, and future trends will depend on whether institutional capital inflows can continue and break through key resistance zones.

Peter Brandt says Bitcoin may not have bottomed yet, and a "real bottom" is hard to see before October, predicting increased market divergence

Renowned trader and chart analyst Peter Brandt, who successfully predicted the Bitcoin crash in 2018, stated that the Bitcoin market may not have reached its true bottom yet, and "the real bottom may not appear until October 2026." He previously predicted that Bitcoin could drop to the $60,000 range in the third quarter of 2026.Brandt believes that prices may oscillate upward in the short term, but could still fall back to the $50,000 high range within the year. Meanwhile, Arthur Hayes pointed out that Ethereum prices may continue to consolidate in the current range until dollar liquidity improves. As of the time of writing, Ethereum is priced at about $1,941, with a decline of over 40% in the past 30 days. However, Michaël van de Poppe, founder of MN Trading Capital, believes that Ethereum is currently in an attractive accumulation zone and emphasized that stablecoin trading volume has increased by about 200% over the past 18 months.In terms of market predictions, Polymarket data shows that there is a 41% probability that Bitcoin will fall below $60,000 by the end of February, while the probability of returning to $75,000 is 29%. Within 2026, the probability of Bitcoin returning to $120,000 is 23%, and the probability of breaking $150,000 is only 10%. For Ethereum, the market expects a 76% probability of it reaching $1,500 in 2026, and a 23% probability of dropping to $1,600.

The Federal Reserve's increasing divergence on the interest rate path for 2026 may continue to affect the performance of Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market

The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates three times by 2025, with the latest adjustment bringing the federal funds rate range down to 3.5%–3.75%. However, the latest policy expectations indicate that, despite rates remaining high since 2008, there may only be room for one more rate cut throughout 2026. The significant divergence within the Federal Reserve regarding the interest rate path is creating ongoing uncertainty for Bitcoin and the crypto market.Reports indicate that the "dot plot" released by the Federal Reserve in December 2025 shows that policymakers have differing views on the interest rate outlook for 2026, with a similar number of officials expecting no rate cuts, one rate cut, or two rate cuts. This divergence leaves the market lacking clear guidance as it enters 2026. Current median forecasts suggest that the rate will be around 3.6% by the end of 2025 and approximately 3.4% by the end of 2026, implying only one rate cut next year. According to market expectations, CME Group data shows that investors anticipate only about a 20% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut at the January meeting, while the probability of a rate cut at the March meeting rises to about 45%. Analysts generally believe that the labor market, inflation trends (especially the impact of tariffs), and overall economic growth will remain key variables influencing policy direction.Additionally, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's term will end in May 2026, and the uncertainty surrounding the selection of a new chairman is also seen as a potential variable. Some analysts believe that the new leadership may continue a gradual easing path, thereby providing support for risk assets in the mid to later stages. Industry perspectives suggest that if the labor market continues to weaken, even if inflation rebounds temporarily, the Federal Reserve may still implement two rate cuts in 2026; however, there is also a pessimistic scenario where if inflation rises again, rate cuts and liquidity injections may be forced to pause, potentially exerting significant pressure on stocks and crypto assets.The report concludes that compared to the market's previous optimistic expectations of a "full dovish shift," the Federal Reserve's current more cautious stance is weakening the sentiment recovery in the crypto market. However, from a medium to long-term perspective, the expectation of declining interest rates and leadership changes may still provide phased benefits for high-risk assets like Bitcoin in the future.
app_icon
ChainCatcher Building the Web3 world with innovations.