Bitcoin is currently experiencing a prolonged period of sideways trading, with analysts predicting this consolidation phase is a precursor to a significant price drop. Crypto analyst Doctor Profit forecasts that after this sideways action, Bitcoin could decline toward the $44,000–$50,000 range. He draws parallels to the 2024 price box, where BTC traded between $58,000 and $74,000 for a year before surging to $100,000, suggesting the current structure is a key reference point for an impending bear market.
Doctor Profit explained his bearish outlook, stating, “Bitcoin is currently trading in a zone where it previously consolidated for an entire year before breaking higher toward 100k. In a bear market context, this same zone is not support, it is structure, and structure eventually breaks.” He anticipates the sideways phase could temporarily reach as high as $87,000, offering trading opportunities before a major dip. His current strategy involves buying spot Bitcoin between $57,000 and $60,000 for short-term percentage gains, while maintaining an aggressive short position established between $115,000 and $125,000.
Concurrently, Bitcoin price is retesting a critical weekly support zone near $60,000, which was the former 2024 breakout area. Analyst Cyril-DeFi notes the sharp sell-off appears driven by liquidation pressure rather than a gradual trend shift. The market's hold on this level will be pivotal for determining the next move toward recovery or a deeper retracement into the mid-$50,000s.
Adding to the cautious sentiment, order-flow analysis by CW indicates that whale activity has slowed significantly, capping momentum for any price bounces. Despite passive liquidity sitting below current prices, the absence of aggressive buying from large players has led to muted market behavior and dominant range trading.
A key macro indicator, the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA), remains a critical line to watch. Analyst CryptoJack emphasizes that this level has historically separated macro bear markets from long-term bull phases. As long as Bitcoin holds above this average on weekly closes, the broader bullish structure remains intact, though a decisive break below it could drastically alter market sentiment.
