Bitcoin Price Prediction: 8 Years After SegWit, Will This “Independence Day” Drive the Next BTC Rally?

August 1 marks eight years since the BTC SegWit upgrade—a pivotal network shift that reshaped the protocol and birthed a rival, Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Known as “Bitcoin Independence Day,” the event reduced the influence of large mining pools and introduced a more scalable path for BTC via the Lightning Network.

In 2017, the community was locked in a “block size war.” Some, led by figures like Roger Ver, wanted to expand the block size to support faster transactions and mass adoption.

Others pushed back, arguing that such changes would centralize the network by requiring high-storage infrastructure, excluding smaller node operators.

If every 1MB block were always full, it would take over 55 years to fill my new HD. Let's raise the block size limit. pic.twitter.com/LfN7zHn0b8

Ultimately, Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 91 (BIP 91) activated SegWit, enabling off-chain solutions while preserving decentralization. The opposing camp launched Bitcoin Cash, with larger blocks but minimal lasting adoption.

The hard fork created two distinct chains, but their market trajectories tell very different stories.

• Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Aug 1, 2017: ~$2,718
  • Aug 1, 2025: ~$115,000
  • Gain: ~4,200%
  • Market Cap: Over $2.2 trillion
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
  • Aug 1, 2017: ~$550
  • May 2021 ATH: ~$1,600
  • 2022 Low: ~$90
  • Aug 1, 2025: ~$552
  • Market Cap: ~$10.9 billion

Despite initial momentum, BCH has largely trailed behind in adoption and price performance. BTC has solidified its role as a store of value, while BCH’s payment utility hasn’t gained meaningful traction globally.

Technically, Bitcoin price prediction remains bearish as BTC recently broke below a key ascending trendline near $117,000. A series of lower highs and a descending triangle pattern signal weakening momentum. The 4-hour chart shows a bearish engulfing followed by Three Black Crows, reinforcing seller dominance.

• Current Price: ~$113,600
• Key Resistance: $114,942
• Supports to Watch: $112,643 → $110,587 → $108,420
• RSI: 30.63, nearing oversold but no bullish divergence yet
• 50-SMA: Sloping down at $117,264

Trade Idea: A failed bounce at $114,900 offers a short setup with stop-loss above $116,000. Conservative targets: $112,600 and $110,600. Bulls need a close above $117,000 with strong volume to shift bias.

Eight years after SegWit, BTC continues to thrive as the dominant digital asset—technically resilient and ideologically anchored. This year’s “Independence Day” reminds us that the protocol’s strength lies in community consensus, not just code. Whether it sparks another rally or just reflection, the milestone reinforces BTC’s unique evolution as both a decentralized system and a multi-trillion-dollar asset.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), the first BTC-native Layer 2 powered by the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), has raised over $6.2 million in its public presale, with $6,278,761 out of a $21,644,097 target. The token is priced at $0.0115, with the next price tier expected to be announced soon.

Designed to merge Bitcoin’s security with Solana’s speed, Bitcoin Hyper enables fast, low-cost smart contracts, dApps, and meme coin creation, all with seamless BTC bridging. The project is audited by Consult and engineered for scalability, trust, and simplicity.

The golden cross of meme appeal and real utility has made Bitcoin Hyper a Layer 2 contender to watch in 2025. With staking, a streamlined presale, and a full rollout expected by Q1, $HYPER is gaining serious traction.

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