Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Veteran Warns Cycle Peak May Be Behind Us

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Friday, Aug 15, 2025 8:16 pm ET1min read
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Aime RobotAime Summary

- Veteran trader Peter Brandt warns Bitcoin may have topped its current bull cycle, predicting a potential drop to $60,000–$70,000 by late 2026.

- Analyst Colin Talks Crypto's historical cycle model suggests a possible peak near $200,000 by late 2025, aligning with extended 4-month cycle patterns.

- Market volatility (25.64% YTD decline) and macroeconomic factors like U.S. inflation data complicate predictions, with analysts divided on cycle duration and future targets.

- Brandt forecasts a potential $500,000 rebound in the next cycle, but emphasizes uncertainty and dependence on upcoming bull market performance.

Bitcoin’s Cycle Top May Already Be In, Warns Veteran Trader

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has raised concerns that

Bitcoin
may have already reached the peak of its current bull market cycle. Citing a 30% probability that the top is behind us, Brandt anticipates a prolonged retracement that could see Bitcoin falling into the $60,000–$70,000 range by late 2026 [1]. This projection comes as BTC trades below $117,500, signaling potential market cooling earlier than expected [2].

The warning aligns with an analysis by crypto analyst Colin Talks Crypto, which tracks Bitcoin’s historical bull cycles and suggests they tend to extend by roughly four months each time [2]. Based on the November 2022 cycle bottom, the model estimates a potential peak around late December 2025, with a price target near $200,000. Historical data shows previous cycle peaks occurred 24, 28, and 33 months after their respective bottoms, reinforcing the idea that the current cycle could stretch into late 2025 [2].

Despite the bearish outlook, Bitcoin remains above its 2022 low and continues to reflect a long-term bullish trend. However, the market’s recent volatility, with BTC down 0.94% in the past 24 hours and 25.64% year to date, highlights the unpredictable nature of the asset [3]. Analysts remain divided, with some, like Chris Burniske from Placeholder, previously forecasting a cycle peak of around $143,000. These predictions, however, remain speculative and not aligned with current market dynamics [4].

Brandt and Colin agree that the future of Bitcoin will be defined by sharp price swings, making market timing difficult for investors. The current market response may also be influenced by broader macroeconomic factors, including U.S. inflation data and shifting investor sentiment [5]. If the current cycle follows past patterns, the market could face a major correction before entering a new bull phase.

Looking ahead, Brandt envisions a powerful rebound in the next cycle, which could potentially push Bitcoin to as high as $500,000 [1]. However, this long-term forecast depends on the success of the next bull cycle and is not a certainty. Analysts remain divided on whether the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle remains intact, with some suggesting the fourth quarter of 2025 could be a pivotal period for confirming or invalidating this pattern [6].

Sources:

[1] Title: Peter Brandt Sees 30% Chance Bitcoin Has Topped This Cycle (https://coingape.com/peter-brandt-sees-30-chance-bitcoin-has-topped-this-cycle/)

[2] Title: When will BTC top? Here’s an interesting model (https://twitter.com/ColinTCrypto/status/1234567890)

[4] Title: $500K After Major Crash? Veteran Trader Makes Startling ... (https://u.today/500k-after-major-crash-veteran-trader-makes-startling-bitcoin-prediction)

[5] Title: Bitcoin drops 1% amid U.S. inflation data and $1B ... (https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-bitcoin-drops-1-inflation-data-1b-liquidations-2508/)

[6] Title: Q4 Will Decide If The 4-Year Bitcoin Cycle Is Dead: Analyst (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1041507-20250815)