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Does Bitcoin's Retreat Signal a New Bear Market for Crypto?
Yahoo Finance· 2026-02-06 02:28
Core Insights - Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline, with a drop of over 50% from its all-time high of $126,080 in October 2025, raising concerns about a potential bear market in the crypto sector [2][3] - The recent downturn has led to over $1.4 billion in liquidations within a 24-hour period, indicating heightened volatility and stress in the market [2][4] - Analysts are divided on whether the current selloff marks the beginning of a prolonged crypto winter, with some suggesting that the historical four-year cycle may be coming to an end [5] Price Movement - Bitcoin's price fell sharply from approximately $73,100 to a low near $60,255, marking one of its largest single-day declines of about 14% since November 2022 [1][2] - Following this drop, Bitcoin has partially recovered, trading down more than 10% on the day to around $64,400 [2] Market Sentiment - The current drawdowns in Bitcoin have surpassed the typical thresholds used to define bear markets, which is a decline of about 20% or more from recent peaks [3] - The broader risk sentiment remains weak, contributing to the ongoing volatility in the crypto market [3] Industry Impact - The downturn is putting pressure on Bitcoin miners and corporate crypto treasuries, as falling prices are squeezing margins and weakening balance sheets [4] - There are concerns about potential capitulation, consolidation, or forced selling within the industry due to these financial pressures [4] Future Outlook - Some analysts caution that the selloff may not be over, with macro pressures and leverage unwinds potentially pushing Bitcoin towards lower support levels, with $38,000 identified as a possible downside target [5] - Despite the current challenges, there are indications that fundamentals may be improving, leading to a belief that a prolonged downturn may not be imminent [5]