Prominent cryptocurrency traders and analysts are positioning for a significant market shift, forecasting a final bullish surge for Bitcoin in 2026 followed by a steep decline. Despite current prices trading above $71,000 for BTC and $2,100 for Ethereum (ETH), sparking renewed bullish optimism, a notable contingent of market participants is preparing for a downturn.
These analysts are actively placing multiple short orders, anticipating Bitcoin will first rally to targets between $77,000 and $88,000 before collapsing to price ranges as low as $30,000 to $50,000. One detailed strategy involves setting short positions at $77,000, $79,000, $81,000, and $83,000, with an expectation that BTC will eventually fall to the $40,000-$50,000 zone. The same trader plans to hold long trades entered at $64,750 and $67,750, taking profit at $77,000 with a stop loss at $66,000.
The market sentiment is characterized by a short-term bullish but mid-to-long-term bearish outlook. Analysts point to Bitcoin's recent inability to reclaim the $76,000 support level after a pump to $74,000 as evidence of underlying weakness. They reference a successful past prediction of a drop to $65,000 from over $110,000 in November 2025 to bolster their current bearish thesis for the coming months.
While institutions and whales have been accumulating assets since a major $20 billion liquidation event, analysts warn there is no certainty in the timeline. The prevailing expectation is for a "fake pump" or final rally to provide an opportunity for bearish traders to establish strong short positions, ultimately leading to a bear market conclusion in 2026 with Bitcoin potentially bottoming around $30,000.