Bitcoin’s Downtrend Continues, But Analyst Predicts $180K Target—Is It Possible?

Bitcoin has continued its downward trend despite briefly surging to $94,000 last week, a move that had initially fueled investor optimism. Since hitting that level, the cryptocurrency has steadily declined, now trading below $80,000 as of today.

While the short-term price action suggests a bearish outlook, some analysts remain confident about Bitcoin’s potential for long-term growth.

One of CryptoQuant’s contributors to the QuickTake platform, ibrahimcosar, recently shared his perspective on Bitcoin’s price trajectory, offering a bold prediction for its next all-time high (ATH).

In his latest analysis, the analyst reiterated his long-term expectation that Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by 2026, citing historical price cycles and institutional projections that align with his forecast.

According to Ibrahim, Bitcoin’s price movements over the past year have followed a familiar pattern seen in previous bull cycles. The analyst pointed out that major financial institutions have recently begun making similar long-term projections, validating his earlier forecasts.

While Bitcoin currently trades below $80,000, he believes that the asset has the potential to more than double in value within the next two years.

If Bitcoin follows historical patterns, the $150K–$200K range could be achieved in the upcoming bull cycle. The analyst emphasized that investors who enter the market at current levels could see over 100% returns, provided Bitcoin reaches its predicted target by 2026.

However, he also noted that timing the market correctly is crucial, as buying at key support levels has historically presented the most favorable opportunities for long-term gains. Ibrahim wrote:

In summary, those investing in Bitcoin at these levels have the potential to gain over 100% in dollar terms without even waiting a year. Buying in the right regions and at the right times can present significant opportunities.

While long-term projections remain bullish, Bitcoin’s short-term price action continues to fluctuate. Another CryptoQuant analyst, BilalHuseynov, provided insights into open interest (OI) trends, which may indicate whether this is a favorable time to buy Bitcoin.

According to BilalHuseynov, the 7-day change in open interest has entered a “deleveraging” phase, a signal that has historically aligned with potential buying opportunities.

The last time this occurred was in August 2024, when Bitcoin was trading between $58,000 and $60,000 before rallying to an all-time high of $106K. If historical trends repeat, the current market conditions could set the stage for a similar recovery. The CryptoQuant analyst noted:

When the OI ratio’s change for 7 days down to the section, that means we can define the time to buy. Since August 2024, we have been observing one of the deepest areas in the Crypto Market. To remember, at this time (2024 Aug), Bitcoin’s price was around 58 – 60k. After that, the price goes up to ~106k.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView