Veteran trader Peter Brandt has emphasized that Bitcoin's parabolic advance is at a critical turning point, outlining two potential paths: a brief shakeout to clear overleveraged positions followed by a surge past previous records, or a deeper correction that could drag the price down to the $50,000–$60,000 range. Brandt clarified that such a decline would not mirror the 80% collapses of past cycles but serve as a reset before renewed upside momentum.
This volatility was ignited by President Donald Trump's announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, which rattled risk assets and triggered nearly $19 billion in crypto liquidations. Bitcoin plunged from $121,000 to $102,000, briefly breaking key technical support levels.
Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, described the selloff as a "necessary purge" and warned that even leverage above 1.5x could be dangerous in current conditions. Despite the caution, Edwards remains optimistic, stating his outlook for the coming weeks is "bullish."
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, urged investors to view the pullback as a buying opportunity, especially after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the end of balance sheet tightening. Hayes sees easier monetary conditions, driven by cheaper liquidity, as a catalyst for renewed crypto strength.
Pav Hundal of Swyftx highlighted that macro data, including falling oil prices, a cooling job market, and expectations of an imminent Fed rate cut, create what he calls a "golden setup" for Bitcoin. Similarly, macroeconomist Lyn Alden believes the next quarter will be "particularly favorable" due to improving liquidity and continued institutional accumulation.
In short, analysts agree that while a final downward move is possible, the broader structure remains bullish, and any correction may be the last major dip before Bitcoin enters a new phase of price discovery, potentially setting fresh all-time highs by year-end.
