Experts divided in their forecasts for Bitcoin in 2026, the market remains in a trap of pessimism

Forecasts for next year indicate highly divided opinions within the industry. While some analysts, such as PlanC, argue that Bitcoin has never historically experienced declines for two consecutive years and expect a bullish move in 2026, others adopt a more cautious stance.

Matt Hougan, head of investment at Bitwise, leans towards optimism and predicts growth in the coming weeks of the year. However, seasoned market players provide contrasting forecasts—Peter Brandt and Jurrien Timmer from Fidelity’s global macroeconomic research division warn that 2026 could be a “weaker period” for BTC, with a potential drop to the $60,000–$65,000 range.

The current market situation deepens these concerns. Data indicate that investor sentiment remains in a state of deep pessimism for two consecutive weeks. The index reflecting overall market sentiment stands at 23 points, indicating “extreme fear” according to data obtained from Alternative and reported by Cointelegraph. Together, these indicators demonstrate that most of December was characterized by a depressive mood among participants.

Furthermore, current market sentiment measurements show that 47.22% of investors maintain a bearish outlook. This proportion reveals the extent of dissonance between optimists and pessimists in the cryptocurrency industry, casting doubt on both hodlers and speculators regarding 2026.