Peter Brandt Predicts Bitcoin Cash Will Lead the Next Crypto Rally in 2026
Veteran trader Peter Brandt just placed a bold bet on the underdog.
Forget the usual suspects—Brandt's latest analysis points to Bitcoin Cash as the potential leader of the next major crypto surge, slated for 2026. It's a call that cuts against the grain of mainstream crypto commentary, where attention rarely drifts from the market's heavyweights.
Why the Contender?
The rationale bypasses mere hype. Brandt's chart work suggests Bitcoin Cash is carving out a technical foundation that could propel it ahead when the broader market cycle turns. It's a play on utility and network effect finally translating to price momentum.
The 2026 Horizon
Marking 2026 as the inflection point isn't arbitrary. It aligns with historical crypto market rhythms, where sustained bear markets eventually give way to explosive rallies. Brandt's forecast implies Bitcoin Cash will be the breakout star when that tide comes in—a potential alpha generator in a sea of copycat narratives.
Of course, in crypto, today's visionary prediction is often tomorrow's forgotten tweet—right after the traditional finance crowd finishes another round of mocking the 'irrational' volatility they secretly wish they could harness.
Can BCH sustain its rally?
BCH has remained sidelined by recent trends, following years of attempts to displace BTC. Despite this, BCH continued to have quiet rallies, with a notable peak in September 2025.
After the recent breakout, BCH retained relatively high open interest at over $434M, near the upper range for the past 12 months. Traders are cautious, but still take up 55% in long positions.
For now, BCH mindshare is at 0.1, with a 131% increase for the past day. BCH mindshare is at a one-month peak, signaling improved visibility.
BCH is getting close to the range of the 2021 bull market. The coin has never recovered its initial peak at close to $3,200 after the hard fork in 2018. For now, the BCH recovery is not outsized, but can push toward the 2021 local peak of $1,450.
The recent price recovery shows BCH bouncing from its all-time lows in terms of dominance. BCH also showed it can bounce from local lows, after sinking to $275 in April 2025. Despite the rallies, BCH has not broken out above the $800 resistance level for the past three years.
During its current climb, BCH is facing a sell wall up to $740. For derivative traders, the liquidation heatmap shows that short positions are spread up to $690.
BCH remains a key asset for miners
One of the factors for BCH support is the slightly higher market profitability. Bitcoin Cash mining remains relatively active at 8 EH/s. BCH is still relying on much lower mining activity, but it is currently more profitable to mine.
BTC produces 0.039 per day on average, while BCH profitability is slightly higher at $0.041 per day on average. A rising BCH valuation may further boost mining. The coin is being mined at near-peak difficulty, doubling since March 2025 and signaling growing competition between miners.
In January, the altcoin season index was down to 26 points again, signaling a bitcoin season. However, BCH was among the top 10 coins and tokens with the largest gains over the past three months. The coin has not set up any specific narrative, but may be picked up by traders as the market has shown an appetite for risk.
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