Bollinger Bands creator eyes Bitcoin bear market end
John Bollinger, the Bollinger Bands creator, eyes a potential end to Bitcoin's bear market after flagging a W-shaped double bottom on BTC/USD. In Friday X posts, he asked whether this rebound could break the downtrend since October 2025, especially as price holds near $60,000 and spot Bitcoin ETFs logged their first net inflows in ten days.
Bitcoin's latest rebound has put a legendary technical analyst back in the spotlight. The inventor of one of crypto's most widely used volatility tools thinks BTC may be completing a classic reversal setup—not declaring victory, but asking whether this pattern can break a stubborn downtrend.
Key Takeaways
- John Bollinger spotted a perfectly fractal W-shaped double bottom on daily and weekly BTC/USD charts.
- A completed W reversal breaks through the intermediate rebound peak, potentially ending the bear trend since October 2025.
- BTC held the roughly $60,000 level despite heavy ETF outflows, with $220 million in spot ETF inflows on Friday.
- Indicators flash signals last seen in the 2022 bear market, though many traders still expect a macro bottom in Q3 or later.
- Revolut said it will delist USDT after Aug. 31, citing regulatory and risk concerns.
What did John Bollinger say about Bitcoin's W pattern?
In X posts on Friday, John Bollinger eyed a W-shaped double bottom on BTC/USD. "$BTC has seen a series of bullish patterns broken, evidence of the power of the downtrend," he wrote, then asked: "Will this 'W' be the one that breaks the trend?"
W-shaped reversals involve two swing lows with a rejected rebound in between. Price must break through that rejection level to form a new uptrend. Bollinger showed how the setup aligns with the lower Bollinger Band on daily charts, calling it perfectly fractal with small w's at the nadirs and a small m at the apex. He also pointed to a W on the weekly chart.
Why does the W-shaped reversal matter for Bitcoin traders?
Bitcoin price strength could break the entire downtrend if the reversal pattern completed, Bollinger suggested. That matters because prior bullish setups have failed during a bear stretch since October 2025. Traders watch the neckline—the peak between the two lows—for confirmation.
As Cointelegraph reported, price indicators are flashing signals not seen since the 2022 bear market. Many participants still expect a macro bottom in Q3 or later. For daily updates, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage.
How are ETF flows and regulation shaping the outlook?
US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw their first net inflows in ten days on Friday, totaling about $220 million. CryptoQuant contributor Axel Adler Jr. said Bitcoin is in the late bear-cycle stage, but ETF flows signaled easing pressure for the first time.
Trader Daan Crypto Trades noted inflows were not massive but could matter if BTC bounces further, citing how price held the roughly $60K region despite outflows. The same day, Revolut notified customers it will delist Tether USDt after Aug. 31 over regulatory and risk concerns, with automatic conversion of remaining holdings into base currency.
What should investors watch next?
The W pattern remains a setup, not a confirmed bottom. Follow-through above the intermediate peak will answer Bollinger's question. ETF inflows and $60,000 support are early signs of easing pressure, but consensus still points to a deeper macro bottom later in 2026.
Revolut has not clarified whether its USDT delisting applies globally. Together, the technical rebound and regulatory shifts frame a market at a possible turning point—but not yet past it.