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Expert Sets $1.70 as Make-or-Break Level for XRP ATH Breakout

Lele Jima
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0
Expert Sets $1.70 as Make-or-Break Level for XRP ATH Breakout

Tradeship University founder Cameron Scrubs identifies a critical level XRP must overcome to initiate a major upward move toward new all-time highs (ATH).

In a recent market commentary, Scrubs emphasized that XRP now sits at a pivotal technical juncture. He explains that the asset could begin a broader rally toward new ATHs by Q2 2026, provided it decisively clears and sustains momentum above a crucial price threshold.

Key Points

  • Tradeship University founder Cameron Scrubs identifies $1.70 as the key resistance level XRP must overcome to reach a new all-time high. 
  • He expects this projection to play out as early as April or May 2026. 
  • XRP currently needs a 30% rally to break above $1.70 and 187% to register a new all-time high. 
  • Despite bullish expectations, XRP’s trajectory remains dependent on overall macroeconomic and crypto market conditions. 

$1.70 Emerges as Key Trigger for ATH Rally 

Scrubs centers his prediction on the $1.70 resistance level. He argues that once XRP breaks above this barrier, it would mark a clear shift in market structure from consolidation to expansion. 

In turn, this breakout would likely confirm renewed bullish momentum and attract both retail and institutional inflows. If XRP achieves this breakout, Scrubs expects the asset to maintain its upward trajectory and eventually reach a new all-time high by April or May 2026. 

For context, XRP last peaked at $3.84 in January 2018, a level it has yet to surpass. Although XRP came close to reclaiming this high, it failed to do so. Notably, the asset surged to $3.65 in July 2025 before experiencing a significant pullback. 

However, Scrubs maintains that XRP could finally register a new ATH in the coming months, so long as it flips the $1.70 resistance into support. 

XRP Faces Renewed Pressure 

Meanwhile, XRP currently trades well below this key level. The asset pulled back again on Friday, reflecting broader market weakness. It currently trades around $1.34, meaning it would need to rally roughly 30% to break above $1.70. 

Furthermore, from its current price, XRP would require an approximate 187% increase to surpass its previous ATH. Beyond technical factors, timing may also play a role. 

Interestingly, the projected April–May window aligns with Brad Garlinghouse’s expectations regarding the potential enactment of the Clarity Act. Analysts widely view this legislation as a key catalyst that could boost institutional confidence and channel more traditional finance capital into crypto markets, potentially benefiting assets like XRP.

Nevertheless, despite these bullish projections, XRP’s trajectory still depends heavily on broader macroeconomic conditions, which continue to influence the overall crypto market.

Mysterious Entity Accumulates $35M+ in XRP Within an Hour: Here’s Why the Price Failed to React

Mark Brennan
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Mysterious Entity Accumulates $35M+ in XRP Within an Hour: Here’s Why the Price Failed to React

The XRP price failed to react positively despite a mysterious entity accumulating over $35 million worth of XRP in less than an hour.

XRP has remained under pressure in recent days. The price recently fell to $1.32, down from a high of $1.6 reached on March 17. The drop picked up toward the end of the week, with XRP losing 3.83% on March 26 and falling another 2.6% on March 27.

What makes this move unusual is that it happened at the same time as a major buying event. In most cases, this level of demand would help push prices higher. However, XRP kept falling this time, raising questions among investors.

Key Points

  • XRP has dropped from $1.6 on March 17 to $1.32, representing a 17.5% decline.
  • Data shows that while the price dropped 3.83% on March 26 and 2.6% on March 27, a large entity accumulated $35 million in XRP during this period.
  • The whale executed a total of 156 repeated trades of 10,000 XRP every 18.5 seconds over 48 minutes.
  • The CVD indicator surged across exchanges, reaching above 15 million XRP on Coinbase, 8.5 million XRP on Kraken, and 8 million XRP on Bitstamp.
  • However, continuous sell-side liquidity from market makers kept supply stable, preventing price increases despite strong and sustained buying pressure.

Strange Entity Scoops up $35M+ in XRP

This disclosure came from market analyst and order book expert Dom. He revealed that the unknown entity acted quickly and spread the purchases across several exchanges. Most of the activity took place on Coinbase, while Bitstamp and Kraken also showed similar patterns shortly after.

Dom pointed out that the buying included 156 identical trades of 10,000 XRP each. These orders were placed every 18.5 seconds and continued for about 48 minutes. From this pattern alone, Coinbase recorded $23.4 million in purchases. He noted that this kind of steady and structured activity is not common in the market.

The analyst also explained that these large trades were only part of the strategy. According to him, the buyer used a TWAP approach to break up larger orders into smaller ones to avoid moving the price too much.

Dom stressed that most of the $35 million+ accumulation came from repeated trades between 1,000 and 5,000 XRP, which helped reduce slippage and keep the activity less noticeable.

XRP Sees Exchange CVD Spikes

Data shared alongside Dom’s analysis showed a rise in Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) across the exchanges involved. On Kraken, the CVD increased to about 8.5 million XRP, while Bitstamp saw a rise to around 8 million XRP. Coinbase recorded the largest jump, with its CVD climbing above 15 million XRP.

XRP CVD Across Exchanges Dom
XRP CVD Across Exchanges | Dom

This increase in CVD shows that buyers were actively taking available sell orders from the market. Normally, this kind of strong demand reduces supply and forces prices to move higher. However, in this case, the price did not react as expected.

Why the XRP Price Failed to React

After Dom shared his data, a member of the XRP community questioned why the price did not increase. Dom explained that market makers helped keep the price stable by providing liquidity.

For context, as the large buyer took existing sell orders, market makers quickly added new sell orders at similar price levels. This kept the market supplied and prevented any shortage of sellers.

Notably, prices usually rise when there are more buyers than sellers. However, in this case, the supply stayed steady because market makers kept replacing what was being bought. This meant buyers did not need to offer higher prices to complete their trades.

As a result, XRP did not move up even with strong demand. Instead, the price continued to fall, likely influenced by the overall bearish market and possible selling from other participants.

1,000 XRP Price Prediction 2026: The Profit-Taking Strategy Nobody Talks About

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
1,000 XRP Price Prediction 2026: The Profit-Taking Strategy Nobody Talks About

A new perspective circulating among retail investors suggests that just 1,000 XRP may be more impactful than many assume if paired with the right exit strategy.

Insights shared by YouTube creator “BULLRUNNERS” shift the conversation away from “how much XRP you hold” to “how you manage it during a bull cycle.”

Key Points

  • Owning 1,000 XRP can deliver strong returns if paired with a disciplined profit-taking strategy in a bull cycle.
  • Targets range from $5 to $100+, but realistic gains come from timing exits, not just holding for peak prices.
  • Scaling out at key levels helps recover capital early while keeping upside exposure for higher price moves.
  • Investors who plan exits outperform those who hold too long and lose gains during market downturns.

Why 1,000 XRP Could Matter More Than You Think

At a reference price of around $1.36, 1,000 XRP is worth roughly $1,360, hardly life-changing at face value. However, the discussion highlights how even modest holdings can scale significantly in a bull market.

Rather than focusing on large whale portfolios, the analysis argues that smaller holders who execute properly can outperform bigger investors who fail to take profits.

Specifically, it suggests that value is not created solely by price appreciation, but by timing and execution.

Conservative vs. Moonshot

The breakdown divides potential XRP price movements into three tiers: conservative, moderate, and moonshot.

Notably, the conservative targets are realistic levels based on historical performance and expected market cycles. These range from $5 to $25. At these prices, holding 1,000 XRP could mean:

  • $5 → $5,000 total value
  • $10 → $10,000
  • $25 → $25,000

Even within this range, holders could generate meaningful returns that cover expenses, reduce debt, or create financial breathing room.

Meanwhile, moderate targets include prices from $30 to $50. Analysts note that these levels depend on stronger institutional adoption and broader crypto market expansion. At this stage:

  • $30 → $30,000
  • $50 → $50,000

Such outcomes would require sustained bullish momentum and significant capital inflows into XRP as a payment-focused asset.

However, moonshot targets place XRP in the triple-digit range ($100 and beyond). At this level, holding 1,000 XRP could be far more life-changing, with the value exceeding $100,000.

While widely discussed online, analysts admit these projections are unlikely in the short term. Achieving $100 would imply a $6.1 trillion valuation for XRP, placing it ahead of global corporations like NVIDIA, Google, and Apple.

The Strategy Most Investors Miss

The central argument is not about predicting the top, but about avoiding the common mistake of holding through the entire cycle. Instead of waiting for extreme price targets, the strategy emphasizes incremental profit-taking.

A sample approach includes:

  • Selling a portion at $5
  • Selling more at $10
  • Continuing at higher levels like $20 or $30

This approach allows investors to recover their initial capital early, lock in profits gradually, and maintain exposure in case of further upside. The remaining portion can then ride potential “moonshot” scenarios without risking the entire portfolio.

Avoiding the “Round Trip” Mistake

Many investors make the mistake of holding assets throughout the entire bull run, only to lose those gains when the market declines. This often happens because they wait for unrealistic price targets, ignore opportunities to take profits, or panic sell during dips.

In contrast, more disciplined investors set clear exit plans in advance and tend to perform better, regardless of how much they invest.

Instead of chasing overnight wealth, it’s often wiser to focus on practical goals like paying off debt, saving money, or funding new opportunities.

Ultimately, even if XRP reaches $10 or $20, it could still make a meaningful difference with a solid plan in place. In the end, predicting prices is only part of the game. What really matters is having a strategy and sticking to it as the market moves.

XRP Emerges as Core Asset in BitGo’s $81.6B Portfolio

Lele Jima
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XRP Emerges as Core Asset in BitGo’s $81.6B Portfolio

BitGo has highlighted XRP as one of the top five assets driving 80% of the value underpinning its operating plan. 

The leading digital asset infrastructure provider disclosed this in its latest annual 10-K filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

Key Points 

  • BitGo identified XRP as one of its top five assets driving platform value. 
  • While BitGo supports over 1,700 assets, the top five digital assets account for 80.7%. 
  • XRP’s value is driven primarily by custody demand and transaction utility, unlike Ethereum and Solana, whose values may be influenced by staking potential. 
  • XRP continues to gain institutional traction, including inclusion in the Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto Index ETF, where it holds a 5.88% allocation. 

XRP Among Top 5 Assets Accounting for 80.7% of BitGo’s AOP

According to the filing, BitGo supported more than 1,770 digital assets valued at $81.6 billion as of December 31, 2025. Despite this broad coverage, the firm’s platform value remained highly concentrated. 

Specifically, 80.7% of its Assets on Platform (AoP) came from just five cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Sui, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Notably, XRP accounted for 4.7% of total AoP, or around $3 billion. 

As a result, it secured a firm position within the upper tier of institutional crypto holdings, outperforming hundreds of other supported assets. By comparison, Bitcoin, Sui, Ethereum, and Solana accounted for 49.2%, 11.3%, 10.1%, and 5.4%, respectively.

Notable Milestone 

Moreover, while Bitcoin remains the market’s flagship asset, Sui, Ethereum, and Solana benefit from staking participation. In contrast, XRP does not support staking. Therefore, its inclusion at this level is particularly significant, as its value is driven primarily by custody demand and transactional utility rather than yield generation.

Overall, the data reinforces XRP’s role as a reliable liquidity and settlement asset within institutional portfolios. Meanwhile, although newer ecosystems like Sui continue to gain traction, XRP’s consistent presence underscores its durability and relevance in the evolving crypto market. 

Notably, BitGo activated Evernorth’s crypto wallet as part of the company’s XRP treasury initiative. In the meantime, XRP continues to feature in major firms’ portfolios and institutional products. 

Earlier, Hasdex Nasdaq CME Crypto Index ETF confirmed in its 10-K filing that XRP was among the seven assets in the fund, accounting for 5.88%, outpacing Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. 

Could You Still Retire with 1,000 XRP Amid Recent Price Crash?

Mark Brennan
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Could You Still Retire with 1,000 XRP Amid Recent Price Crash?

Discussions around retiring with a 1,000 XRP investment have re-emerged despite the ongoing market-wide downturn.

XRP’s recent price struggles have dampened optimism among investors, particularly those hoping to retire from their XRP holdings. With the token down 63% from its peak, most investors are focused on recovering losses rather than making profits, as the market faces one of its weakest periods in years.

Despite this, Jake Claver maintains a long-term bullish outlook, recently arguing that patience and consistent accumulation could still pay off. In his most recent commentary, the XRP community voice assessed the possibility of retiring with 1,000 XRP.

Key Points

  • XRP currently trades at $1.32, marking a 63% drop from its $3.6 all-time high in July 2025 and a 27.7% decline in Q1 2026.
  • The token would need a 172% increase to return to its previous peak for all existing investors to break even.
  • Jake Claver believes long-term holders who have accumulated XRP over five to eight years may still see rewards, though newer investors may need more time.
  • He projects that XRP could reach $1,000 by 2027, depending on several factors, despite his initial 2025 timeline failing to play out.
  • At $1,000 per XRP, 1,000 tokens would equal $1 million, but Claver believes most investors may need 10,000 tokens to actually retire comfortably.

XRP Suffers Market Downturn

Claver, who serves as the CEO of Digital Ascension Group, made the latest comments during a video presentation amid XRP’s current turbulence. For context, XRP is still struggling through a market downturn that has weakened investor confidence.

Right now, XRP trades at $1.32, which marks a sharp 63% drop from its all-time high of $3.6 reached in July 2025.

The token has also fallen 27.7% in Q1 2026 alone, putting it on track for its worst first quarter since 2018, when it dropped 74.81% after reaching a peak. To return to the $3.6 level, XRP would need to rise by 172%, which would allow all existing investors to recover their losses.

New XRP Investors May Need More Patience 

Despite the current situation, Jake Claver still believes in the long-term potential of XRP. He suggests that even holding 1,000 XRP could still help investors push toward future financial success.

He explained that people with less than 1,000 XRP cannot prepare in the same way as wealthier investors who keep their holdings in cold wallets. To him, those with smaller amounts should stay patient and avoid making rushed decisions. 

He pointed out that many long-term holders have stayed in the market for five to eight years, regularly adding to their holdings through dollar-cost averaging, and putting themselves in a better position over time.

New Investors Seeing Losses

Claver then argued that newer investors who bought at higher prices can still do well, but they should expect to wait longer before seeing meaningful returns, especially compared to those who started earlier.

For context, XRP has fallen about 53.5% since the downtrend began in Q4 2025, dealing a massive blow to new investors. Specifically, someone who bought 1,000 XRP in October 2025 at $2.84, spending $2,840, would now have holdings worth $1,320 at the current price of $1.32, indicating a loss of $1,520.

Claver believes that such investments can still recover over time, but he clarified that this recovery may take a while and will require patience.

Could You Retire with 1,000 XRP?

Claver then presented a very optimistic outlook where XRP reaches $1,000 per token. In this case, 1,000 XRP would be worth $1 million, which could change many people’s lives. However, he pointed out that $1 million may not be enough to retire comfortably today, especially for younger people.

According to him, someone in their 70s might still need around $3 million to $5 million to cover living costs, especially if they live another 20 to 30 years. He added that while being a millionaire meant a lot in the 1990s, today it does not carry the same financial strength.

As a result, Claver suggested that a more comfortable retirement today may require around $10 million. Based on this suggestion, investors would need to hold 10,000 XRP if the price reaches $1,000 per token, giving a total value of $10 million.

New Projected Timeline for XRP to Hit $1,000

Claver believes XRP could reach $1,000 by the end of 2027, and possibly even sooner, such as in 2026, depending on factors like derivatives markets and wider adoption. 

Notably, this comes after he earlier predicted that XRP would hit $1,000 by the end of 2025, even when it was trading around $2, which meant it would have needed a rise of about 49,900%. The prediction did not come true, as the price dropped instead. He later explained that the expected events that could have supported that rise did not happen.

In his recent commentary, he noted that if someone holds 10,000 XRP at $1,000 each, the total $10 million could generate about 5% yearly returns, which equals $500,000 per year. He believes this level of income would allow most people to live comfortably in many parts of the United States.

However, he noted that expensive areas like California, New York, Las Vegas, and Miami may still require more income, while places like Dallas would allow a more comfortable lifestyle at that level.

Shiba Inu: Shibarium Transactions Skyrocket Over 1,500% in Four Days 

Lele Jima
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0
Shiba Inu: Shibarium Transactions Skyrocket Over 1,500% in Four Days 

Shiba Inu’s layer-2 blockchain, Shibarium, has recorded a dramatic spike in daily transaction volume over the past few days, initially signaling a surge in adoption.

According to data from Shibariumscan, the Shiba Inu network’s public explorer, activity has gained strong momentum, with daily transactions recently surpassing 10,000. Despite this sharp rise, the underlying data suggest otherwise. 

Key Points 

  • Shibarium’s daily transactions surged over 1,500% in four days, climbing from 650 on March 22 to 10,940 by March 26.
  • Unlike typical spikes driven by user activity, the increase was largely fueled by recent infrastructure upgrades.
  • The upgrades triggered automated activity, including zero-value BONE transfers and bot-executed smart contract interactions. 
  • Activity normalized quickly, with transactions dropping to 1,230 by March 27. 

Daily Transaction Volume Spikes 1,500% 

Previously, Shibarium’s activity had slowed significantly, with the network often processing fewer than 1,000 transactions per day. For instance, on March 22, daily transactions dropped to just 650, marking the lowest level recorded in the past month, according to data from Shibariumscan. 

Shortly after, activity rebounded sharply. By March 26, daily transactions had surged to 10,940, marking a staggering 1,583% increase within four days. Although volume quickly cooled to 1,230 by March 27, the sudden spike drew attention across the community, with many interpreting it as a sign of renewed user adoption. 

Shibarium Transaction Volumee
Shibarium Transaction Volumee

What’s Fueling Shibarium Activity

Typically, a surge of this magnitude points to rising real economic activity. In this case, the increase does not reflect a proportional rise in genuine user engagement.

Over the past month, the network has undergone significant infrastructure upgrades, including a full-chain reindex, a major server migration, and a complete rebuild of its explorer, which is currently about 45% synchronized. 

Consequently, these processes have triggered a wave of automated transactions, such as zero-value BONE transfers and smart contract calls generated by bots and system maintenance systems, leading to a spike in transaction volume. 

Other Metrics Soar  

Moreover, these upgrades have temporarily distorted other key metrics. Before the upgrade began, total transactions and blocks stood at approximately 1.56 billion and over 14 million, respectively. 

During the re-indexing process, however, these figures appeared significantly lower, dropping to around 168 million transactions and 2.4 million blocks earlier this week.

Since then, the metrics have started to recover. At press time, total transactions had climbed back to 1.27 billion, while total blocks had reached 13.75 million—still slightly below their pre-upgrade levels. 

As the indexing process nears completion, these figures are expected to normalize and more accurately reflect the network’s true historical activity. 

Using Solana Staking as a Strategic Volatility Hedge

Esra Zuhal
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Using Solana Staking as a Strategic Volatility Hedge

The cryptocurrency market is defined by its cycles. We see vertical rallies followed by sharp pullbacks, where even the strongest assets like Solana (SOL) aren’t immune to the broader market’s turbulence. For most investors, these fluctuations trigger a difficult choice: sell for a quick profit, hold through the drawdown, or find a way to make the underlying capital productive.

For professional SOL holders, the answer increasingly lies in systematic staking. This approach shifts the goal from “timing the market” to “growing the stack,” allowing investors to ignore short-term price noise in favor of long-term asset accumulation.

Reframing Volatility as an Asset Growth Phase

While traditional finance treats high volatility as a red flag, in the crypto ecosystem, it is a structural feature. Solana’s high liquidity means it moves through distinct stages: Expansion, Correction, Consolidation (Accumulation), and Renewal.

Rather than viewing a price dip as a loss of value, a disciplined investor views it as a window to increase their total share of the network. By staking, you pivot your focus from the USD ticker to the total number of SOL tokens in your wallet.

The Engine of Network Rewards

Solana’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus isn’t just a technical requirement; it’s an incentive model. By delegating SOL to a validator, you contribute to the network’s security and, in return, receive a share of the protocol’s inflation and transaction fees.

  • The Workflow: You maintain full custody of your tokens while “pointing” their voting weight toward a validator.
  • The Timeline: Rewards are calculated and distributed every Epoch (approximately every 2 days).
  • The Yield: Current average yields on the network hover between 5% and 7% APY.

The Power of Auto-Compounding

The real “alpha” in Solana staking is the mathematical advantage of compounding. Because rewards are automatically added to your active stake at the end of every epoch, your next reward is calculated on a larger base.

For example, starting with 100 SOL, your first epoch reward might be 0.05 SOL. The next epoch calculates interest on 100.05 SOL, and so on. Over a 1-to-3-year timeframe, this snowball effect—combined with the growth of the Solana ecosystem—can significantly outperform simple “cold” holding.

Three Rules for Staking Discipline

To move from a speculative mindset to a strategic one, consider these three pillars:

  1. Neutralizing Inflation: Tokens sitting on an exchange or in a hardware wallet without being staked are effectively losing value as the network issues new supply. Staking allows you to stay ahead of this curve.
  2. The Psychological Shield: Staking acts as an “emotional detox.” When your assets are working for you, you are less likely to panic-sell during a 20% dip. You start measuring success in “SOL earned” rather than “USD today.”
  3. Loyalty Premium: The blockchain economy is designed to reward long-term participants. The earlier and longer you stake, the larger your relative ownership of the network becomes.

Selecting the Right Validator

Your APY is directly impacted by who you choose to run your node. You should prioritize three specific metrics:

  • Commission Rates: Higher fees mean less profit in your pocket.
  • Uptime/Reliability: If the validator goes offline, you stop earning rewards.
  • MEV (Maximal Extractable Value): Does the validator pass on the extra profits earned from transaction sequencing?

A standout example in the independent validator space is Vladika. Active since 2021, this operator focuses on a delegator-first model:

  • 0% Commission: Ensuring users keep 100% of their staking rewards.
  • Full MEV Pass-through: All additional transaction revenue is distributed to delegators.
  • SFDP Verified: Recognized by the Solana Foundation Delegation Program for technical excellence.

You can verify their real-time performance and transparency at vladika.love.

Final Word

Volatility isn’t an obstacle—it’s the backdrop of a developing economy. The most successful portfolios in the Solana ecosystem weren’t built on “lucky” day trades, but on the disciplined reinvestment of rewards over multiple cycles. By choosing a reliable validator and committing to the process, you turn time into your most valuable asset.

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Bitcoin is Entering Traditional Mid-Cycle Dip Zone

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
Bitcoin is Entering Traditional Mid-Cycle Dip Zone

Bitcoin is showing renewed signs of weakness, with historical data suggesting the market may be entering a phase that typically brings further downside. 

According to analyst Benjamin Cowen, this period often marks the continuation of declines in midterm years.

Key Points

  • Bitcoin shows mid-cycle weakness as historical patterns point to continued downside in 2026.
  • Analyst Benjamin Cowen says midterm years often bring fading momentum and extended corrections.
  • BTC tracks past cycles, down 47% from peak near $66K as Q2–Q3 weakness typically unfolds.
  • Bear flag signals risk toward $50K–$41K, with macro pressures adding to bearish outlook.

Bitcoin Midterm Pattern Points to Softening Momentum

Recent data tracking Bitcoin’s year-to-date ROI highlights a recurring trend seen in previous mid-cycle years such as 2014, 2018, and 2022. Bitcoin tends to start the year relatively stable before losing momentum around late Q1 to early Q2.

Across these cycles, performance gradually weakens as the year progresses, with prices trending lower. This suggests the market often enters a softer phase between Q2 and Q3, as early gains fade and selling pressure builds.

2026 Tracking Historical Average

So far, Bitcoin’s 2026 performance is closely mirroring this historical pattern. Following a strong uptrend in 2025, the price trajectory has continued to tilt downward, aligning with the typical midterm-year structure.

This indicates that recent price action is part of a cyclical pattern that has repeated across multiple market cycles.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $66,000, down 47% from its recent peak, reflecting growing pressure.

Benjamin Cowen's Bitcoin chart
Benjamin Cowen’s Bitcoin chart

Macro Pressures Add to Weakness

Indeed, midterm years (2014, 2018, 2022) are consolidation periods following major bull runs, and 2026 has been no different. During this phase, markets experience reduced momentum, intermittent volatility, and extended corrections as investors reassess positioning.

Cowen’s observation reinforces the idea that Bitcoin may be transitioning deeper into this cooldown phase, where rallies struggle to sustain upward momentum.

Meanwhile, macroeconomic concerns are amplifying Bitcoin’s technical weakness. BTC dipped below $66,000 today, pressured by rising oil prices following geopolitical tensions, fears of persistent U.S. inflation, and stress in the bond market.

The situation escalated with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a spike in oil prices and rattling global markets. Risk assets, including Bitcoin, moved lower as a result.

Bearish Structures Point to $41K Scenario

Amid the current situation, some analysts are warning of a more negative outlook. A “bear flag” pattern points to a possible drop toward $50,000, with a worst-case scenario around $41,000.

While many investors believe in Bitcoin long-term, the short-term outlook raises concerns. Ultimately, Cowen’s data suggests Bitcoin may continue to follow its usual mid-cycle pattern, in which rallies fade, volatility increases, and patience is needed before the next major move.

Peter Brandt Believes Further Bitcoin Decline to $49,000 Remain Possible

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Peter Brandt Believes Further Bitcoin Decline to $49,000 Remain Possible

Market veteran Peter Brandt believes further Bitcoin declines remain possible amid a bear flag formation on the weekly chart.

Bitcoin has remained in a downtrend since its $126,000 peak in October 2025, with the price now hovering around $66,000 after losing 42% during the downtrend and 47% from its all-time high. In 2026 alone, Bitcoin is down 24.22%. 

Amid the downturn, concerns about whether the $60,000 level reached in early February truly marked the cycle bottom. Veteran trader Peter Brandt believes the correction may not be over, with his classical charting patterns suggesting further downside toward $49,000. 

Key Points

  • Bitcoin entered a sustained downtrend after peaking at $126,000 in October 2025, falling to around $66,000.
  • The price dropped from $126,000 to $80,000, rebounded to $97,000, then fell again to $60,000 in February 2026, forming a bearish structure of lower highs and lower lows.
  • Peter Brandt identified a bear flag or rising wedge pattern below the 18-week moving average.
  • Brandt projects a potential decline toward $49,285, arguing that Bitcoin follows traditional charting principles.
  • Other analysts believe the bear market could last six to seven more months, noting Bitcoin has not yet tested multiple key support levels.

Brandt’s Chart Suggests Bitcoin Could Drop to $49,000

Brandt shared his latest analysis in a post on X. He also responded to claims that technical analysis does not work well for Bitcoin, arguing against this idea and explaining that Bitcoin actually follows traditional charting rules quite closely.

He called attention to well-known methods developed by early analysts like Richard Schabacker, Robert Edwards, and John Magee, noting that Bitcoin often respects these patterns even more than other markets.

Holding onto this belief, Brandt argues that Bitcoin’s current pattern is not a finished correction but may be part of an ongoing downtrend. This suggests that the market may need more time and lower prices before it can truly recover.

Bitcoin’s Shift from Bullish to Bearish Trend

Brandt’s chart shows how Bitcoin moved from growth into the ongoing downtrend. In March 2024, Bitcoin climbed to around $69,000 before entering a wide, unstable pattern known as an expanding channel, which lasted until mid-October 2024, when the price dipped to about $62,000. 

Bitcoin 1W Chart Peter Brandt
Bitcoin 1W Chart | Peter Brandt

In November 2024, Bitcoin broke out of that pattern and started an impressive rally, reaching $109,000 in January 2025. After that, the market pulled back to $74,000 in April 2025, then quickly recovered and climbed to $123,000 in July 2025. 

The $123,000 in July 2025 marked a new all-time high at the time, but Bitcoin corrected slightly after that and moved sideways above $115,000 for a while before making one last push to $126,000 in October 2025, which marked the cycle’s peak.

From there, the trend changed. Bitcoin dropped to $80,000 in November 2025, rose again to a lower high of $97,000 in January 2026, and then fell sharply to $60,000 in early February 2026. Since then, the price has been moving in a rising wedge or bear flag, a pattern that often leads to further declines. 

Bitcoin now trades near $66,530, while the 18-week MA around $80,351 acts as resistance. The ADX reading of 32.37 shows that the trend is strong, and the Average True Range of 8,876 points to high volatility. Brandt’s chart suggests a further drop to $49,000 may be possible, going against the idea that Bitcoin has reached a bottom.

Other Analysts Point to More Downside Risks

Other analysts have also raised concerns about calling a bottom too early. Specifically, market analyst Crypto Bullet argued that $60,000 is unlikely to be the final low. He believes the bear market could last another six to seven months. 

Bitcoin 1W Chart Crypto Bullet
Bitcoin 1W Chart | Crypto Bullet

He also pointed out that Bitcoin has not yet tested the realized price at $54,000, which is a level it usually drops below during bear cycles, and the 200W MA at $59,280. In addition, he noted that Bitcoin is still trading $24,000 above the CVDD level of $47,374, and. 

Dan, a verified CryptoQuant analyst, shared a similar opinion. He said it is still too early to say that $60,000 was the lowest point, explaining that the usual signals seen at major bottoms have not yet appeared.

Bitcoin, Ethereum Lead as Crypto Liquidations Hit $258M in 4 Hours

Lele Jima
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Bitcoin, Ethereum Lead as Crypto Liquidations Hit $258M in 4 Hours

A sharp market downturn triggered a wave of forced liquidations, wiping out over $250 million in leveraged positions within just four hours, led by Bitcoin. 

Leveraged traders took a significant hit today as the market entered another rapid deleveraging phase. In total, $258 million in positions were liquidated within the four-hour window, with long positions accounting for the majority of the losses as prices pulled back. 

Key Points 

  • More than $250 million in leveraged positions were liquidated within four hours, led primarily by Bitcoin and Ethereum.
  • Total liquidations climbed to $450 million over 24 hours, with long positions accounting for $402 million and shorts for $48 million.
  • The liquidation began after Bitcoin fell below $67,000 and Ethereum dropped under $2,000.
  • Despite the pullback, Bitcoin continues to outperform traditional assets such as gold and oil. 

Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead Liquidations 

Notably, Bitcoin alone accounted for $118 million, representing 45.73% of total liquidations. Meanwhile, Ethereum followed with $73.49 million, and Solana recorded approximately $18.41 million. Other altcoins, including XRP and Chainlink, made up the remaining share. 

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Moreover, liquidations climbed to $450 million in 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data. Long positions dominated the wipeout at $402 million, while short positions accounted for roughly $48 million. Once again, Bitcoin and Ethereum led the trend, with $183 million and $125 million in liquidations, respectively. 

BTC and ETH Drop to Two-Week Low 

This cascade followed an abrupt market downturn on Friday. Bitcoin fell below $67,000 for the first time since March 9 and currently trades at $66,257, down 4.58% over 24 hours. 

Similarly, Ethereum dropped below $2,000, marking its first break under that level since March 11. It now trades at $1,981, down 4.23%.

Analysts linked the sell-off to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly uncertainty surrounding a ceasefire signalled by Donald Trump. As a result, risk assets, including cryptocurrencies, have faced increased pressure. 

Bitcoin Outperforms Traditional Assets Since War 

Despite the recent downturn, data from CryptoQuant shows that Bitcoin continues to outperform traditional assets during the conflict period. 

Since February 28, Bitcoin has gained 12%, while the S&P 500 has declined 4% and gold has fallen 16%. This incredible performance highlights Bitcoin’s relative strength amid macro uncertainty. On the other hand, oil has spiked 9% since the war began in the Middle East. 

Bitcoin has consistently outperformed traditional hedges

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