Veteran chartist and trader Peter Brandt has singled out Bitcoin Cash (BCH) as an early leader in the ongoing cryptocurrency market recovery, bringing the asset into sharp focus. Brandt's analysis points to clear signs of relative strength in BCH's price action, suggesting it could lead the next crypto rally in 2026.
Bitcoin Cash posted solid gains in the latest trading session, advancing by 3.66% from $637.10 to a high of $665.66. At the time of reporting, BCH traded at $662.80, reflecting a 3.1% daily increase. Trading volume climbed significantly by 15.04% to $667.89 million, a factor Brandt emphasizes often confirms leadership behavior.
Brandt highlighted specific technical patterns supporting the bullish narrative. He noted that Bitcoin Cash is trading within a falling wedge structure, a pattern traders typically view as a bullish signal indicating weakening selling pressure before a potential breakout. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stood at 64.98, indicating strength while remaining below overbought territory, which analysts say allows room for continued upward movement.
Market structure improvements have contributed to the volume expansion. The recent listing of the BCH/USD trading pair on Binance has simplified trading routes, reducing dependence on BTC and ETH pairs and likely contributing to the surge in trading activity and improved liquidity.
Bitcoin Cash has shown resilience, resisting broader market weakness by remaining near the $600 level for weeks before its recent breakout to $650.55. The coin is also nearing its one-year high at 0.0070 BTC. Despite being sidelined by recent trends, BCH has had quiet rallies, with a notable peak in September 2025.
Key levels are guiding near-term sentiment. Analysts view price stability above $650 as essential for maintaining upside momentum. A drop below this level could trigger a pullback toward the $625-$628 range. The coin faces a sell wall up to $740, with derivative liquidation heatmaps showing short positions spread up to $690.
Competitive dynamics add another layer, as Bitcoin Cash continues to narrow the market capitalization gap with Cardano. Consistent gains could intensify the contest for top 10 positioning. Furthermore, BCH remains a key asset for miners, with Bitcoin Cash mining profitability currently slightly higher than Bitcoin's at $0.041 per day on average compared to BTC's $0.039. Mining difficulty has doubled since March 2025, signaling growing competition.
Despite the positive momentum, BCH has not broken above the $800 resistance level for the past three years and remains far from its all-time peak near $3,200 from 2018. However, Brandt's assertion that early leadership often sets the tone for broader market moves has put Bitcoin Cash under close watch by traders anticipating follow-through.
