In a recent discourse on the future of bitcoin, Samson Mow, founder of Jan3, expressed his belief that the cryptocurrency may have already navigated its downturn for this year. Despite a surge leading to an all-time high of $125,100 in October, Mow proclaimed that 2025 would be the year defining the bear market, suggesting a decade-long bullish trend ahead.
Mow’s remarks have ignited discussions within the bitcoin community, particularly following the recent peak, where various analysts are weighing in on the implications for the market’s trajectory. Some experts align with Mow, indicating that the peak reached in October could signify the top of the current cycle and that 2026 might herald the onset of a new bear market.
Complementing Mow’s perspective, bitcoin analyst PlanC echoed similar sentiments, stating, “If you made it through 2025, you made it through the bear market.” He also highlighted that historically, bitcoin has never experienced two consecutive years of negative performance.
As the year comes to a close, bitcoin’s market position has seen a decline of 8.98% from the start of the year, with current trading prices hovering around $87,210. This downturn has been reflected in market sentiment as well, with the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index dropping to 20 out of 100 by December 26, indicating “extreme fear” which began on December 13.
Looking ahead to 2026, opinions among veteran traders are varied. Peter Brandt has projected that bitcoin could drop to as low as $60,000 by the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, Jurrien Timmer from Fidelity suggested that 2026 might be a “year off” for trading activities, with potential lows nearing $65,000. On a more optimistic note, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan posited that 2026 could turn out to be an “up year” for the cryptocurrency.
These differing perspectives underscore the ongoing uncertainty in the market as traders and investors prepare for what may lie ahead in the coming years.
