Bitcoin’s Wild Ride Poised for Bullish Reversal in 2026

Bitcoin's notorious volatility might be setting the stage for its next major surge. After months of stomach-churning dips and sharp recoveries, technical indicators and market sentiment suggest the rollercoaster is about to climb.

The Calm Before the Storm

Analysts point to historical patterns where prolonged consolidation phases—like the one we're seeing now—often precede explosive upward moves. The market's recent whipsaw action has shaken out weak hands, leaving a stronger, more committed base of holders. It's the classic financial theater: panic sells, smart money accumulates.

Catalysts Lining Up

Beyond the charts, real-world adoption continues its silent march. Institutional interest hasn't vanished; it's just gotten quieter and more strategic. Meanwhile, the traditional finance crowd is still trying to figure out blockchain, which is about as efficient as a committee designing a horse—by the time they're done, everyone's moved on to cars.

Buckle Up

Don't mistake short-term noise for the long-term signal. The infrastructure being built now is more robust than ever. When the momentum shifts, it could catch the mainstream flat-footed—again. The ride isn't for the faint of heart, but the next leg looks decidedly up.

When Will Crypto Rise?

The last quarter of 2025 wasn’t as disastrous compared to 2021, but it wasn’t good for cryptocurrencies. The four-year cycle narrative has led investors to believe it’s the perfect time to sell. Historical data suggests a decline should accelerate from January, with deeper troughs expected in 2026. But there are some essential considerations to note.

• The year 2026 is significant, being the election economy year.
• The Fed has begun monetary expansion and could accelerate this throughout the year.
• Cryptocurrency regulations will advance in 2026.
• In May, a dovish Fed chairman appointed by Trump will replace Powell.

Several important details are involved, yet the excessive sales of short-term investors aimed at gaining from volatility must first cease. Although weakening over the past two weeks, the LTH group sold substantially. Despite seeing billions of dollars in liquidations in futures trades, the leverage game still persists.

CryptoQuant CEO highlighted what’s necessary for the market to rise. Currently, Bitcoin’s market is defined by whale accumulation in spots and individual long/short gambling in futures, suggesting volatility until liquidations happen, followed by a potential rise.

“Bitcoin market now is: Spot = Whale accumulation, Futures = Retail long/short gambling, Whales’ spot purchases plus retail futures gambling equal more volatility until everyone is liquidated, then an increase.”

How long will this last? It’s hard to say, but by mid-January, FUDs could decrease with the Supreme Court’s tariff decision and the MSCI exam for crypto reserve companies, potentially triggering a rise.

Cardano (ADA)

When Trump won the elections, there was a temporary festive atmosphere in cryptocurrencies. The excitement stemmed from the prospect of a crypto-friendly leader heading the U.S. — the world’s largest economy. Trump even mentioned forming a bitcoin reserve, evoking parallels with El Salvador. This was enough to excite investors.

During this period, ADA Coin climbed above $1, but as of today, it has returned to the base around $0.3 where the rally at the end of 2024 began.

Analyst Columbus shared a graph suggesting that the decline is over. He noted the clean impulse, completed correction, and the range formation as indicators of a simple and clear setup for ADA Coin.

“MTFs look great here. Clean impulse, correction completed, range formed. We’re now at the lower levels of range, with clear invalidation below, and inefficient wick above. I think it’s a clean and straightforward setup.”