- CoinEx analyst predicts no traditional altseason in 2026, with liquidity flowing only to established blue-chip cryptocurrencies with real adoption.
- Bitcoin is projected to reach $180,000 by 2026 despite a weakened correlation with M2 money supply following ETF launches last year.
In 2026, the cryptocurrency market can experience a paradigm shift, as liquidity will be concentrated in proven digital assets, and it will not be distributed throughout the wider altcoin market. According to industry analysts, investors ought to be cautious about the classic altseason rally that has defined past bull markets.
Major Cryptocurrencies to Capture Most Capital Flows
The chief analyst of CoinEx Research, Jeff Ko, cautions that retail investors who may expect to make extensive gains in all digital assets will probably be disappointed next year. The analyst anticipates that capital will only be directed to established cryptocurrencies with real adoption data and market shares, and leave the speculative tokens.
Ko expects average liquidity gains in the world in 2026, but the divergence in central bank policy can restrain the total market growth. He observes that Bitcoin is less associated with the growth of money supply in M2, after the introduction of exchange-traded funds last year, which indicates that new forces are redefining the price movements.
Although the perspective is selective, Ko estimates that in the event of the baseline conditions, Bitcoin would have hit $180,000 by 2026, which is a huge increase compared to the current prices of about $88,000.
Nevertheless, long-time futures trader Peter Brandt has a different long-term view, saying that Bitcoin will not hit its peak until September 2029. In his investigation of the 15-year history of Bitcoin, he recognizes five parabolic advances and corrections of over 80%, indicating that the current cycle is not finished yet.
The timeline of Bitcoin is in line with the four-year halving cycle of Bitcoin, with the next one expected to happen in April 2028. A drop to 80% of the past trends would have the potential of pushing the prices to $25,000 before the next big surge.
The market environment is favourable to a reset story, as Bitcoin is down more than 22% in the first quarter, the second-poorest fourth quarter performance in its history. According to the Milk Road investing platform, this flush of weak positions would help to build more solid grounds in 2026.
Bitcoin has fallen by 30% of the October peak, indicating a wider uncertainty in the market. Although fourth-quarter strength is usually a positive indicator of Bitcoin, the recent decline can be an indication of changing market trends that need investors to reconsider the conventional cycle trends.
Highlighted Crypto News Today:
Trump Media Adds Bitcoin as CFTC Signals January Crypto Push
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
CTSI Price Soars 17.57%: Institutional Interest Ramps Up
Amid a crypto market downturn, CTSI surged 17.57% to $0.03626 in an hour, driven by high trading volume and institutional interest in altcoins. Traders are now watching key support and resistance levels for future price movements.
Coinfomania17m ago
Bitcoin falls below 71,500 USD, U.S.-Iran talks remain deadlocked, and the Strait of Hormuz becomes the biggest point of contention
On April 11, the U.S. and Iran began 20 hours of negotiations in Pakistan. The core issue was freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz. After Bitcoin briefly rose to $73,800, it quickly fell back to $71,557. The U.S. side took a hardline stance, demanding that Iran open the strait, while Iran insisted that easing restrictions must wait until a comprehensive agreement is reached. The two sides have not yet reached a consensus.
動區BlockTempo4h ago
Crypto Market Maintains Steady Growth Trajectory As Top Assets Show Gains
The crypto market continues to grow, with a market cap of $2.44T and Bitcoin and Ethereum showing slight increases. Top gainers include $GPM and $BASE. Meanwhile, DeFi TVL declined, NFT sales rose, and notable developments include a trader's significant loss and a push for regulatory clarity in Congress.
BlockChainReporter5h ago
BTC 15-minute chart slightly down 0.57%: leveraged long positions passively cut risk and macro sentiment disturbances drive volatility
2026-04-12 12:45 to 13:00 (UTC), the BTC price range was 71081.7 to 71493.2 USDT, with an amplitude of 0.58%. Within 15 minutes, the return recorded was -0.57%. During the period of unusual activity, market volatility increased somewhat, risk sentiment warmed up, and overall attention rose; however, there was no extreme surge in volume or a sudden drop in liquidity.
The main driver behind this unusual activity is that, under the leverage structure, long positions were reduced passively. Recently, the funding rate for perpetual contracts turned from negative to positive. Leverage among longs in the market accumulated; the price dipped slightly, triggering liquidations of some leveraged long positions and sell orders for position closures, resulting in
GateNews8h ago
Analyst: Bitcoin’s current pullback is relatively mild compared with past ones, but the bottom has not been confirmed yet.
Crypto analyst Axel Adler Jr said the current Bitcoin pullback is smaller than historic bearish-market levels, but a bottom has not yet been confirmed. He believes the market is still in a mild bear phase, and that a true recovery will require patience and waiting.
GateNews9h ago
Bitcoin long-term holdings increased to 12.4 million coins, and the 30-day change has remained positive.
CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost says the Bitcoin market is entering an early stabilization phase, with stronger long-term holding behavior. The amount of BTC held for more than a year has increased, and investors are more inclined to hold than to distribute. This suggests the market is transitioning toward long-term conviction; the current trend is viewed as an early stability signal, but it needs longer-term confirmation.
GateNews10h ago
