Bitcoin price appears to be losing momentum, which may mean more optimistic predictions for the end of 2025 may not materialize this year.
However, analysts are divided on whether Bitcoin (BTC) will see new momentum in 2026.
“We do not expect cryptocurrencies to exceed $125,000 in 2025,” Shapeshift analyst Houston Morgan said in comments seen by Cointelegraph. This target is just below Bitcoin’s all-time high of just over $126,000, set on October 4.
Morgan said that before another bull market occurs, Bitcoin needs to break free from its current correlation with US President Donald Trump’s announcements.
This comes amid an intensified sell-off in Bitcoin after BTC suddenly fell to a four-month low of $100,800 on Tuesday. “Sustained distribution by long-term Bitcoin holders continues to put structural pressure on the market,” Bitfinex analysts said on Tuesday.
Bitcoin analysts point out “widespread signs of depletion”
“This sustained outflow is consistent with broader signs of depletion across the market, as long-term holders continue to outflow capital in response to weaker demand,” Bitfinex analysts said.
They warned that if Bitcoin does not recover quickly to recent levels above $116,000, it could face further declines as the end of the year approaches.
Bitcoin has fallen by 10.01% over the past 7 days. sauce: coin market cap
“Unless prices recover decisively above this range, time will increasingly be against the bulls, as historically long periods of stagnation will undermine sentiment and increase the risk of forced distribution.”
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which measures overall crypto market sentiment, halved on Tuesday to 21 points out of 100, indicating the market is in “extreme fear.”
Bitcoin’s current price slump stands in sharp contrast to recent calls for an explosive rally. Just a few weeks ago, prominent Bitcoin proponents suggested that assets could still reach $250,000 by the end of the year.
Bitcoiners will tip $250,000 by year-end
Speaking on the Bankless podcast in early October, BitMine chairman Tom Lee and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes said they remain confident that Bitcoin could reach $200,000 to $250,000 by the end of the year, a prediction they have stuck to for most of this year.
But Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said the entire planet would need to be in near agreement for Bitcoin to reach that price by the end of the year.
Analysts are divided on what will happen to Bitcoin in 2026. Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hogan suggested in July that 2026 will be a “turnaround year” for Bitcoin.
But “2026 is likely to be a bear market, similar to previous medium-term ones,” financial analyst Andrew Roquenaut said on Tuesday’s X Post.
It wasn’t long ago that veteran trader Peter Brandt suggested that Bitcoin could fall to $60,000.
